The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-04

be the commercial ratio ana when they
adopted a ratio in 1892. and later in 1891.
the metals and made ii substantially the
coinage ratio. In each case, with all their
accurately the relative values Of the two
metals and the undervalued metal avoided
not Go to-day, even If we have the moral
support of Democratic platform. Free
coinage al 16 to !. when the market ratio OF
gold and silver is 80 TO /, means the es-
tablishment of the single silver standard
and consequent decentralization of business;
general arrangement of values and return
of Democratic business paralysis.
10 10 1 Impossible.
We should not forget, before OBJ
served, that there is not nation of good
standing to-day which coins. or can be in
duced to coin, gold and silver freely at 16
to /. or at any other ratio. This is not due
to any favoritsm: to any prediction to-
wards one metal or the other, TO any UNI
friendliness towards silver, but is due to q
stubborn, economic, commercial fact; t1nd
that is that it cannot be done without driv-
ing gold out Of circulation and dropping to
a deprecated. silver-standard basis. Under
the gold standard we are able to use gold
silver and paper as currency, and in this
country we have used-roundly speaking
an equal amount of each. But under the
silver standard gold disappears and we
have but two currencieS, silver and paper,
and each worth at the present market value
money value.
All of the greatest commercial achieve
ments in this country have been under the
gold standard. Our foreign commerce last
year, the first year of the present Republic
an administration, attained magnitude
never reached before. For the year ending
June 30, 1898, imports were $6l6 2,S44, anu
exports 81 2S1 81, $685. total $l,S47 Boa 712. Our
total foreign commerce and the balance or
trade in our favor were the greatest in our
history. All of this under the gold standard
Free coinage at 16 to l under present con-
0ltlOnS benefit
trusts and combinations controlling large
quantities of silver bullion and II would
law which would enable a silver bullion
owner to take A cents worth of silver to
and obige others to take it for a. dollar.
is obviously wrong; a fraud uDon the man
who is. forced to take it.
Democratic party in the United States
Senate voted almost sohdly against the
successfully prosecuted. Their devotion
TO free silver and unsound finance was
and energetic prosecution of the war. BE It
said to the credit of Senator Turpie that he
parted company, with his associates and
Hawaii.
We have extended our dominion. and the
flag of the great Republic floats over Ha-
wall, there to remain the symbol of our
authority and power so long our national
sovereignty endures The annexation of the
Hawaiian islands is notable event. and one
which will receive the commendation of the
American people. For rly-half. a century
their acquisition has been advocated by
some of our wsest statesmen and ablest
naval strategists for the benefit they will be
to our present and future commerce and for
the purpose of a naval establishment, and
as the basis of naval operations. Few sub
Jects have been more ably and extensively
discussed. The discussion has not been
along strictly partisan lines, but the larger
part of the opposition has been Democratic
For many years it has been apparent that
the islands would gravitate TO the United
States sooner or later by the force of the
law of mutual self-interest. American in
fuence from an early date has been potent
in the islands and has been increasing until
1T has become the Dominating influence; so
generally has this been recognized by for
eign nations that they have been in nowise
disposed to dispute the transfer of the ISL
ands to the sovereignty of the United States.
The Hawaiian ISLANDS embrace an area or
about one-fourth of the area of the State
of Indiana. Their population is about 100000,
or about half the present population of the
city of Indianapolis Their climate is
lubrious; they have a fertile soil. capable of
sustaining a large and prosperous popula-
ton; they are 1850 miles from San Fran
cisco, and about equally remote from any
other islands of Importance They are on
the track of a large commerce in and be-
yond the Pacific a commerce which prom
ises a large expansion under the inSpira-
ton and operation of republican principles
and influences. Within the past few years
our trade in the Pacific ocean has rapidly
increased from inconsiderable proportions.
Although about one-third of the population
of the Slobe lies beyond the Pacific, our ex-
ports to that quarter have been, until late
years, scarcely worth the mentioning. Our
attention has been mainly directed to the
development and increase of our traffic be-
yond the Atlantic.
Our wisest statesmen early.feFesaw the
opportunity for extending our commerce be-
yond the Pacific. Mr.. Seward, nearly half
a century ago, expressed the conviction
that the, Pacific. ocean its shores, its
nn,an tbe ct;ee tbaatar re events ~ the
worlds great hereafter"
We have witnessed in the past few years
pan has been touched by the spirit of prog
TeSS and China is gradually awakening
IRON nd t ner co}Ta in nd bena ~ tbe Pa
cifc has been rapidly increasing with their
development. American flour and other
farm products and various articles of man
ufacture are exported from our Pacific ports
to an extent never before equaled and to a
degree which gives great promise During
Creased from 1u Soo to $40 600 and to
Japan from 100000 to S21O00,000, and to
other transpacifc and intrapacific countries
in like ratio. 1t is our purpose to further
cultivate and expand this trade. The oppor-
tunity is here and it is our national duty
to utilize 1t.
Nicaragua Canal, Too.
We must construct the Nicaraguan canal
we must cut that narrow barrier to a
mighty commerce. commerce great to-
day. but who can measure its magnitude in
the years to come? Lying in the pathway
of trade from the western opening of the
Nicaraguan canal to Japan, China, etc.. are
the Hawaiian islands. The advantage OF
their possession by us not only to-day, but
in the years to come, is beyond estimate
The most ordinary wisdom and foresight
would justify their acquisition. Their pos
session by some commercial rival, Asatic
or European competing with us for
trade of the Pacific, would be a con-
slant menace and injury to our commerce.
BY taking them to-day, not forcibly, but
peacefully and honoraby, we remove them
tention. They are now and henceforth will
be American
The annexation of the islands has been
advocated by some of our able statesmen
and naval strategists from early date.
In 1858 Secretary of State Marcy, one or the
abest men who have occupied that great
office and a Democrat. wrote to Minister
Mason, in Francois follows:
Il do not think the Hawaiian government
can long remain in the hands of the pres
ent rulers or under the control OF the ma
tive nhabitants of these islands, and both
England and France are dpprlSed or our de-
termination not to allow them TO be owned
by or to fall under the protection of these
powers or of any other European nation.
1t seems to be inevitable that they must
come under the control of this government,
these powers should acquiesce in such dis
position of them, provided the transferenee
was effected by fair means
On March %, 1873 Secretary Fish wrote: