The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-12-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

4kLLY1DENL - MGSSAUE.
On Tuesday President Mckinley
sent to Congress his annual message.
1t is a much more elaborate one than
many Of it's predecessors, containing
as it does over 20, 900 words. 1t touch
es very fully upon almost every i'm
portant public event. Its leading
features are the recommendations for
the maintenance of the gold standard
and the regulation Of trusts, the dis
cussion OF the situation in the Philip
pines and Cub, the proposed plan OF
government for Puerto Rico, the ne
cessity of legislation for Hawaii and
Alaska, the exposition of our policy in
China, which, though brief, is peril
nently stated, and the Presidents de-
Tense of his order amending the civil
service act.
In opening his message, Mr.. Nc
Kinley dwells upon the prosperity OF
the United States, showing that the
combined exports and imports for 1899
are the largest III Our history. The
exports of agricultural products
amount to to 1884, 77G, 142, while the
aggregate of manufactured products
is $3.50, 592 LAG. The receipts Of the
Government, in the opinion of the
Secretary of the Treasury, will exceed
the expenditures for the fiscal year,
which will end on June, so, 1900, and a
surplus of S40,000,000 is anticipated
The Treasury is in good condition and
on December 1 held $3.50, 744,905 in
gold coin and bullion. In fact, as the
President points out, confidence pre-
walls, there is increased activity in in
dustry and the present seems to be a
good time for Congress to enact fnan-
cial legislation.
"Our receipts" says the President,
''now equal our expenditures, and de-
ficient revenues no longer create
alarm. Let us remove the only re-
naming cause by comforting 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 declar-
ed policy of the United States" The
President recommends that to "sup-
port the existing gold standard ::
the Secretary of the Treasury be given
additional power and charged with
the duty to sell United States bonds
n n I" on long and short time, as the
conditions may require" The Presi.
dent further recommends such
changes in the national banking act
as will make it more effective in pro-
viding needful additions to the circu-
iation in time of emergency. Larger
agricultural production, he declares,
calls for an increased volume of money
supply.
The President defends his position
in the Philippines in strong terms. He
says:
1.-THE islands were coded by the
Government of Spain, which had been
in undisputed possession of them for
centuries. They were accepted not
merely by our authorized commission
ers in Paris, under the direction OF
the Executive, but by the constitu-
tional and we!l.considered action of
the representatives of the people of
the United States in both houses of
Congress. l had every reason to be
lieve, and l still believe, that this
transfer of sovereignty was in accord
ance with the wishes and aspirations
of the great mass of the Filipino peo-
ple." From the earliest moment, de-
clares the President, no opportunity
was lost of assuring the people of the
islands "of our ardent desire for their
welfare and of the intention of this
Government to do everything posi-
BILE to advance their interests" 1t is
claimed that the ''sinister ambition of
a few Filipino leaders created q situa-
ton full of embarrassment to us and
most grievous in its conse quences to
them"
There can now be no doubt as to
what the conclusion of the President |
is in regard to these islands. He IN
doubtedly wants to hold them per-
manently. i
'The future government of the |
Philippines rests with Congress-" he
asserts. Few graver responsibilities
have ever been contided to us. If we |
accept them in q spirit worthy of our
race and traditions, a great oppor-
tunity comes with them, The islands