The Progress., 1898-12-10

the conference.
, The active military force Of the United
states, as measured by our population, ter.
rlt0rlai area and taxable wealth Is, and
under any conceivable prospective condi.
lions must continue to be in time Of peace
so c0nspicuOusly less than that Of the arm.
ed powers to whom the Cars appeal Is
especially addressed that the question can
nave Tor us no practical Importance save
as marking an auspiciOus step toward the
retirement of the condition Of the modern
peoples and the cultivation of peace and
So0d VIII among them: but in this view it
behooyes us as a nation to lend cOunte-
nance and aid to the benefcient project.
SWITZERLANDS PROPOSAL ACCEPT
Immediately upon the outbreak Of war
with Spain. the Swiss government, fulfilling
the high mission it has deservedly assum-
ed as the patron Of the international Red
Cross, proposed to the United States and
Spain that they should severaly recognize
and carry into execution as a mOdus viven-
Oil during the continuance of hOstilities. the
additional articles proposed by the inter-
national conference of Geneva, October 20.
1865 extending the effects of the existing
Red Cross convention Of 1866 to the conduct
of naval war. Following the example set
by France and Germany Of 1870 in adopting
such modus vivendi and in view Of the
accession Of the United States to those ar
ticles in 1882. although the exchange Of
ratification thereof still remained unaffect-
ed, the sOciety's proposal was promptly
and cordially accepted by US and simulta-
neously by SPAIN This government feels
enabled to. testify its adherence to the
broadcast principles Of humanity even amidst
the clash Of war, and it Is to be hoped that
the extension OF the Red Cross compact
to hostilitieS at sea as we'll as on land may
soon become an accomplished fact through
the general PRONUNCIATION Of the additional
naval Red Cross articles by the maritime
powers now parties to the convention Of
1864.
The important question Of the claim Of
Switzerland to the perpetual cantOnal al
legiance Of American citizens Of Swiss or
igin has not made hopeful progress toward
solution and controversies in this regard
still continue.
A BENEFIT TO AMERICAN INDUS
TRIES.
During the past year the important work
Of collecting information Of practical bene-
fit to American industries and trade through
the agency of the diplomatic and consular
offices has been steadily advanced. and in
order to lay such data before the public
with the least delay the practice was be-
gun in January, 1898, of Issuing the COM
mercal reports from day to day as they
are received by the department of state
1t is believed that for promptitude as we'll
as for fullnesS Of information the service
thus supplied to our merchants and manu-
facturers will be found to show sensible
improvement and to merit the liberal sup
port Of congress.
EXEMPTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY
DURING WAR.
The experiences of the last year bring
tOrcibly home to US a sense Of the burdens
and the waste Of war. We desire in COM
mon with most civilized nations to reduce
to the lowest possible point the damage
sustained in time Of war by peaceable trade
and commerce.
1t is true we may suffer in such cases
less than other communities but all nations
are damaged more or less by the state Of
uneasness and apprehension into which an
outbreak Of hOstilities throws the entire
commercial world. 1t shsOuld be our OBJ
ject therefore to minimize so far as prac-
ticable this inevitable loss and disturbance
This purpose can probably be best accom-
plished by an international agreement to
regard all private property at sea as eX-
empt from capture or destruction by the
forces Of belligerent powers. The United
States government has for many years adj
yOcated this humane and beneticent' prin-
ciple and is now in position to recommend
it to other powers without the imputation
of selfish motives. l therefore suggest for
your consideration that the executive be
authorized to correspond with the govern
ments of the principal maritime powers
with q view Of Incorporating into the per-
manent law Of civilized nations the princi
pie Of the exemption of all private prop
erty at sea, not cOntraband of war, from
capture or destruction by belligerent pow
erS.
CURRENCY REFORM.
I renew so much Of my recommendation
OF December 6, 1897, as follows:
That when any Of the United States notes
are presented for redemption in gold and
are redeemable in gold, such notes shall be
kept and set apart and only paid out In
exchange for gold. This Is an obvious du-
ty. If the holder of the United States note
prefers the gold and gets 1t from the gov
eminent, he should not receive back from
the government United States note with.
out paying gold In exchange for It. The
reason for this Is made all the more appar-
ent when the government Issues an inter-
est bearing debt to provide gold for the
redemption of United States notes-a non
interest bearing debt. Surely 1t should not
pay them out again except on demand and
for gold. II they are put In any other way
they may return again, to be followed by
another bond issue to redeem them-an-
other Understanding debt to redeem non
debt
This recommendation was made In the
belief that such provisions of law would
insure to a greater degree the safety of
the present standard and better protect our
currency from the dangers to which it Is
subjected from disturbance in the general
business condition of the country. In my
Judgment the present condition of the treas
ury amply justifies the immediate enact
ment of the legislation recommended one
year ago, under which portion Of the
gold holdings should be placed in a trust
fund from which greenbacks should be re-
ieemed on presentation. but when once re-
deemed should not thereafter be paid out
except for gold.
It is not to be inferred that other legisla-
ton relating to our currency Is not requlr-
ed on the contrary there Is an obvious de-
mand for 1t.
The importance of adequate provision
which will insure to our future money
standard related as our money standard Is
now to that of our commercial rivals, Is
generally recognized. The companion prop
ositlon that our domestic paper currency
shall be kept safe and yet be so related
to the needs of our industries and inter:
national commerce as to be adequate and
responsive to such needs is proposition
scarcely less important. The subject, In
t, dad RI tho vvfSp