The Press., 1898-10-06

sues SO SIOdAAJ PAOoOhSSO1 IAO A~S"io Ue the polls was never doubtful, and Bryan ism, with all the political vagaries and socialistic absurdities that term implies, went down in unhappy and overwhelm- ing defeat.
 Mckinley and the Tariff. President Mckinley assumed office with full appreciation of his duties and responsibilities, as we'll as of his obliga- tions to the great political party that had selected him for it's leader, and almost his first executive act was to issue a proclamation calling congress together in extra session for the definite purpose of revising the tariff. In compliance with that call congress assembled on the fifteenth day of March of last year, only II days after the presidents inaugura- tion. The ways and means committee of the fifty-fourth congress had already carefully prepared a tariff bill. This measure was promptly reported, and after full discussion was passed by the house on the last day of March, or bare ly 16 days after the convening of con gress. And it is a noteworty fact that the tariff pledges of the St. Louis plat form were redeemed within the first month of President McKinley's admins tration.
 Furthermore, the tariff act of 1897, as it first passed the house of representa- tives, was distinctly 8 Republican measure, framed upon the lines of the Mckinley tariff of 1890, but providing for larger revenues. The new tariff was intended to become operative upon the first day of the following May, and if the house bill could have been speedily ap proved and passed by the Democratic and Populistic senate, many millions of dol lars would have been saved to the na- tiOnal treaSury-SubSeQue lost through anticipatory importations of dutiable merchandise. Unfortunately, without Republican majority in the upper branch of congress, delays and concessions were unavoidable.
 The New Tariff Law.
 The Dingley tariff as it finally became a law is possibly, like most compromises, not altogether perfect. Yet it has al ready demonstrated it's adequacy as a revenue and as protective measure. Under it, the revenues were steadily in creasing, notably so in the early months of the current year, and gave promise of meeting the necessary requirements of the government, until the probability of a foreign war intervened to disturb nor nal conditions and greatly increase ex- penditures. It can be indisputably claimed that under the benefcent opera tions of the Dingley tariff business has improved, trade has become more fourishing, importations have decreased, expectations have increased agriculture has prospered, mills and workshops have again opened their doors. Capital finds profitable investment, and labor is in active demand at remunerative wages. In fact, if necessary, the Republican party could safely rest it's case in the coming elections upon it's tariff record alone.
 Fifty-fifth Congress.
 The second session of the fifty fifth con- gress convened in December last, will be remembered as one of the most remarka- ble in the annals of our congressional history. It was to a great extent oc- uoied with legislation made necessary by the Spanish war, although number of important legislative measures we1e enacttI, among them a carefully consid- ereI national bankruptcy law. Other matters of equal or more importance were necessarily postponed to more con- venient season. This, unfortunately, was the case with much needed financial leg islatiOn.
 It can be said, however, that a revision of the national banking laws, upon the lin .s proposed by the Indianapolis none tary commission, was prepared by the house banking and currency committee, and its consideration was asked for by nearly 15O Republican representatives.
 But action was deferred until the next session of congress- because of the lack of a Republican majority in the senate, and possibly may be still further de- layed until the next congress, when it is hoped and unless all the signs fail now seen in the brightening political skies, there will be Republican majority of from four to eight votes 1n the United States senate, giving the Re-
 publican party full control of all branches of the national government for the hrst time since 1890, and further enabling the
 national government to eal-y out the sound financial policy outlines in the
 St. Louis platform, and more recently | affirmed and elaborated in the Republi- can platforms of Connecticut and many
 other states.
 Annexation Policy.
 Another measure that marks a period in our national history was the annexa- tion of the Hawaiian islands These for
 tunate isles, situated in mid-Pacific, on the great ocean highway betewen the Oc- cident and the Orient, were civilized, ChristianiZed and redeemed from barbar- | ism by American missionaries, whose de- scendants have long been the controlling
 and governing power among the island CTS. Threatened in recent years with Asiatic and heathen domination, these
 sons and daughters of New England ap pealed to the land of their fathers for succor. Somewhat tardily we have lis | tened to the voice of our own kith and kin and these fair and fertile islands are now American terr
 As to the War.
 The most notable act of the present congress was the declaration of war with Spain, undertaken to relieve an oppressed people and to vindicate our national l honor. No war was ever more justifia | ble. The humanitarian sentiments of all ! good people had long been outraged by the gross misrule and oft repeated Span | ish atrocities in the island of Cuba, and all political parties united to put an end to these insufferable conditions. Early | in his administration, President Mckin- ley opened negotiations with Spain. l Strong representations and remon- l strances were made and the Spanish gov | ernment reluctantly responded by recall l ing the butcher, Captain General Weyler, l and also granted a liberal degree of autonomy to the Cuban people. Means l were taken to relieve the starving recon
 centrados, and all indications seemed to promise peaceable adjustment of differ | ences between the contending parties upon the basis of free Cuba. The pres
 ident and his cabinet faithfully labored to preserve the peace, and exhausted the l resources of diplomacy to secure cessa- tion of hostilities.