The herald., 1897-03-05

than upon the God of our fathers, who
has so singularly favored the American
people in every national trial, and who
will not forsake us so long as we obey
his commandment and walk humbly in
his footsteps.
A GREAT TRUST.
The responsibilities of the trust to
which | have been called. always Of
grave importance, are augmented by
the prevailing business conditions, en-
failing idleness upon willing labor and
loss to useful enterprises. The country
is suffering from industrial disturb
ances. from which speedy relief must
be had Our financial system needs
some revision; our money is all good
now. but its value must not be further
threatened. 1t should all be put upon
an enduring basis, not subject to easy
attack, nor its stability to doubt or dis
pute. Our currency should continue un-
der the supervision of the government.
The several forms of our paper money
offer in my Judgment. a constant en-
barrassment to the government and
safe balance in the treasury. Therefore,
believe it necessary to devise a sys-
tenn. without diminishing the circulat-
ing medium or offering a premium for
its contraction, which will present a
remedy for those arrangements, which,
temporary in their nature. might well in
times of our prosperity have been dis
placed by wiser provisions. With ade-
quate revenue insured, but not until
then. can we enter upon such changes ir
our fiscal laws as will, while insuring
safety and volume to our money. no
longer impose upon the government the
necessity of maintaining SO large a gold
reserve. with its attendant and newt
able temptat tions to speculation.
FINANCE.
Most of our financial laws are the out
growth of experience and trial. and
should not be amended without investi-
cation and demonstration of the Wis
dom Of the proposed changes. We must
be both sure we are right and make
haste slowly" If, therefore. congress in
its wisdom shall deem it eXpedient to
create a commission to take under early
consideration the revision of our coin
age banking and currency laws. and
give them that exhaustive. careful ard
dispassionate examination that the i'm
portauce demands | shall cordially con-
cur in such action. If such power is
vested in the president, it is my purpose
to appoint a commission of prominent,
well-informed citizens of different par
ties. who will command public conf
dence both on account of their ability
ness experience ard public training may
thus he combined, and the patriotic
zeal of the friends of the country be so
directed that such a report will be made
as to receive the support of all parties,
and our finances cease to be the subject
of mere partisan contention. The ex-
pertinent is at all events. worthy of
trial, ard, in my opinion. it can prove
beneficial to the entire country.
BIMETALLISM.
The question of international bimetal-
lism Will have early and earnest con-
sidera ton. 1t will be my constant en-
' deaVor to secure ii by cooperation with
the other great commercial powers of
the world. Until that condition is real
lied, which the parity between our gold
and silver money springs from. and is
supported by these relative values OF
| the two metals, the value of silver al
ready coined and of that which here
after may be coined, must be kept con-
stantly at par with gold by every re-
source at our command.
! The credit of the government the in
| tegrity of its currency, and the inviola- =
bility of it's obligations must be pre-
| served. This was the commanding YER
dict of The people, and it will not be un
Iheeded.