The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Summary Of President nckinley's
Message to Congress.

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tract widespread attention because it
deals with the new conditions brought
about by the accession of new terri
tory resulting from the Spanish Amer
ican war, and because it will be re-
garded as the plea Of the Republican
party for the support of the American
people in the presidential election of
next year. That the messageis inter
esting throughout and is we'll worth
reading, despite it's great length, there
is no doubt. It is given in full, word
for word, in The Journal to-day. Its
main points are summarized below:
The president begins by stating that
on the threshold Of the deliberations
of Congress the members are called
upon to mourn with their countrymen
the death Of Vice President Hobart,
paying tribute to the worth Of the
dead statesman.
The president next declares unqual-
ifedly for the gold standard. Onthls
momentous question, he says:
81 urgently recommend that to sup
port the existing gold standard and to
maintain sthe party value Of the coins
Of the two metals gold and silver,
and the equal power of every dollar at
all times in the market and in the
payment Of debts the secretary Of
the treasury be given additional power
and charged with the duty to- sell
United States bonds and to employ
such other effective means as may be
necessary to these ends.
Mr.. Mckinley next discusses the
subject of an American merchant
marine, and earnestly recommends
that steps be taken by Congress to
encourage and aid in the establishment
of great marine, seemingly endors-
ing the proposed ship subsidy move
ment without caying SO clearly.
Perhaps there is no greater surprise
in the message than the Presidents
reference to the trusts. He places
his administration sqrarely in oppo-
sition to the combinations Of trade.
On this S oject he says:
Combinations of capital organized
into trusts to control the conditions Of
trade among the citizens, to stife
competition, limit production and de-
termine the prices of products used
and consumed by the people, are just
ly provoking public discussion and
should early claim the attention OF
Congress.
Coming to the Transvaal-British
war, the President seemingly rebukes
in no uncertain tones the recent utter
ances of Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
British colonial secretary, and Mr..
Joseph Choate, United States ambas-
sador to England, proclaiming that
this country and England are practi-
cally in alliance. The President re-
afirms the time-honored doctrine
that this country shall remain free
from entangling foreign alliances. He
says:
s'This government has maintained
an attitude of neutrality in the unfor-
tunate contest between Great Britain
and the Boer States Of Africa. We
have remained faithful to the precept
Of avoiding entangling alliances as to
affairs not Of our direct concern. Had
circumstances suggested that the par
ties to the quarrel would have well
coined any kindly expression of the
hope of the American people that war
might be averted, good Offices would
have been rendered. y
Coming to the acquisition Of Porto
Rico and discussing the Cuban "ucs-
tion, the President dy ellis on the des-
tiny Of both countries, recommending
the establishment Of a civil govern
ment for Porto Rico as rapidly as pos
sible and the raising Of the custom
duties on exports of that island. He
declares that the island of Cuba, which
is temporarily under the protection of
the United States, must be turned
over to the people Of the island as
soon as stable government can be
formed, reaf6rming the purpose OF
the government declared prior to the
Spanish war that the people Of Cuba
would be given their freedom and the
yoke of Spanish rule swept away. He
says this pledge is Of the highest hon
orable obligation and must be sacredly
kept. Then he speaks Of the intimacy
which must exist between America
and Cuba and Of the destiny Of the is
land, declaring we must protect the
people.
The President reiterated the Philip