The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-12-09
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES
OF CONGRESS MONDAY.
He Talks of Currency Reform, Spain
and Cuba, Hawaiian Annexation,
the Bimetallist ENJOYS, Inter-
national Arbitration, Etc.

1
national Arbitration, Etc.
7 WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Today a
noon, simultaneously, both Houses o
Congress were called to order. Th
opening ceremonies were of the usua
routine character. The galleries wer
crowded with spectators. The follow
ing is synopsis OF
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
1t gives me pleasure to greet tn,
F'ifty-t1 Congress in regular ses
| sion, many of whose Senators anC
Representatives l have been associated
with in legislative service. The meet
ing occurs under felicitiOus circum
| stances, justifying sincere c0ngratula
tions and calling for grateful acknowl
edgement to benificent Providence
which has signally prospered US as a
| nation. Praise God that peace with
| all nations continues unbrOken. The
| public questions which most engross
US are lifted above partiz tnship. The
| questions OF foreign policy, revenue,
| The sOundness and inviolability of our
| national currency obligation, and the
| improvement of the public service ap-
| peal earnestly to individual conscien-
ceS.
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
The tariff question having been Set
| tied at the extra session of Congress,
| the currency question is the next most
pressing We should not hesitate to
enter upon revision which will make
demand obligations less onerous
and relieve the financial laws from
| ambiguity and doubt. The evils OF
the present system are found to be a
great cost to the government 10 main
tanning the parity Of different forms
of money. We cannot be needless of
this burden, which is expensive and a
dangerous menace to the National
credit. We have nine hundred millions
OF dollars (which the Government,
by solemn enactment. has undertaken
TO keep at par with gold while the
govern ment is without any fixed gold
revenue. There has been no deficit
requiring the issuance of bonds. but
if the gold reserve falls below a hun
dred million dollars how will it be re-
plenlshed except Dy selling bonds? |
earnestly recommend that when the
receipts of the Government are sutfi.
cient to pay expenses the United
States notes presented for retention
be set apart and be only paid out. in
exchange fer gold. If they are put
out in any other way they may return
again to be followed by another bond
issue to redeem them, another interest
bearing debt to redeem non-interest
bearing debt. | concur with the Sec
rotary of the Treasury that the circu.
lating notes OF National banks secured
by bonds be reduced to one-half OF one
per cent. per year. / also join him 10
recommending that authority be given
for the establishment of National
q mi m inn MI oil Of
twenty-five thousand dollars, which
will enable smaller villages, in agri-
cultural regions, to be supplied with
currency needs.
SPAIN AND CUBA.
The most important problem the
government is called upon to deal with,
pertaining to our foreign relations,
concerns our duty towards Spain and
The Cuban ilSurrection. The story of
Cuba has been one of unresting effort
towards the larger enjoyment of lib
erty and self control, of organized re-
sistance to the method of the mother
country, Of Intellectual settlement fol-
lowed by revolt. Instructions given
our new Minister to Spain before his
departure were to impress upon Spain
the sincere wish Of the United States
to lend its aid towards ending the war
in.Cuba by reaching peaceful and
lasting result, just and honorable
alike to Spain and Cuba. 1t was
stated that at this juncture our gov
eminent was constrained seriously to
interference If the time was not ripe
when Spain Of her own volition and
moved by her own interests and every
sentiment Of humanity, should not put
a stop to the destructive war, and
make proposition OF settlement hon
orable to herself and to CUBA. 1t was
that as neighbOring nation,
with large interests in Cuba, we could
only be required to wait a reasonable
time for the mother country to estab
liSh its authority and secure peace:
that we could not contemplate an in
definite period for the accomplishment
of this result.
The President Then referred to the
reforms instituted by the Sagasta
government and argued that Spain
should be given reasonable chance
to realize our expectations and to
prove the assured effect of the new
order Of things to which she stands
irrevocably committed. He refers to
removal Of Weyler,, the brutal COM
mander who inf1amed Americans and
shocked the civilized world" The
President gives assurance that the
rights Of Americans will be protected
duu budO Uuc kONGTumGuU Will dOdU6
none of it's efforts to bring about by
peaceful agencies an end of the Cuban
war.
HAWAII ANNEXATION
Briefly, the President advocates the
annexation of Hawaii and enjoins
that self rule be accorded Hawaiian
subjects.
BIMETALLIsT ENJOYS.
The bimetallist ENJOYS appointed
to represent the United States have
been diligent in their efforts to secure
the concurrence and cooperation of
European countries for international
settlement of the question, but have
not been able to secure the agree
ment contemplated by their mission.
They have not reported finally, as
negotiations with foreign countries
are still pending. They believe that
doubts raised in certain quarters as to
the parity betweens the metals and
kindred questions may yet be solved
by further negotiations.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
International arbitration cannot be
omitted from subjects claiming our
consideration. The best sentiment of
the civilized world is moving in this
direction. / concur with the Secre-
tary of the Navy for appropriation
authorizing construction of more
battleships on the Pacific coast; also
that several torpedo boats be author
lied.
49,