Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-03-05
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
OF WILLIAM M'KINLEY
Conditions Now and Four
Years Ago Compared.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION

Avenues of Production Crowded With
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of United States
With Cuba Defined-Optimistic Out
look as to Philippines.
WASHINGTON, March 4-The follow.
ing is the full text of the address deliv-
cred by President Mckinley today, on
the occasion of his second Inauguration:
My Fellow Citizens: When we as
sembled here on March 4, 1897, there
was great anxiety with regard to our
currency and credit None exists now.
Then our treasury receipts were made.
quate to meet the current obligations of
the government. Now they are suffi-
cient for all public needs, and we have
surplus instead of a deficit. Then |
felt constrained to convene the congress
in extraordinary session to devise reve-
nues to pay the ordinary expenses of
the government Now I have the salts
faction to announce that the congress
just closed has reduced taxation in the
sum of $41 900, 900. Then there was
deep solicitude because of the long de-
preston Of our manufacturing, mining,
agricultural and mercantile industries
and the consequent distress of our labor
ing population. Now every avenue of
production is crowded with activity,
labor is we'll employed and American
products find good markets at home and
abroad. Our diversified productions,
however, are increasing in such unprece-
dented volume as to admonish us of the
necessity of still further enlarging our
foreign markets by broader commercial
relations. For this purpose reciprocal
trade relations with other nations should
in liberal spirit be carefully cultivated
and promoted.
The National Verdict.
The national verdict of 1895 for the
most part been executed.
Whatever remains untitled is a contin-
uing obligation, resting with nndimin-
ished force upon the executive and the
congress. But, fortunate as our condi-
ton is, its permanence can only be as
sured by sound business methods and
strict economy IN national administra-
ton and legislation. We should not
permit our great prosperity to lead us to
reckless ventures in business or profit
gacy in public expenditure. While the
congress determines the objects and the
sum of appropriations, the officials of
the executive departments are response
BILE for honest and faithful disbursement,
and it should be their constant care to
avoid waste and extravaganza.
Honesty, capacity, and industry are
now here more indispensable than in
public employment. These should be
fundamental requisites to original ap-
pointment and the surest guarantee
against removal.
Our Foreign Relations.
Four years ago we stood on the brink
of war without the people knowing it
and without any preparation or effort at
preparation for the impending perilsA I
did all that in honor could be done to
avert the war. but without avail. 1t
became inevitable, and the congress, at
its first regular session, without party
division, provided money in anticipa-
tion of the crisis and in preparation to
meet it. 1t came. The result was sig
nally favorable to American arms and
in the highest degree honorable to the
government. 1t imposed upon US obh-
cations from which we cannot escape
and from which it would be dishonor-
able to seek to escape. We are now at
peace with the world, and it is my fer
vent prayer that if differences arise
between us and other powers they may
be settled by peaceful arbitration and
that hereafter we may be spared the
horrors of war.