Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-05
Affairs Of State and Nation Re.
viewed By the New
Executives.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-Following
Il the inaugural address of President
Mckinley:
My Fellow Citizens: When We as
sembled here on the fourth of March,
1897, there was great anxiety with re-
gard to our currency and credit. None
exists now. Then our treasury re-
ceipts were inadequate to meet the
current obligations of the govern
ment. Now they are sufficient for all
public needs. And we have a surplus
instead of a deficit. Then I felt con-
strained to convene the Congress in ex-
traordinary session to devise revenues
to pay the ordinary expenses of the
government. Now | have the satisfac-
ton to announce that the Congress
Just closed has reduced taxation in the
sum of forty-one millions of dollars.
Then there was deep solicitude because
of the long depression in our manu-
featuring mining agricultural and mer-
camille industries and the consequent
distress of the laboring population.
Now every avenue of production is
crowded with activity labor is we'll en-
nloyed and American products find
good markets at home and abroad.
Orr Diversified Productions,
however, are Increasing in such I'M
~precedented volume as to admonish us
of the necessity Of still further enlar-
ging our foreign markets by broader
commercial relations. For this our
pose reciprocal trade arrangements
with other nations should in liberal
spirit be carefully cultivated and pro-
NOTED.
The national verdict of 1896 has for
the most Mart been executed. What
ever remains unfulflled is a continuing
obligation resting with undiminshed
force upon the executive and the Con-
gress. But fortunate as our condition
is, its permanence can only be assured
by sound business methods and strict
economy in national administrator
and legislation. We should not permit
our great prosperity to lead us to reck-
less ventures in business or profigacy
in public expenditures. While the Con-
gress determines the objects and the
sum of appropriations, the officials of
the executive departments are re-
sponsible for honest and faithful dis
bursements, and it should be their con-
slant care to avoid waste and extrava-
gance. Honesty, capacity and industry
are nowhere o indispensable than
in public employment. and these should
he fundamental requisites to original
appointment and the surest guarantees
against removal.
-Four years ago we stood on the
brink of war without the people know
ing it and without any preparation or
effort at preparation for the impending
peril. I did all that in honor could be
done to avert the war, and without
avail. 1t became inevitable, and the
Congress, at its first regular session,
without party division, provided money
In anticipation of the crisis and in
preparation to meet it. It came. The
result was signally favorable to Amer
lean arms and in the highest degree
Honorable to the Overnmen
1t imposed upon us obligations from
which we cannot escape, and from
which it would be dishonorable to
seek to escape. We are now at peace
with the world, and it is my fervent
prayer that if differences arise between
us and other powers they may be set
tied by peaceful arbitration and that
hereafter VIZ may be spared the hor-