Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-05
THE PRESIDENTS INAUGURAL.

The inaugural address Of President Nc
Kinley. made yesterday, is of moderate
length. and is void Of the pompous
phrasing that marked the early state
papers of his immediate predecessor.
The style is simple. and clear where the
President wishes to be clear. 1t is also
fairly successful in concealing his opin-
ions where he does not wish TO speak
frankly and decisively.
The style Of the address we recognize
as Mr.. McKinlWs. Any one would
identity it as the product of the author
of the numerous and generally inane
and colorless speeches made to visiting
delegations" at Canton o., during the
last campaign. But. doubtless, Mr..
Hanna was consulted as to every senti-
ment expressed, every declaration made
in the address In the minds of most
of his countrymen, the image of the
President appears with that Of Mr..
Hanna towering near, and sometimes
leaning over McKinley's shoulder and
directing his pen. However, Mr.. McKin-
ley assumes entire responsibility for the
address delivered yesterday, and it is,
therefore, our duty to treat it as his
own. in word. thought and deed
The President says that, with adequate
revenue secured, but not until then. we
can enter upon such changes in our fiscal
laws as WILL while ensuring safety and
volume to our money, mo longer i'm
pose upon the government the necessity
of maintaining so large a gold reserve"
This means, OF course that he wishes
a high protective tariff bill enacted be-
fore any serious attempt is made to
deal with the questions Of coinage and
currency "OuI currency should con-
tinue under the supervision Of the gov
eminent" says he and in that way he
expresses his disapproval of State banks
certainly Of State banks free from "the
supervision" of the Federal Government.
The President declares that, If Con-
gress deems ii expedient to create a com
mission 10 revise the laws relating TO
coinage, banking, and currency he would
concur in such action And. should the
power be vested I'm him to appoint the
commission. he would appoint "promi-
nent. well-informed citizens of different
parties, who would command public con-
fdence, both on account of their ability
and their special fitness for the work"
The President assures us that the
question of international bhnetallisn
will have his early and earnest atten-
ton. He says it will be his constant
70 Inv II
with the other great commercial nations
of the world" But until that "condi-
ton is realized when the parity between
our gold and silver money springs from
and is supported by the relative value
OF the two metals. the silver already
coined and that which may hereafter
% coined must be kept constantly at
BAR with gold by every resource at our
Command"
Economy" says the President els de-
handed in every branch OF the govern
ment at all times, but especially in
periods like the present depression in
business and distress among the people"
He asks that the severest economy be
observed in all public expenditures. and
that cNtraNdGdnce ne alOIpSu Wherever
n IS found IL the revenues are TO re-
main as they are now, the only relief
that can come must be, he thinks, from
decreased expenditures. However" says
he. "the present condition must not con-
tnue; we must retire, not increase, our
obligations" He wishes 10 see our reve-
nues so increased as 10 meet every pub
lie demand. and 10 make proper and
liberal provision for that most deserving
body Of public creditors. the soldiers and
sailors, and the widows and orphans Of
the pensioners Of the United States"
In other words. Mr. Mckinley. the great
economist, wants more money spent in
pensions. We are now spending $4,000
900 per annum for this purpose. but in
his Judgment. this expenditure is not
liberal enough. @More" more" is the
cry Of pensioners. and the new President
says. Let them have II.
1--WE should have more revenue, and
that without delay" says the President
lie does not want the government TO be
n borrower. except In great emergencies.
In short, he fayors an adequate annual
income. raised. In the main. by ''uum
taxatlon." TO this system. he Mods ''the
country Is committed By the latest popu-