The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

. , : / S& ~ ~ ~ S%S
TRUSTS, DISCUSSES NONE.
TARY PROBLEMS, OUR FOR
BIN RELATIONS, TaE NICARA.
qua CANAL AND RESPONSE
BILITIRs OF OUR DEPENDEN.
CIES.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-President Nc
Kinley to-dey transmitted his message
to Congress. It was read in both
houses and referred to the proper com
mittees. The summary Of the message
is as follows:
The Senate and House upon the
threshold Of their deliberations are
called upon to mourn with their coun.
trymen the death OF Vice President
Hobart. His great soul rests in eternal
peace. His private life was pure and
elevating and his public career distin-
guished by stainless integrity and ex-
allied motives.
Country Prosperous.
The condition of the country is that
OF unusual prosperity good will exists
among the people of all relations and
we have the friendship Of every gov
eminent Of the word. Foreign com
merce has greatly increased in volume.
The value Of imports and exports is
the largest ever known in a single
year. The Secretary of the Treasury
estimates the surplus Of the present
year at forty million.
The conditions Of con1deEca have
brought gold into more general use
The custom receipts are now almost
entirely gold.
Redeem Greenbacks.
President Mckinley recommends ad
ditional power to the Secretary of the
Treasury to sell United States bonds
and employ other means necessary to
maintain the parity bet geen gold and
silver. This authority should include
power to sell long and ehort bonds. He
also reneWs his former recommends.
ton, that a portion of the gold hold.
ings be placed in a trust fund, from
which greenbacks may be redeemed
upon presentation. When redeemed
they are not thereafter to be paid out
except for gold.
Trusts Denounced,
Combinations and trusts which are
justly provoking public discussion,
should claim the early attention Of
Congress. It is universally conceded
that Co ordinations, controlling the COM
modities necessary to the general
community by ~suppressing competi
ton, whereby prices r enhanced to
the general consumer, are obnoxious
to common law and also to public vel.
fare. There must be a remedy for such
evil; if the present law can be extended
to control and check such trusts it
should be done without delay. What.
ever power the Congress possesses over
this most important subject should be
promptly escertained and asserted
The State legislation which President
Cleveland looked to as a relief for the
evils of trusts has failed to accomplish
its Objects, which is due to divergent
views in various States. Uniformity
of legislation in the States is desired.
Nicarauga Canal.
The President extendedIy reviews
our relations with foreign govern
ments. The contract with the Mari
time Canal Company at Nicarauga is
declared forfeited to the Nicaraugan
government on the ground Of the nom
fuIflment of the ten years term stipu
lated in the contract The company
has lodged a protest against the action.
This appears worthy of consideration.
Nicarauge can aft ord a fair hearing on
the merits OF the case. The great i'm
portance of the NicRrauga Canal can.
not be too strongly impressed on Con
gress. Reasons for early action are
stronger than ever,
Relations With z England
There is a marked discussion of the
intercourse between the United States
and Great Britain. This government
maintained the attitude Of neutrality
between Great Britain and the Beers.
Had circumstances warranted our good
off ;es would gladly have been ten
dered.
Cable to Manila.
He renews his recommendation Of a
cable to Manila and recommends, in
case Congress should not take meas
ures to effect this direct action that the
government Postmaster General be
authorized to invite competitive bids
for the establishment of the cable.
Cuba and Porto Rico
Tho i0Tnt rnsOJ17tjop adonteS nv