The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-12-06

tiou W nuOW lnul Nllui StcIllltI ~
from the standpoint of the nation,
from the standpoint of the human
race, the one sin for which the penal.
! ty is national death, race death;
sin for which there is no atoncment;
sin which is the more dreadful
exactly in proportion as the men and
women thereof are in other respects,
in character. and bodily and mental
powers, those whom for the sake of
the state it would be well to see the
fathers and mothers of many healthy
children, we'll brought up in homes
made happy by their presence. No
man, no woman, can shirk the pri.
mary duties of life, whether for love
of ease and pleasure, or for any other
cause, and retain his or her self
respect.
International Morality.
On the question Of International
morality Mr.. Roosevelt comes out
strongly, advocating clean dealing b.
tween the nations of earth and also
strongly advocates international arbi
nation as means of settling all di9
liculties that may arise.
American Shipping.
Let me once again call the atten-
ZION Of the Congress to two subjects
concerning which l have frequently
before communicated with them. One
is the question Of developing Ameri
can shipping. | trust that law EN-.
bndying in substance the views, or a
major part of the views, ,exprest in the
report on this subject laid before the
House at its last session will be past.
| am well aware that in former years
Objectionable measures have been pro.
posed in reference to the encourage
ment of American shipping; but il
seems to me that the proposed meas
ure is as nearly unobiectionable az
any can be. 1t will of course bene.
fit primarily our seaboard States
Maine, Louisiana, and Washington ;
but what benefits part of our people
in the end benefits all; just as Gov.
ernment aid to irrigation and forestry
In the West is really of benefit, not
only to the Rocky Mountain States,
but to all our country. If is prove
impracticable to enact law for the
encouragement of shipping generally,
then at least provision should be made
for better communication with South
America, notably for fast mail lines
to the chief South American ports.
1t is discreditable to us that our bust
ness people, for lack of direct COM
munication in the shape of lines of
steamers with South America, should
III that great sister continent be at a
disadvantage compared to the bust
ness people of Europe.
Currency Reform.
| especially call your attention to
the second subject, the condition of
our currency laws. The national
bank act has ably served a great pur-
pose in aiding the enormous business
development of the country; ami
within ten years there has been an
increase in circulation per capita
from $21.41 to $33.0S. For several
years evidence has been accumulating
that additional legislation is needed
The recurrence of each crop season
emphasizes the defects of the present
laws. There must soon be a revisio.
of them, because to leave them as they
are means to incur liability of bust
ness disaster. Since your body ad.
journed there has been a fuctuatior
III the interest on call money from 8
per cent to 30 per cent; and the fluc-
tuation was even greater during the
preceding six months. The Secretary
of the Treasury had to step in and by
wise action put stop to the most
violent period of oscillation. Even
worse than such fiuctuation is the ad.
vance i'll commercial rates and the un.
certainty felt in the sufficiency OF
credit even at high rates. All com.
mercial interests suffer during each
crop period. Excessive rates for call
money in New York attract money
from the interior banks into the spe
culative fields; this depletes the fund
that would otherwise be available for
commercial uses, and commercial Dor
rowers are forced TO pay abnormal
rates; so that each fall tax, in the
shape of increased interest charges
is placed on the whole commerce o!
the country.
Our Island Possessions.
1t is urged that these shall rcceiv.
tho careful consideration of Congress
and that tariffs, etc, shall be upon a
just basis.
Army and Navy.
, The message goes at length into the
matter of the efficiency of our army
and navy. The President is mucl
gratified at the progress we are max
, ing i'll both branches of our common
, defense. In the matter of rife proc
tice the President says:
? The Congress has most wisely pro
yided for a National Board for III,
I promotion of rifle prictise Excelen
! results have already come from thi
? law, but it does not go far enough
| Our Regular Army is SO small that il
1 any great war we should have t,
: trust mainly to volunteers; and il
G such. event these volunteers shoul,
| already know how to shoot; for if
5 soldier has the fighting edge, an,
= ability TO take care of himself in tn
{ open, his efficiency on the line o
e battle is almost directly proportion