Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-06
TIRE MESSAGE.
CONTINUED from page 81

nc, % anai,1ins, articles may be provis-
ionaly saved. rso, Gov q ganeral
,d dne ~ iof the vast military establish
menis that weigh SO heavily upon many
neoples in time of peace was commun.
Gated 10 this government wi'i in an the con-
FERENCE which it is contemplated ~
assemble with view to discussing .he
means of accomplishing SO des onsa IN
result His Majesty was at once this
formed of the cordial sympathy OF . 1
government. The question can nave LII
us no practical Importance save eh as hntter-
ing an suspicious step toward tne pe..e.
ment and good will among THEM, ~. ~. 70
this view it behooves us as a Ha'i1 1n, 20
lend countenance and ana 10 wy
Ie Tha +, ms Of owners of American seal
ing vessels for seizure by RUSSIAN ~ uis |
ers in Behring sea are ne' Of p the cases
Justify the expectation tnat measure " |
PREPARATION win eventually De lcc1 Or ,,ant ~
harmony with precedent anu III 'iie sN
of the proven facts. 80 c,oo. |
Malietoa Laupepa, King of samoa, |
died on August END last ACCORDING s,; 70
Article l of the general act OF Befnn,
.'his successor shall be duly elected ac.
cording. to the laws ana customs VI
Samoa. -, .ho
return of his old time rival Mataafa VIII
add to the undesirable compncali.o;,.lss
which the executive OF the irlp hI lo
general act has heretofore developed re-
mains to be seen The efforts of tins gov
eminent win as heretofore, be adoreSssGtd
toward harmonious and exact lui. a
ment of the terms of international en-
ragement to which the United states De-
came a party in 1889.
Immediately upon the outbreak OF lne
war with Spain the Swiss government,
fulfilling the high mission 1t mas deSerN-
eddy assumed as the patron or the inter
national Red Cross, proposed TO the uni
ted States and Spain that they should
severally recognize and carry into eNecu-
ton, as a modus vivendi, during the CON
tinuance of hostilities, the additional ar
ticles proposed by the international con-
ference of Geneva, October ~, 1868, ex-
tending the effects of the Red Cross con,
vention of 1864 to the conduct OF naval
war.
The Swiss proposal was promptly and
cordially accepted by United States and
Spain. The government feels Keen SAT
isfaction in having thus been 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 by sea as well as on land
may soon become an accomplished fact.
The newly accredited envoy of the Uni
ted States to the Ottoman Porte carries
instructions looking to the. disposal OF
matters in controversy with Turkey Tor
number of years. He is especially
our claims for indemnity by reason of
the destruction of the property of Amer
lean missionaries resident in that coun-
try during the Armenia troubles of 1895.
as well as for the recognition of older
claims of equal business.
The arbitral tribunal appointed under
the treaty of February 2, 1897, between
Great Britain and Venezuela, to deter
mine the boundary line between the lat
ter and the colony of British Guiana, is
to convene at Paris, during the present
month. 1t is a source of much graittica-
ton to this government to see the friend
~ resort of arbitration applied to the set
tIement of this controversy.
The experiences of the last year bring
forcibly home to us sense of the bur-
dens and the waste of war We desire
in common with most civilized nations,
to reduce to the lowest possible point the
damage sustained in time of war by
peaceful 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 I'M
easiness and apprehension into which an
outbreak of hostilities throws the entire
commercial world 1t should be our OBJ
ject therefore, to minimize SO far as
practicable. this inevitable loss and dis
best be accomplished by an international
agreement to regard all private property
at sea az exempt from capture or de-
Struction by the forces of belligerent
powers. The United States government
has for many years advocated this hu-
name and beneficient principle,a and is now
in position to recommend it to other
powers without selfish motives. there
fore suggest for your consideration that
the executive be authorized to correspond
with the governments of the principal
maritime powers with a view of incor-
porating into the permanent law of
civilized nation the principle of exemp-
ton of all private property at sea, not
contraband of war, from capture or de-
struction by belligerent powers.
1t is estimated upon the basis of the
present revenue laws that the receipts of
the government for the year ending June
35, 1898, will be $SI1,S746E and its expendi-
lures $6s9.S7i,647, resulting in deficiency
of Sl12, 900. 600.
The provisions made for Strengthening
the resources of the treasury in connec-
confidence in the purpose and power of
the government to maintain the present
standard and has established more firm
ly the national credit at home. and
abroad. A marked evidence of this Is
found in the inflow of gold to the treas
ury.
I renew so much of my, recommends
when any of the United States notes are
presented for redemption in gold and are
redeemed in gold such notes shall be
exchange for gold. This is obvious
duty. If the holder of the United States
notes prefers the gold and gets it from
the government he should not receive
back from the government United
States not without paying gold in ex-
change for ii. The reason for this is
government issues an interest bearing
debt to provide gold for the redemption
Omit Of United States s, notes non-interest
them out again except on demand and for
gold If they are put out i'll any other
way they may return again to be fol-
lowed by another bond issue 20 redeem
another interest bearing |ebt to redeem
a non-interest bearing Debt.
In my judgment the present condition
of the treasury amply justifes the imme-
date enactment of the legislation recon-
mended one year ago under which a por-
ton of the gold holdings should be
placed in trust fund from which green
backs should be redeemed upon presenta-
ton, but when once redeemed should not
thereafter be paid out except for gold.
1t is not to be inferred that other legis-
lation relating to our currency is not re-
CURED, on the contrary there is an OBJ
Vious demand for it.
The Importance of adequate provision
which will insure to our future a money
standard related money standard
now is to that Of our commercial rivals is
generally recognized.
The companion proposition that our do
nestle paper currency shall be kept safe
and yet be related to the needs of our
industries and internal commerce as to
be adequate and responsive to such needs
Is proposition scarcely less important.
The subject, in all its parts, is commend
ed to the wise consideration of the Con-
gress. The annexation of Hawaii and
the changed relations of the United
States to Cuba, Porto Rico and the Phil
lppines resulting from the war, compel
the prompt adoption of a maritime policy
by the United States There should be