The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-22

Ishould be no equivocation or doubt a. lto our infexible purpose, not only {, maintain the gold standard but to keel
 ali silver and paper currency at par iity with 1t.
 The assumption that the gold stand lard is "irrevocably established" doe.
 violence to the law. It was establish rress may alter, amend or repeal that act at any time. It is no more fire. yocably established than are our tarin
 schedules. The one may be changed a. l readily as the other.
 sound money Is so vital to our wei. fare. SO important to our industrial de- yeIopment. that we should let Its open enemies or negative friends know that
 we abate nothing of our determina- | ton to uphold and defend 1t. | Since 1896 we have improved the sys- l tenn as we'll as increased the volume of 1 our currency. We have now In circu- Iation s2.521,151,527, or $sS0,942, ,00S 1 Increase has not been due alone to the larger yield of gold, for $262. .65s,5 ,559 or nearly 30 per cent. of the increase, Is composed of silver and national bank notes, which, under the Republican policy, are essentially the equivalent of gold.
 If in the future the exigencies of business, which no wisdom can now foresee, should make additional mone- tary or financial legislation advisable. the RepuDl1Cdn party may Ue lHtTuSteu to enact 1t along rational lines. The Presidents course in Panama merits the most generous approval He dealt with a delicate and difficult situa- tion clearly within our national rights in such a way as to make possible the early completion of an isthmian canal which has long been demanded in the interest of our commerce and tho national defense.
 He concluded the negotiations with Great Britain for the abrogation of the Clayton- Bulwer treaty. He negotiat- bia for the requisite rights and fran chises for the construction and opera tion of a canal. Its ratification was contemptuously refused by the Colom- bian Government. Thereupon the peo- pie of Panama renounced their alle- glance to the parent government and declared their independence. The President acting within the limits of his executive authority. and In confor- mity with well established precedent, promptly recognized their independ- ence. He negotiated treaty with Panama, whereby the United States ob tained the necessary rights and fran chises for building and operating the canal.
 When the insurrection occurred upon the Isthmus the President safeguarded American interests. He acted prompt ly, but deliberately; prudently, not rashly: firmly. not unlawfully. He usurped no authority He only exer- cised that executive power which Is clearly vested in him by the constitu- tion- and which his predecessors had employed under similar circumstances. If he had failed to appreciate our rights. or to act firmly and promptly, blood would have been shed and the been sacrificed, and the construction of the canal would have been indefinitely delayed.
 The President in due time appointed a commission composed of eminent engineers and men of practical experi- ence to undertake the work of con structing the canal as speedily as prac- ticable. There Is no longer any doubt or uncertainty as to the enterprise. Its completion is now an assured fact, and it will stand as one of the memorable achievements of the new century.
 The completion Of this great work should be left to the administration which has done so much to carry it forward against formidable obstacles abroad and vexatious opposition at home.
 The administration in the Philip pines has been dictated by a broad sense of duty. It has not been sub versive of our national ideals but has been in conformity with the best tna- ditions of the Republic.
 The archipelago came to the United States as the result of a war, and 1t became the duty of the administration to enforce the laws there as elsewhere. to maintain the national sovereignty. and to inaugurate civil government. Before the insurrection had ceased President Mckinley admirably express ed our purpose. Said he:
 NO effort will be spared to build up the waste places desolated by war and by long years of mis government, We shall not wait for the end Of strife to begin the beneficent work. We shall schools and the churches to set the courts in operation, to foster industry and trade and commerce. and in every way in our power to make those peo- pie whom Providence has brought within our Jurisdiction feel that it Is their liberty and not our power: their welfare, and not our gain, we are seek ing to enhance. Our flag has never waved over any community but in soon recognize the fact that 1t has not lost its gift of benediction in its world wide journey to their shores"
 President Roosevelt has continued the work in the same just and gener- ous spirit which inspired President Me- Kinley.
 Military rule was quickly succeeded by the civil authority. The people of the islands have been invited as fast as possible to participate k the work of government. The judicial system has been improved. corruption has been driven out. public schools have been established, and the people are already enjoying a large measure of self-gov- ernment.
 Congress has authorized a represen1 tative assembly to be chosen in due