Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-03-12
PRESIDENT M'KINLEYS
POLICY OUTLINED.
THE INAUGURAL ADDRESS.
Financial Reform and Moro Revenue
Urgently Needed-ProtectiOn and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Strong
ly Favored - Immigration
Laws Need Improving
Extra Session.

WASHINGTON. March 5.-The inau.
gurai address delivered by President
Mckinley, just after being sworn into
office by Chief Justice Fuller, was as
follows:
Fellow Citizens: In obedience to the will
| of the people and in their presence, by the
authority vested in me by this oath, 1 as
sumo the arduous and responsible duties of
President of the United States relying on
the support of my countrymen ana invoking
the guidance of Almighty God. Our faith
| teaches that there is no safer reliance than
upon the God of our fathers, who has so sim
gularly favored the American people in
every national trial, and who will not for
| sake us so long as we obey His command
ments and walk humbly in His footsteps.
1.-THE responsibilities of the high trust to
which have been called-always of grave
| importance-are augmented by the prevail
| ing business conditions, entailing idleness
| upon willing labor and loss to useful enter
prises The country is suffering from indus
trial disturbances from which speedy relief
must be had
Our financial system needs some revis-
ion; our money is all good now, but its value
| must not further be threatened. 1t should
| all be put upon an enduring basis not SUBJ
| ject to easy attack. nor its stability to doubt
or dispute. Our currency should continue
under the supervision of the government
The several forms of our paper money offer,
in my judgment, 4 constant embar-
rassment to the government and a
safe balance in the treasury. Therefore
1 believe 1t necessary to devise system
wh ch without diminishing the circulating
medium, or Offering remium for its con-
traction, will present remedy for those
arrangements, which, temporary in their
nature, might well in the years of our pros
perity have been displaced by wiser provis-
ions
For a Currency Commission.
with adequate revenue assured, but not
until then, we can enter upon such changes
in our fiscal laws as will, while insuring
safety and volume to our money, no longer
impose upon the government the necessity
OF main tanning so large gold reserve, with
its attendant and inevitable temptations to
speculation.
Most of our financial laws are the out
growth of experience and trial, snd should
not be amended without investigation and
demonstration of the wisdom of the pro-
posed 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 commission to take
under early consideration the revision of
our Coinage, DduhluS duu VII lChSy
laws, and give them that exhaustive
careful and dispassionate examination that
the i'm portance demands, l shall cordially
concur in such action. IT such power is
vested in the president, it is my purpose to
appoint commission of prominent, well
informed citizens of different parties who
will command public confidence both on
account of their ability and special fit
ness for the work. Business experience
and public training may thus be combined
and the patriotic zeal of the friends of the
country be so directed that such report
will be made as to receive the support OF all
parties, and our finances cease to DO the
subject of mere partisan contention. The
experiments at all events, worth trial,
and, in my opinion, 1t can but prove bene-
fetal to the entire country.
Credit Upheld-Economy Urged.
"The question of inter national bimetalism
will have early and earnest attention 1t
will be my constant endeavor to secure 1t
by cooperation with the other great COM
mercial powers of the world. Until that
condition is realized, when the parity be-
tween our gold and silver money springs
from and is supported by the relative value
of the two metals, the value of silver al
ready coined, and of that which shall here
after be coined must be kept constantly at
par with gold by every resource at our COM
mand The credit of the government, the
integrity of its currency and the inviol-
ability of its obligations must be preserved.
This was the commanding verdict OF the
people, and 1t will not be unheeded.
ECONOMY Is demanded in every branch
OF the government at all times, but espe>
cially in periods like the present depression
of business and distress among the people.
The severest economy must be observed in
all public expenditures and extravaganza
stopped wherever it is found and prevented
F..A \, 1..t A,xaA
If the revenues are to remain as now, the
only relief that can come must be from de-
creased expenditures But the present must
not become the present condition OF the
government 1t has been our uniform prac-
tlce to retire, not increase, our outstanding
obligations, and this policy must fam be re-
sumed and vigorously enforced.
Increase of Debt Opposed.
Our revenues should always be large
enough 10 meet with ease and promptness
not only our current needs and the princi-
pal and interest of the public debt, but to
make proper and liberal provisions for that
most deserving body of public creditors, the
soldiers and sailors, and the widows and or
phans, who are the pensioners of the United
States. The government should not be per-
mitted to run behind or increase its debt
In times like the presenn. Suitably to pro-
vide against business depression is the
mandate of duty, certain and easy rem
edy for the most of our financi al difficulties.
deficiency is inevitable SO long as the ex-
penditures of the government exceed its
receipts 1t can only be met by loans or an
increased revenue. While large annual
surplus of revenue may invite waste and
extravaganza. inadequate revenue creates
distrust and undermines public and private
credit Neither should be encouraged.
Between more loans and more revenue,
there ought to be but one opinion. We should
have more revenue, and that without delay,
hindrance or postponement. A surplus in
the treasury created by loans is not per-
manent or safe reliance. 1t will suffice
while it lasts but it cannot last long while
the OUTLAWS of the government are greater
than its receipts, as has been the case dur
ing the past two years. Nor must 1t be for
gotten that however much such loans may
temporarily relieve the situation the gov
eminent is still indebted for the amount of
the surplus thus accrued, which 1t must ul-
timately pay, while its ability to pay is not
strengthened, but weakened by continued
deficit. Loans are imperative In great
emergencies to preserve the government or
its credit, but failure to supply needed
revenue in time of peace for the mainten-
ance of either has no justification.
For Revenue and Protection.
"The best way for the government to
maintain its credit Is to pay as 1t goes-not
by resorting to loans but by keeping out OF
debt-through an adequate income secured
49, nr- Int N