Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1899-12-13
the PRE- SIDfsrS MESSAGE.

President Mckinlcy's annual mes
sage, n briefsynopsis Of which is given
elsewhere, Is n very lengthy state
paper, rendered So by the many i'm
purtant questions which have arisen
to demand his attention.
The president treats every question
in n clear, able n and from the
standpoint Of n thorough American.
Special attention Is given to the Phil
ippines, trusts, currency, Cuban af-
fairs, and our merchant marine. As
to the Philippines he clearly shows
that the United States came intopos-
session OF the islands through the
treaty with Spain, which had been
in undisputed possession OF them for
centuries. The president treats at
length OF the efforts made to avoid
All outbreak and Of the events leading
up to the night attack at Manila, and
quotes from the report OF the COM
mission as follows as to the duty OF
the United States in the premises:
"Deplorable as war Ia, the one In
which we are now engaged was I'M
avoidablc by us. We are now at
tackled by abold, adventurous and en-
thusiustic army. No alternative was
left us but ignominious retreat. 1t
il not to be conceived Of that any
American would have sanctioned the
surrender Of Manila to heinsurgents.
our obligations to othernations and
to the friendly Filipinos and to our
selves and our flag demanded that
ever the future of the Philippines may
be, there is no course open to US now
except the prosecution Of the war until
the insurgents are reduced to submits
sion. The commission IL of the opin-
ion that there has been no time since
the destruction OF the Spanish squad
ron by Admiral Dewey when it was
possible to withdraw ouriorccs from
the islands, either with honor TO our
selves or with safety to the inhab-
itants."
The president regards this as the
most fitting time to make adequate
provision to insure the continuance
of the gold standard, and in this view
Is in harmony with the majority OF
both branches OF congress and n mn.
jority Of the American people. We
are practically on the gold standard
now, but it should be emphasized by
additional legislation. The presi
dent also urges that national banks
be authorized to organize with acap'
ital of So, 900, law that would prov,
beneficial tn the great west.
The president takes strong grounds
against trusts andsays: "Whatevel
power congress possesses should b,
promptly ascertained and asserted
He points out some of the difficulties
now encountered WIN laws tIlhCtc,
and urges corporation by the enact
ment of federal and state laws. Ill,
thinks there should be n uniformityir
state laws tn meet the evils success
fully. He thinks care should be ex
ercised that n just discrimination b'
made in dealing with this question
As to Cuba the president says thu
pledge made in the Joint resolution
adopted by congress April ~, 1899
must be sacredly kept, and so soor
as possible and safe free Cuba be 4
reality, not a name"
/. The president has covered n great
many questions in n terse and lucit
!, manner and with commendablccour
, age. lie IL mindful OF the limits o
his power and does not intrude upoI
the legislative functions of congress
That both will work in harmony
there can be little doubt and the SEES
sion should prove an interesting anC
memorable one.