Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-12-08
The Presidents Message.

portance. Its leading features are the rec
for the maintenance of the
gold standard and the regulation of trusts,
the discussion of the situation in the Phil
ippines and Cuba, the proposed plan OF gov.
,rnment for Peutro Rico, the necessity OF
legislation for Hawaii and Alaska, the ex-
position of our policy in China, which,
though brief, is pertinently stated, and the
Presidents defense Of his order amending
he civil service act.
In opening his message, Mr.. Mckinley
iwells upon the prosperity of the United
States, showing that the combined exports
md imports for 1899 are the largest In our
history. The exports of agricultural prod
ncts amount to $7S4,776, 149, while the ag-
yregate of manufactured products is $780,
j92,146. The receipts of the Government,
N the opinion of the Secretary OF the
Treasury, will exceed the expenditures for
The fiscal year, which will end on June 30,
1900, and a surplus OF 900 is antici'
pated. The Treasury is in good condition
and on December / held $3.50, 744 ,905 in
gold coin and bullion. In fact, as the Pres
ident points out, confidence prevails, there
Is increased activity in industry and the
present seems to be a good time for Con
gress to enact financial legislation.
sour receipts" says the President, snow
equal our expenditures, and deficient reve-
nues no longer create alarm. Let US re-
move the only remaining cause by confer
ring the full and necessary power on the
Secretary of the Treasury, and impose upon
him the duty to uphold the present gold
standard and preserve the coins of the two
metals on parity with each other, which
is the repeatedly declared policy OF the
United States" The President recommends
IN Ua ha aviaiinn nnlH a nHa I'd
The Secretary of the Treasury
be given additional power and charged with
the duty to sell United States bonds
on long and short time, as the conditions
may require" The President further rec
ommends such changes In the national
banking act as will make 1t more effective
in providing needful additions to the cir
cuation in time OF emergency Larger az
ricuiIural production, he declares, calls Tor
an incTeas,d volume OF money supply.
Iu delendlng his policy in the Pnlnppines
the President takes the following position:
" The islands were ceded 10y the Govern.
ment OF Spain, which had been in undis-
puted possession OF them TOR CENTURIES
they were accepted not merely by our au-
thorlzed commissioners In Paris, under the
direction OF the Executive, but by the con
stitutlonal and well considered action oi
the representatives, of the people Of the
United States In both houses OF Congress. -
| had every reason TO believe, and l still
believe, that this transfer OF sovereignty
was in accordance with the wishes and the
aspirations of the great mass OF the Fill.
pino people," From the earliest moment,
declares the President, no opportunity was
lost of assuring the people oil the Islands
"of our ardent desire for their welfare and
OF the intention of this Government to do
everything possible to advance their inter
ests" 1t is claimed that the "sinister am
bition of few Filipino leaders created a
situation full of embarrassment to us and
most grievous in its consequences to them. !"
What is Mr.. McKinley's conclusionP 1t
Is what his speeches in the past few months
have plainly indicated, that he and those
whom he represents want to hold on per.
manently to the islands. "The future gov
ernment of the Philippines rests with Con-
gress," he asserts. "Few graVer response.
bilitles have ever been confided TO US. If
we accept them in spirit worthy OF our
race and traditions, a great opportunity
comes with them. The islands lie under
the shelter OF our flag, and are ours by every
title OF law and equity. They cannot be
abandoned. II we desert them we leave
them at once TO anarchy and finally To bar
barism. We fling them, golden apple OF
discord, among the rival powers. Their rich
plains and valleys would be the scenes OF
endless strife and barbarism." Mr.. McKin-
ley scorns the suggestion that we renounce
our authority over the islands and give them
Independence, maintaining protectorate
over them. "Our flag" he says, "has never
waved over any community but III blessing"
The Filipinos will soon recognize the fact
that IL "has not lost It's gift OF benediction in
its world wide journey TO their shores"
In regard to Cuba, the President declares
that the pledge of Independence made by
Congress is of the highest honorable obi
cation and must be sacredly kept. "Our
mission, TO accomplish which we took up
the wager Of battle, Is not TO be fulfilled"
however, "by turning adrilt any loosely
framed commonwealth TO face the vclssi.
tudes which too often attend weaker states,
whose natural wealth and abundant re-
sources are Offset by the incongruities Of
their political organization and the recur
ring occasions for internal rivalries To sap
their strength and disspate their energies"
The policy Of the Administration is TO fit
the Cubans "for regenerated existence by
enforcing the supremacy OF law and Justice"
and TO "take every rational step To aid the
DeODlt OI NuUu W hIlhlu W tuhb plhhC VI
self.conscious respect and sef-reliant unity
which fits an enlightened community for
self government" There is a remote sug
Restion OF annexation In the Presidents re-
mark that "the destines OF Cuba are in some
rightful form and manner rrevocaOly linked
with our own, whether those ties shall be
organic or conventional"
The President takes a positive stand
against trusts, which, he says. are obnox-
ious not only TO the common law, but also
To the public welfare" at is To be hoped"
he concludes, after u discussion OF the sub.
ject, shat means may be found by the Con
gress within the limitations OF its constitu-
tlOnal power ~ 50 supplement an effective
code OF Stat legislation as 10 make CON
d ,ele system Of laws throughout the U nited
States adequate TO compel general ob-erv'
ance ul the salutary rules TO which / have
referred
Mr.. Mckinley is friendly To the shipping
subsidy scheme III am satisfied" he says,
"Lhe Judgment of the country favors the
policy OF aid W our merchant marine, which
will broaden our commerce and markets
and upbuild our sea carrying capacity for
the products OF agriculture and manufac-
ture."
After recommending u system of govern
ment for Puerto Rico along the lines Of Sec
rotary Roots report, as printed recently In
the Sun, the President says "The markets
of the United States should be opened up 10
the islands products. Our plain duty is TO
abolish all customs tariffs between the U nIted
States and Puerto Rico, and give the latier's
products free access W our markets"
The President declares that his civil ser.
vice order was justidable and has strengthen
cd the merit system. He commends the
Nicaragua Canal scheme deprecates lynch
ings in the United States; speaks faVorablY
of the Paris Exposition suggests certain
changes, for the benefit OF widows, 10 the
pension laws; advocates early legislation
for Hawaii and Alaska; recommends liberal
appropriations for the maintenance and i'm
provement Of the navy commends the work
of the Peace Conference at The Hague;
points out certain matters which may cause
friction between the United States and Tur
key, and refers TO the good relations be-
tween the United States, Germany and Great
Britain.
In regard 10 the lynching Of aliens In the