The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-12-07
Tho President's Message.

President McKinley's message, one
Of the longest ever emanating fIom the
Executive Mansion. WAS put through
its usual perfunotory reading in both
houses Tuesday The main features are
the recommendations for the main
tenance Of the gold standard and the
regulation Of trusts. the discussion OF
the situation in the Philippines and
Cuba, the proposed plan Of government
for Paerto Rico, the necessity Of legis-
lation for Hawaii and Alaska, the ex
position Of our policy in Chine and the
Presidents defense Of his order amend
ing the civil service act, which he says
has strengthened the merit system.
MIR. Mckinley in the opening of his
message dwells upon the prosperity OF
the United States, and states that the
combined exports and imports for 1899
are the largest in our history The ex-
ports of agricultural products amount
to 1854. 776, ll2, while the aggregate OF
manufactured products is $3.50, 692 ,l46
The Government receipts, In the opin.
ion If the Secretary Of the Treasury
will exceed the expenditures for the
fiscal year, which will end on June 30,
1900 and surplus Of $40. 600. 600 is
anticipated The Treasury is in good
condition and on December l held
$3.50 "a 9O5 in gold coin and bullion.
Confidence prevails, there is increased
activity in industry and the present
seems, in the opinion Of the President,
to be good time for Congress to enact
financial legislation.
Oar receipts, he says. now equal
our expenditures, and deficient reye'
nues no longer create alarm. Lot as re-
move the only remaining cause by con-
ferring the full and necessary power on
the Secretary Of the Treasury. and i'm
pose upon him the duty TO uphold the
present gold standard aud preserve the
coins Of the two metals on parity
with each other, which is the repeated
ly declared policy Of the United
States. The President recommends
that to support the existing gold stand.
ard the Secretary Of the Treasury be
given additional power aud charge
with the duty to sell United States
bonds on loDg and short time. as the
conditions may require. He further
recommends such changes in the ma.
tional banking act as will make It
more effective in providing needful ad-
ditions 10 the circulation in time Of
emergency Larger agricultural pro-
duction. he declares, calls for an in
creased volume Of money supply.
In defense Of his policy in the Philip
pines the President says: The islands
were ceGed by the Government Of Spain.
which had been in undisputed posses
sion Of them for centuries. They were
acc .pted not merely by our authorized
commissioners in Paris, under the di-
rect.on # the Executive. but by the
con Ntutional aud well-considered ac-
tion 4 the representatives. Of the people
# the United States in both houses OF
| Congress | had every reason TO be-
lieye. and | still believe, that this
transfer Of sovereignty was IN accord
ance with the wishes and the aspira-
tions Of the great mass of the Filipino
peopls From the earliest moment,
declares the President, no opportunity
was lost Of assuring the people OF the
islands cot our ardent desire for their
welfare ard Of the intention Of this
Government to do everything possible
10 advance their interests " 1t is claim
cd that the sinister ambition Of few
Filipino leaders created situation full
If embarrassment to Us and most griev-
Gus in its consequences to them. "
The future government Of the
Philippines rests with Congress, be
rsserts Few graver responsibilities
have over been conhted to us. II we
accept them in a spirit worthy Of our
I zee aud traditions. great opportunity
comes with them The islands lie
under the shelter OF our flag. and ours
by every title Of law and equity. They
cannot be abandoned If we desert
them we leave them at once to anarchy
and finally TO barbarism. We fling
them, a golden apple Of discord, among
the rival powers. Their rich plains and
valleys would be the scenes OF endless
strife ard barbarism Mr.. Mckinley
scorns the suggestion that we renounce
our authority over the islands and give
them independence, maintaining
proteotorate over them. Our hag'
he SAYS. "has never waved over any
community but in blessing " The
Filipinos will soon recognize the fact
that it has not lost its gift OF bene-
diction in its world. vide journey e.
their shores.
The President asserts that the pledge
of Cuban independence made by Oon'
gress is VI the highest honorable obli'
CATION and must be sacredly kept "Our
mission. TO accomplish which we took
up the wager Of battle, is not to be full
filed" however. by turning adrift
any loosely framed commonwealth to
face the vicissitudes which too often
attend weaker states, whose natural
wealth and abundant resources are off,
set by the inoongruities Of their politi-
Cal organization and the recurring oc-
casions for internal rivalries to sap
their strength and dissipate their
energies" The policy of the Ad-
ministration is to fit the Cubans for
regenerated Texistence by enforcing
e To-. ~ nj