Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-03-11
President McKinley'S Inaugural.
HON. W. j. BRYAN'S OPINION OF
THE ADDRESS OF THE RE-
PUBLICAN EXECUTIVE.
Mr.. Bryan Says MI. McKinlsy's Words
Concerning Trusts Are Encourag-
ing and Hopes for Their
Fulillment.

EulnlimenC.
CHICAGO, March 81 have read
with much interest those portions OF
President McKinley's inaugural ad-
dress which treat of the money ques-
ton and the trusts. His declaration
against trusts and other combinations
of capital is encouraging to those who
believe that it Is the duty of the Gov
eminent to protect the weaker mem
bers of society from those who are
pecuniarily powerful. His words JUS
tify us in expecting an aggressive pol
icy, for he promises to recommend
new legislation, if new legislation is
necessary, as well as to enforce the
laws already in existence.
The official duties of a President are
80 great and exacting that he must
necessarily depend largely upon his
appointees in the Department of JUS
tice, both for the enforcement of the
laws now upon the statute books and
for suggestions as to additional legis-
Iation.
If the appointees are thoroughly in
earnest, they will find immediate work
| to do and soon can determine whether
the trusts are fourishing because of
executive clemency or because of leg
islative Indifference. If, on the other
hand, the Presidents subordlnates are
friendly to the combinations, it will be
difficult for him to carry out his prom
Use, no matter how good his intentions
may be.
The sympathies of a public officer
control his conduct, and it is to be
hoped that the executive will surround
himself with men whose sympathies
are with the people rather than with
the trusts. The promise of the Presi-
dent should make even his political
| opponents withhold criticism until he
| has a chance to redeem the pledge
given.
1 was especially pleased to note the
emphasis which he placed upon the
demand for equal rights. 1t is not
equality of possessions but equality OF
rights that the people demand; equal
ity before the law, or, to quote the
Democratic maxim, "equal rights to
all and special privileges to none."
The President recognizes that pre-
vailing conditions are unsatisfactory.
He refers to the fact that willing Ia
borers are idle, and that loss is en-
tailed upon useful enterprises.
He admits that the country is suf-
fering from Industrial disturbances
and needs speedy relief. By follow
ing this admission with the financial
question, he seems to suggest that the
money question is a paramount issue.
His promise to endeavor constantly
to secure international bimetallism is
a rebuke to those who think that the
gold standard should be maintained
because of its own merits. The sys-
tenn which is 80 bad as to justify an
early and earnest attempt to get rid of
it canno be defended. But his declar-
alton that, bad as it is, it must be en-
dured until help comes from abroad
will be discouraging to those who
have ceased to expect international
cooperation can be secured through
persuasion.
1t is humiliating to think that after
more than a century of national ex-
istence we must depend upon the
right of petition instead of relying
upon the right to legislate. If any
part of industrial depression is
due to the gold standard, then it is
certain to that extent the depression
will continue, unless 'sthe other great
commercial powers of the world" join
us in restoring bimetallism.
1t is to be regretted that the exec
utive did not define his position more
clearly upon the question of paper
money. If he had openly advised the
retirement of the greenbacks the peo-
pie could be considering the question,
but instead of doing that directly he
obscures his purpose by using the
~phraseology commonly employed in
bankers conventions.
His reference to arrangements"
which are''temporary in their nature,
and his anxiety to relieve the Gov
eminent from "the necessity of main
tanning SO large a gold reserve" are
familiar to those who have watched
the effort which the national bankers
have made to secur the right to issue
all the paper currency of the country.
The commission is a favorite scheme
of the hnanciers, but a commission
cannot settle SO important a question
as that now before the people.
If a commission is appointed, each
member will have a fixed opinion be-
fore he enters upon the work, and
each Senator and member of Congress
will vote his own opinion without re-
gard to the report of the commission.
Shall we have bank paper or Gov
eminent paper? That is the question
but not directly asked.
The question must be settled by the
people through their elected repre-
sentatives and commissions will have
but little effect.
WILLIAM j. BRYAN.
BEN T. GRANTS SUICIDE.