Nebraska Newspapers

    '§M''
PRESIDENTIAL TALK.
ANNUAL MESSAGE ,OF PRESI
DENT CLEVELAND. ; J
v.'k-;
Nnl|i Affair* Uchtljr Touched Upon—
Natation* of United State* With Other
Hatton*—A Hlatory of the Trea»nry
Difficulty and Effort* Pot Forth to
■enedy It—Other Subject* Coder Dl»
anMtea. *
. The President's
Wabhikotos, Dec. a—The following
b the President's message:
To the Congress or vac United States:—
fb« present assemblage ot the lasliltiin
breach of our government occurs at a time
tlm Uie micros ts of our pooplo and the Dos is
of the country giro spcefal prominence to the
(sedition ot our foreign relations and ths exl*
fancies of oar national finances. Too reports
m ths several administrative departments of
the government fully and plainly exhibit what
has been accomplished within the scope of their
•espective duties and present snob recommend
ations for tlm betterment of oar country’s eon
titioa es patriotic and inte.llgent labor end
observations suggest.
||1 therefore d-em my executive duty ad#,
gaately performe i at this time by presenting
to the Congress the important phases ot our
dtuttloo as related to our intercourse with
foreign nations, and a statement of the flnvn
„ tiel problems which confront ns, omitting,
ssccpt as thsy are related to these topic*, any
reference to departmental operations.
1 earnestly invito, howjver, not only the
sarcfnl consideration, but the severely critical
•erutiny of the Congress and my f.dlow coun
trymen to the reports concerning these depart
mental operations. If justly and fairly exam
feed they furnish proof of eesidnnue and
painstaking care for tho public welfare. 1
press the recommendations they contain upon
ths respectful attention of those rliarged with
the doty of legislation, beenuse I believe their
adoption would promote the people's good.
Missionary Riots In China,
The close of the momentous atruggl t between
China and Japan, while icdioving the diplo
matic agents of this government from tho deli*
vateduty they unde took at request of both
wuntriee of rendering tu t h service tos.ibjeiit
(f either b.iligercnt within the torritor/ limits
■ tftiie other as our neutral position permitted,
developed a domestic condition in the Chinese
empire which lias caused much anxiety and
lolled for prompt and careful attention.
Either as a result of a weak control b/ tho cen
tral government over ths provincial adminis
trations, foliowing a diminution of tr udltional
goror >montal authority under the stress of an
overwhelming national disaster,ora manifesto- j
Mon upon good opportunity ot the aversion ot
the Chinese population to nil foreign ways and I
undertakings, there hnva occurred in .widely j
separated provinces of Chian serious outbreaks 1
at th* old fanatic d spirit against (oroigneis, 1
which, unchecked by the local antho (ties, if i
•otactually connived ut by them, hate cnlmin- j
•led in mob attacks on foreign missionary
atatlensrfauslng much destruction of proper
Ip, and attonded i
'*■
m
wlth pot tonal iu juries nr well
Mloes of life. Although but one Amo lean ]
elti'cn was Mportol to have boon actually >
wounded, , gad although the destruction of !
property miy. have fallen moro heavily upon !
the misstrmnrtes of other national! i •» titan our i
own, it plainly behooved this government to
lake the most prompt and decided uctinn to
yturd against aimUar or perhapa more dread
tel calamities. i
The demands at the United States and other
power* for the degradation and punlahment ot
the responsible officials of the respective cities
pad provinces who by neglect or otherwise hail
: permitted np-risings and for the»adoption ot
•tarn measure* by the Emperor’s government j
ter the protection of the life and property of i
foreigners, were followed by the disgrnco and j
tta kidil ot eertein piuvloeial officials toumi i
terelict in duty, and the punishment by death
et a number ot thoso found utility ol actual
. participation in tho outrages. This govern
fetet also insisted that a special American
Mpmission should visit tho provtneo where
teefirit disturbances occurred for tho purpoie
& investigation. This lutter commission,
ted after much opposition, has gono ovor
Trbm Ttso Tain accompanied by a ettiiable
Ghineso escort, and by its demonstration of (he
•eadincu and ability of our government to pre
fect it* citutens, will act, it is believed, us a moat
feflnential uetorront of any similar outbreaks.
The Waller' Ciuo.
The customary cordial relations between this
! eonntrv and Franco have been undisturbed,
With the exception that a full explanation of
tea treatment of John L Waller by tho expo.
dUionnry military authorities of France still
remains to b* given. Mr. Waller, formerly
United States consul to Tainatave, remained in
' Hadagaac ar after hi* Una of office expired
tad waa apparently successful in procuring
business concessions from tho Hovas, of greater
•rites value. After the occupation of Tama
lave and the declaration ot martial law by tho
Trench, he was arrested uponvurious charges,
among thorn, that of communicating military
information to tho ahomy ot Franco, was tried
and convicted by • military tribunal and
, Sentenced to twenty yean imprisonment. Fol
lowing the eouree justified by abundant prece
dents, this government demanded from that,
at Franco the resold of the proceedings of the
Reach tribunal, which resulted iuMr. Wal
. Mr’s condemnation. This request has
beta complied with to the extent
,■ •* supplying a copy of tlio beneficial
. areord from which appear the constitution and
'^■Mantzatioa of the Court, the charge* os for
* mulated and tbs general courts and result of i
the trial snd by which it was shown that the 1
eneused wal tried in open court and was do
; teatfed by counsel. But tho evidence adduced
iU Mpport ot the chaiges, which was not re
r ’teHadby the French minister of foreign affair*
• •Pttt.tho lint week in Oetoher, has thus tar
‘ heib Withheld. the Frcnoh govornmen - taking
thagspiind that lie production iu response to
: • ir dcmas-A would establish a laid precedent
: The efforts of our ambassador to procure it,
4 however, thpugh Impeded by recent changes in
tee French tninlgtry have not been relaxed and 1
i 1» ieconfidently expected that some uni*fac
tory solution ot tee mettor will shortly be
; reached. Meanwhile it appears that Mr. >\ al
. ler's confinement hoe oral,' alleviation which
' tee stato of his health and all tho other circu.u
ataaeea ot ths ease demandor permit.
Trade Conspllcatlons With Germany.
Cter relation with the stitea of tee German
empUe are in coma aspects typical of a condi
tion of things elsewh re found in * .country
‘ Whose production and trade arc similar t# our ■
ewn- .The class rirulry of conpetlng Indus- <
trtaat the influ onto of ths delusive doctrine
teat tee intern d dove'opnysut of e natioa ia •
prom .ted and its weal h inayoaw t by a policy
which, in undertnkin ■ to rrso. ve Its owu mar
juts for the exciu, ive use of its own producers, ,
•seraisrily obstruct their rales in foreign mar
bets end prevents free access to markets of the
world: the desire to retain trade in time-worn
koto, regardless of tho inexorable law. of now
•reds and changed conditions of demand and
•apply, and our osm halting tardineai in invit- j
teg a Ireo exchange of commodities and by this :
repaus imperiling our footing ia tho external
markets'naturally open to us, have created a
situation somewhat iujurioui to Amm icon ex
port interest!, ant redy iu (lermanv, where they
•re perhaps moit noti.eabie, but In adjacent
cfc
i:~
uft'
The export* effected ere lonely Imarbii
>••1110 and other food product*, the ream '
oaelpneil for ucfaroreb'e tUacrfaain itfon belts*
that their consumption it delctortona to the
public health. This is all the uore Irritation'
eietr of the fact that no European State U
a* J-aloos of Use excellence and erholeroose
o< it* exported food eappliee a* the United
.** nor »o easily «bl». on account el father
.*0UUdh***> to gnarnisteo. tltoM qisaiitus. 1
■ ht»the** digflulti ao n fiend to on- food ]
tuM*ft*iouedt>r exportation. Our arses t
ooapanto-, for rxatn da having
tad business abroad and ineeated a I
_ atom at their sains fat foreign eouatrioa !
la compliance with the local lasrt ani remla
ffooa thaa existing. now find their astro? within
anarrowingelide of onaroae nad uoforoeeen
eanititleaa. and an confronted hr tlio necessity
Croat a laid beae mada nnpto&t*
ate not euinmarUr ex
is1?"
•Mat if indeed
gain*. a* nan*
Wh It tea
nf then l>ae* lately beets in
It tenet to hr tejeHgi that Into
nati nal trade can not be one-sided. It* eu
renta ars alternating and its movements ahoold
be honestly reciprocal Without this it almoat
aecec arily decelerates into a deri e to gain
advantage or a contrivance to lecare benefits
with onl/ the eamblance of a letorn. In otlr
dealing! with other nations wo ought to be
open-handed and scrupnlously fair.
Thin should bo our policy as a producing na
tion, and it plainly becomes us ns speop.e wh >
love generosity and the moral aspects of na
tional goo I faith and reciprocal forbearance,
'these consideration} should not. howoror, con
strain ns to submit to unfair discrimination
nortosilently acquiosco in taxations htndrauccs
to tho en.o/mont of our i haro of tho legitimate
advantages of proper trade relations. If an
examination of the situation euggosts sueh
manures on our part a* would involve r stric
tions similar to those from which ws suffer, the
way to such a coarse is easy; it should, how
STer, by no mount bo light! r entered upon,
since the nocsssit > for tho inauguration of such
• policy wonld be regretted by tho bsst senti
ment of our people, and because it naturally
and logically might lead to ounsepueacos of the
grarest character.
Th# BArhif ha Matter.
Our relations with Groat B-ltaln, always la
timate and important, hare demanded, during
the past rear, even a greater abate of consider
ation than ia usual. Several vexatious ques
tion! were left undetermined by the deciaion of
the Behring aea arbitration tribunal. The ap
plication of the principles laid down by the
august body baa not been followed by tho re
sults they wore intended to accomplish, either
because the principle* th tinsel ves lacked in
breadth and definiteness or because their exe
cution has been more or loss iruperSect. The
understanding by which tlio Un'.tsd States was
to pay and Great i ritaia to rocoire a lamp
■am of li'lt.OOt in full settlement of all British
claim fur damage a arisiug from our seizure of
British sealing ves els unauthorized under the
award of the 1’aria tribunal of arbitration was
not confirms 1 by the last Congrats, which de
clined to make tho necessary appropriat on 1
am still of the opinion that this arrangement
was a judicious and advantageous ouo for the
government, and 1 earnestly recommend that
it bt> again considered and sanctioned. If, |
liowuver this does n >t meet with the favor of
Cougress, it certainly will hardly diasent from I
tho proposition that tho government is bound j
to uvery consideration of honor and good fnith
to provide for the speedy udjustmeut of those i
•111inis by arbitration ns tin only other alterna
tive. A treaty of arbitration has. therefore, i
seen agreed upon and will be immediately laid i
before the Scnati so that, in one of tho modes [
luggssteJ, a final settlement may be reached
The Venezuela Issue, i
It being apparent that the boundary dispute ■
between Great Bri.uin and tho Republic of
Fennzuola, concerning the limits of British
'■uin.'ll, was approaching an acuta stage, a 1
infinite slutcmeut of tho interest and policy of ;
tho United States ns rogards the controversy
teomod to bo required both on its own account
ind in viotv of its relations with the friendly '
ilowers directly o ncernod. in July ls-t, thero- j
Foie, u dls.iutch was addressed to our amUussa- ■
lor at London for communication 10 the British 1
government in which tho attitude of the United
Hu eswaa fully and distinctly set forih. The
tenoral conclusions there reached ani forma- ‘
iated are in substauce that the traditional and
■ •tabiishod policy of this government ia firmly i
apposed to n (oiclble iucrouto by any European j
bower of its territorial possessions on this cpnti- '
nent;tiiat this policy is as woll founded in '
wind pie at it is strongly supported oy no
nerous pre-edonts; tiiat is a consequence the ;
United Stiitoi ia bound to protest against the j
in argemeut of tl.e aria of Biitish Guinea B
ter. gatiua of iho rights and against the will of l
Venezuela; that, coinidcriug the disparity in
trength of Great Brit tin and Venezuela, the
lonltoriol dispute betwoon them oan bo easily .
uttlcd only by friendly and impartial arbitra- I
lion and that th* le-ort, to such arbitration
dioul.1 include tin whole controversy and is
not sati.-iicd if one of the powers concerned ia t
l ermitted to draw an arbitrary line through the
erritory in debate and to declare that it will
■ubmit to arbitration only th* portion lying on
me side of it in view of the.e conclusions th*
dispatch in question called up >u the British
joverim-.ent for a definite answer to the question
ffhethor it would nr would not submit tho terri
lorinl controversy between itself and Venezuela
n its roll ety to impartial arbitration. The
inswer of ths British government h.ia not yet
icon receive i' lint is expected shortly when
Fuith«r omnmunioution on the subject will prob*
ib y lie made to congress. . ,
The Hawaiian Matter. !
Early in January last an uprising against the
tovcrnmotit of Hawalia was promptly sup
pressed. Martial law was forthwith pro
duinicd and numerous arrests wore mado of
per*ms suspected of being in sympathy with
tho Royalist party. Among these worn several
litizcns of tho United States, who were either
convicted by a military court and sentenced to
death, imprisonment or lino, or wore doportod
without trial. Tfip United States, while deny
ing protection to those who had taken the Ha
waiian oath of allogiance, insisted that martial
law, though altering the forms of justice, could
aot suporcado justice itself, and demanded a
stay of execution until the proceedings had
been submitted to tills government, and knowl
isdgo obtained therefrom that our citizens had
received fair trial. Tho death oonteneos were
subsequently commuted or were remitted on
condition of leaving the islands. Tho cases oi
certain Americans arrested and expelled by se .
bitrary order, without formal chargo or trial,
liavo had attention, and in somo instances have
been found to justify romoustrance and a claim
tor indemnity, which Hawaiia haa thus far not
eoncodcd. Mr. Thurston, the Howalian Mini*- j
tor, having furnished this government a bund- !
ant reason for askiug that ba be recalled, that
course was pursued and his successor hoe
Lately boon received.
Lynching of Italian* In Colorado. f
Tho doplorabto 1 inching of several Italian
laborori in Colorado wasuuturilly followed by
International representation and I am happy
tos. y (hut ilo b-»t effort! of tbo State in
which tli'ir outrages occurred have been put
forth to di-cover and punish the authors of this,
atrocious crlm •- Iho dependant famili-soi
some of th* unfortunate victims invito by their
deplorable condition gracious provision foi
their needs. These manifestations against
k ipless aliens may be traced through succes
sive staves of the vicious padroni eystom which
ttn-becked by onr immigration and contract
labor statutes, controls th.-eo workers from the
in ntantof landiag on our shore, and rarmi
them out iu distant and often rude region.!,
whore tueir cheapening rompetion iu tho fields
Ot bread winning toil brings them in collision
with other labor into o-ts. While welcoming,
na we rhonld, those who sock our shores to
murgo tlicms-lvos in , ur body politics and win
per onnl competence by honost effort, we can
not regard such assemblages as distinctively
•lien laborer.-, hi-od out iu the mass to the
profit of alien speculator! and shipped hithet
and thither as tho orespo t of giin may dio- i
tato, as otherwisi than repugnant to tho r ght
of our civilization deterrent to individual ad
vancement and hindrances to tho building up
of stable emnmun.tiis resting upon tha whole
some ambitions of tho citizen and constituting
the prime factor iu tho prosperity and progress
of our nation If legislation can reach this
growing evil it oertaiuly should bs attempted.
Congratulations for Japan,
Japan haa furnished abundant evidence ot
h>r vast gain in every trait and cliiraetoristie,
that constitutes a nation's gr -atness. We hare
' reason tor oongra'ulation in th* foot that tha
government of the United States, by the ex
change of literal treaty stipulations with the
new Japan, was tho first to recognize hor won
derful advancement and to extend to her tha
eonsi teratinn and confidence due to her na
tional snJUghtenmont and progressive char
acter. .. . . „
Samoan irruitmut Cniatts factory,
la my hit taro annual nNMim 1 called the
attention of the Congress to the position we
occupied at one of tbi parties to a treaty or
agte.-meat by which we became ointly bound
• with England and Uermany to 10 interfere with
the government and control of Samoa as la
effOctrto assume the management of its affaire.
Un the Sth day of May, is#l, 1 transmitted to
the senate a special message with accompany*
ing documents giving information on the sub
ject and emphasizing the opinion I haro at all
times entertained that our situation on thia
matter was inconsistent with the mission and
traditions of onr government in violation of
the principle* wo profess end in all its phases
lUs-kievous and vexatious- I again press tula
•object upon the attention of Oongrefs and ask
for such legislative action or •rpreceton u will
lesd the waj to our roliel from obligation! both
irkaoma and unnatural.
Tha Caban BcbelIIon>
Cuba la again gravely disturbed, an Insurree
tion in some re; pacts more active than the liat
proceeding revolt, which continued from 18G8
to 1878. now ezisti in a largo part of the East
ern interior of the island, menacing even soma
populationa on tho coast. Beside, den earing
tbo commercial exchanges of tho island, of
which our country takes the predominant
share, this flagrant condition of hostilities by a
rot)sing sentimental sympathy and inciting ad
venturous support among our people, has on
tailod earnest effort on the part of this govern
ment to enforso obedenco in our neutrality
laws and to prevent tho territory of the Unito 1
States from being abased as a vantage ground
from which to aid those in arms againat Span
ish sove reign tr Whatever may be tho tradi
tional sympathy of our countrymen, as indi
viduals with people who seem to be struggling
for largor autonomy and greater freedom
deepened as such sympathy naturally must be
in behalf of our neighbor. Yet tbs plain duty
of,their government is to observs in good faith
the recognized obligations of .international re
lationship. The performance of this duty
should not be made more difllcult by a disre
gard on part of onr citizens <>f tha obligations
growing ont of their allegiance to their conn
try whieh should restrain them from violating
as individuals the neutrality which the nation
which they ate members is bound to observe
In its relations to friendly sovereign States,
Though neither tha warmth of our people's
sympathy with the Cuban insurgents nor our
■°as and material damage consequent upon the
futile endeavor* thna far made to restore peace
and order, nor any shock oar hnmane aendbili
tie* may have receive 1 from the cruelties
which appear to especially characterize this
sanguinary and fiercely conducted war, have in
the least shaken the determination of the gov
ernment to honestly fulfill every international
obligation f jet, it is to be earnestly hoped, on
Ovary grounds, thnt the devastation of armed
sonflict may sp edily bo stay od and order and
quiet restored to the distracted island, bring
ing in their train the actibility and thriftof
peaceful pursuits.
tm TnrKiin TroaHo.
Occurrences in Turkey hare continued to ' es
rite concern. The reportod massacres of Chris
liana in Armenia and tin dorelopment thore,
end in other districts, of the spirit of fans tie
hostility to Christian infin’ncjs, naturally ex
litcd apprehension for the safety of the dovoted
men snd women who, as dependents of tho fop
sign missionary societies in the United States,
and reside in Turkey under the guarantee of
law and usage and in the legitimate perform
ance of their educational and religious mission.
No efforts haro boon spared in their behalf and
their protection in porson and property has
been earnestly and rigorously enforcod by
srory means within our power. I regret, how*
erer, that an attempt on our part to obtain
better information concerning the true condi
tion of affairs in the disturbed quarter of the
Ottoman ompiro by sending the United
States consul at Siuas to make inrestigation
and rep >rt was thwarted by tho objections of
tho Turkish government- This moremout on
bur part was in no senso meant as a gratuitous
entanglement of tho United States in the so
called Eastern question, nor ns an officious in
terference with the rl3ht ant duty which be
long by treaty to certain great European
powers, calling for their intervention in polit
ical matters affootingtho good gorornmentand
religious fr?edom ot the nou-Unssulman tub
loots of tho Sultan, but it arosi solely from our
desire to hare an accurate knowledge ot the
cooditltlons in onr efforts to ears for those en
titled to onr protection.
The presence of onr naval vessels which are
low in the vi: inity of the disturbed localities
afford opportunities to acquire a measure of
familiarity with the condition of affaire and
will enable us to take suitable steps for tho
protection of any Interests of our countrymen
within reach of our ships that might he fonnd
imperilled. The Ottoman government has
lately issued an imperial Irado exempting for
ever from taxation an Amorioan collego for
tirls at Scutari. Repeated assurances have
ilao been obtained by onr envoy at Constan
tinople that similtr institutions maintained
ind administered by our countrymen shall be
tenured in the enjoyment of all rights and that
>ur citizens throughout the empire shall be
protected.
Ou tho domand of our minister orders have
been issued by the Sultan that Turkish soldiers
■hall guard and ca.-ortto the const American
-efugees end those ordors have boon carried
put, and our latest intelligence gives assn ranse
if tho pretout personal safoty of our citizens
ind missionaries. Though thus far no lives of
American oitizo-ia have been sacrificed, there
tan be no doubt th at serious loss and dcstram
tion of inis-ion proporty have results 1 from
riotou* conflicts and outrageous attacks.
By "treaty several of the most powerful
European powers have secure I a right and as
mined a duty not only in behalf of their own
citizens and in furtherance of their own intor
>sts. but as a gouts ot tho Christian world,
rhoir right is to onforoo such oon luct ot tho
I'urkish government as will restrain fanatical
brutality, and in fact, their ifuty i< to interfere
■o as to insure against snoh dreadful occur
rences in Turkey as lately shooked civilization.
The powers declare this right and this duty to
be thoire alone, and it ie earnestly hoped that
sffoctive action on their purt will not be de
layed.
OCR FINANCES.
4 Subject of the Greatest Importance to
the American People.
Aa we torn from a review of our foreign rela
tions to till contemplation of our national
financial situation wo are immediately aware
that wo approach a subject of domestic con
iorn. more important than any other that can
sngngo our attention, and one at present in
wxch a perploxing and delicate predicament aa
to require prompt and wise treat moot.
We may well be encouraged to earnest effort
in ilit s Ui action when wo recall the stops
already taken t oward improving our economie
and ftnanci d situation, and when to appreciate
how well tin way has been prepared for further
prograss by an aroused aad intelligent popular
Interest in these subjects. JRy command of the
people, a customs revenue system, designed for
tho protection and benefit of favored classes at
theexpnu o of the great majority of our coun
trymen and whis'h, whi e moHki mt for the par
peso of revenue. ourhil d oar trade relations
ind imno l«d our t i.tr 4 tire to tho markets of
tho world, has oeon superceded by n
tariff policy Which, m principle, is
based upon a denial of tho rizht
of the government to obstruct the avenues of
nnr people's cheap living or iessea their com
fort and cont ntmont, fo the sake of according
ipieial advantages to favorites, anH which,
while encouraging our intercourse and . trade
with otlier nutions, recognize* tho fact that
American self reliance, thrift and enreuuity,
can buildup our country's industries and de
velop its resour os more surely than enervating
paternalism. The compulsory purchase and
•roinngo of silver b.’ the government unchecked
and unregulated by busiross conditions and
heedless of our curronc t needs, which for more
than flftom years dilute l our circulating med
ium, underminedconti den'o ab oad in our finan
dal ability and at last culminated in distress and
panic at homo has been recently stopped by the
repeal of the laws which forced this reckless
vchem . upon the country. The things thus ac
complishe I notwithstanding their extreme im
port nnre and teneheient effect*, fell far short
of curing tho monetary evils trom which wo suf
fer as a result of long indulgence in ill advised
financial expedient*. Tho currency denom
inated United States notes and commonly
kno a n as green-banks was isined in large voU
times during the late civil war anl intended
originally to meet tho emergences of that
period. It will be seen by a reference to tne
debates in congress at the t mo laws were
.passed authorizing the issue of these notes,
that their advocates declared they were in
tended for only tempore *y use and to meet the
emergency of war. In almost, if not all, the
, laws relating ti them, some provision was
; made contemplating their voluntary or com
pulsory retirement. A large quantity of them,
. however, were kept on foot and mingled with
the currency of the country, so that at the
cloee of tho year 1874 they amounted to $3Sl,
W'j'itk immediately aft*r that date and In
January, IS75, a law was posed providing for
, tAe resum >tion of ti>ocie payment by
. which the 6e ‘re ary of the Treasury
was required, whenever additional circa
latioa was Iqmed to National banka,
coretiro united Stales notes In equal amount
to 80 per cent of inch additional National bank
circulation until such notes were reduced to
$300,000,000. This law farther provides that on
and after the last day of January. 1879, tho
United States notes then outstanding, should
be redeemed in coin, and in order to provide
and prepare for such redemption the secretary
of tho treasury was authorized not oniy to use
any surplus revenues of the government, but to
issue bonds of the United States and dispose of
them for coin and to uso the proceods for tho
purposes contemplated by the statute.
In May, 1878, and before the date thus ap
pointed for the redemption and retirement of
these notes, another statute was passed for*
bidding their further cancellation and retire
ment Borne of them ha J, however, been pre
viously redeomed and cancelled upon the issue
of additional national bank circulation, ca per
mitted by the law of 1875. so that the amount
outstanding at the time of the passage of tho
act forbidding their further retirement was
$10,<*31,016. The law of 1878 did not stop at dis
tinct prohibition but contained in addition
the following provision, ‘‘And when any
of said notes may be redeemed or
be received into tho treasury under
■ng law, from any source whatever, and
•hall belong to the United States, they* hall not
be retired, cancelled, or destroyed, but they
shall be re •issued and paid out again fad kept
in circulation." This was the condition of af*
fairs nn the 1st day of January, 187J, which had
been fixed upon four years before as the date
*°r entering upon the redemption and retire
ment of ail these notes, and for which such
abundant moans had been provided The gov*
eminent was pnt in the anomolous situation of
owing to th > holders of its notes, d bts payable
in gold on demand which could neither be re*
Ured by receiving such not s in discharge of
obligations due the government not cancelled by
actual payment in gold, it was forced to rs>
deem without redemption and to pay without
acanittanre.
There has been issued and sold $96,530,000 of
the binds author.sed by the resumption act of
MS, the proceeds of which, together with other
gold in the treasury, create I a gold fund deemed
sufficient to meet the demands which might be
made upon it for the redemption of the out
standing United btates notes. This fund, to
gether with snoi other gold as might be from
time to time in the treasury available for the
seine purpose, has been since railed our gold
reserve and $100.0 >0,001 has been regarded' as an
adequate amount to accomplish its object.
This fund amounted on the 1st day of January,
1»<9, to $l--4,100,133 and though thereafter con
stantly fluctuntiug, it did not fall below that
sum in July, 1882. In April, 1883, for the first
time since its establishment this reserve
amounted to loss than 8110,000,000, containing
at that date only $o7,011,330,
The Bond Contract,
Tho message reviews at great length the low
•ring of the g >ld reiervo, the shipment of gold,
the issuing of bonds, the entering into tho bond
contract with enpitulists, and his messages 5o
Congress for relief. Continuing, the President
Mays:
The Congress having declined to grant the
necessary authority to secure this saving the
contract unmodified was carried out, resulting
in a gold reserve amounting to $107,571,253 on
the 8th day of July, 1883. The performance of
thie contract not only restored the reserve but
cheeked for a time the withdrawals of gold and
brought on a period of restored confidence and
such peace and quiet in business circles as
were of ths greatest possible value to every in
. terest that affects our people. I have never had
the slightest misgiving concerning the wisdom
or propriety of this arrangement, and am quite
willing to answer for my full share of responsi
bility for its promotion.
I believe it averted a disaster, the imminenee
Of which la fortunately not at this time gener
ally understood by our people Though the
contra- t mentioned stayed for a time the tide
of gold withdrawal, its good results could not
be permanent. Becent withdrawals have re
duced the reserve from $107,171,210 on the <th
day of Jnly, 1895, to »7t*.333,9.a How long it
will remain large enough to render its increase
unnecessary is only mattir of conjecture^
though quite large withdrawals for shipment
in the immediate future are predicted in well
informed quarters About $16,003,000 has
been withdrawndurlng the month of November.
The foregoing statement of events nnd condi
tions develop the fact that after increasing our
interest bearing bonded indebtedness more
than $162,000,000 to Bare oar gold reserve, we
are nearly where we started, having now in
inch reserve $78,333,910, as against $63,138,377, in
February 1894, when tho first bonds were issued
Though tho amount of gold drawn from the
treasury appears to be very large, as gathored'
from tho faets and figures herein present it
actually was much larger, considerable gums
having been acquired by the treasury within
the several periods stated without the issue of
bonds. t
On the 78th of January, 1995, It was reported
by the secretary of the treasnry that more than
$172,000,000 of gold had been withdrawn for
hoarding or shipment during the year pro
ceeding. lie now reports that from January 1,
1879, to July It, 1800, a period of more than 10
years, only a littlo ovor $21,000,000 was with
drawn and that botwcon July 11, 1893. the data
ot the passage ot the law for an increased nnr.
chase of silver, and tho first day of December,
189'-, or within less than five and a half years,
there was withdrawn nearly $375,000,000,
making * e total of more than $103,000,000
drawn from the treasnry in gold since January
1st., 1879, the date fixed in 1875 for the retire j
ment of the United Slates notes.
Nearly $.127,305,000 of the gold thus withdrawn !
have been paid out on thoso United States !
notes, and yet every one of the $46,001,000 is j
•till nncanceilod and ready to do service in fu
ture gold depletion. More than 575,00),0» in ;
gold has since their eroation in IS 0 been paid j
ont from the treasure upon tbe notes given on !
the purchase of silver by the government; I
and yet the whole, amounting to $13’>.000,300, I
excopt a litt e tuofe than »16,0)0,000 which have j
been retired by exchanges for silver at the re
quest of tho holders, rcurium outstanding and
prepared to join their older and more ex
perienced allies in future raids upon the treas
ury’s gold re ervo.
On July 1. 1891, mors than a year and a half
before th > first bonds were issued to replenish
the gold reserve, there was a net balanco in the
treasury exclusive of inch reserve of less
than $13,000,030," but the gold reserve
amounted to more than $111,000,001, which wai
the quieting feature of tho situation. It was
when the stock c f gold began rapidly to fall
that fright supervened aad our securities held
abroad were returned for sale and debts owed
abroad were pr.-saed for payment. In tbe mean
time extensive shipments of gold and otuer an:
favorable indications caused restlessness and
fright among our people at home.
TliO act of July it, 1800, in n stiU bolder effort
Increased the amount ot silver tbe Government
was compelled to purchase and forced it to
become tho buyer annually of 54 050,300
ounces, or practically the entire ’ pro
duct of cur mines Under both laws
silvor rapidly and steadily declined in value.
The prophecy and the expressed hope and ex
petution of those in the congress who led in
tho passage of the last mentioned sot tnat it
would re-establish and maintain the former
parity betwoen the two metals are still fresh in
Retirement of Treasury Notea>
In other words, the government has paid in
gold more than nine-tenths of its United States
notes and still owes them all It has paid is
goli about oae-ht<lf of its notes given for
silver purchases without extinguishing by such
paymont one dollar of these notes. And added
to all this we are reminded that to carry on
this astonishing Qnanci-1 system the govern
ment has inourmd a banded indebtedness of
193,500, H,'0 in establishing a gold reserve and of
SM2^U3,4nO in efforts to maintain it, that an an
nual interest charge of such bonded In
debtedness is more than U1.000.0U3, that
a continuance in our present course
■nay result la further bon^ Issues,
and that we have suffered or are threatened
with ell this for the sake of supplying gold for
foreign shipment or facilitating its hoarding at
home, a situation is exhibited which certainly
ought to errest attention and proToke immedi
ate legislative relief 1 am convinced the only
thorough end practicable remedy for our trou
bles is found in the retirement and cancellation
sf ear United States notes, commonly called
neon bocks and the outstanding treasury notes
Issued by the government ia payment of silver
purchases under tba act of 189Q.
I believe this could bo quite readily accom
plished by the e; change of theso notee for U. S.
bonds of small as well as lsrge denominations
bearing a Ipw rate gt interest. They should be
| tons terra bond*, Am Increasing their desir
I ability it investments end because their pij>
ment eould be well postponed to a period far
removed from present financial bnrdona and
perplexities when with increased prosperity
and resources they would be more easily met,
To farther insure the cancellation of these
notes and also provide a way by which gold
may bo added to our c nrrency in lieu of them,
t feature in the plan should bo an authority
pven to the Secrotary of the Treasury
to dispose of the bonds abroad for cold if
accessary, to complete tbe contemplated re
demption and cancellation permitting him use
» the proceeds of such bonds to *»>■« np and
cancel any of the notei that may be in the
treasury or that may be received by the gov
Moment on any account. J he increase of our
bonded debt involved in this plan would be
amply compensated by renewed activity and en
terprise in all business circles, the restored
confidence at home, the reinstated faith in our
monetary strength abroad, and tbe stimulation
*' 9T°ry interest and industry that
f °l low the cancellation of the
pld demand obligations now afflicting ns.
in any event the bonds proposed would stand
tor the extinguishment of a troublesome in
debtedness, while in tbe path we now follow
there lurks the menace of unending bonds with
sur indobtednois still undischarged and aggra
rated in every feature. The obligation norm
*a*T to find this indebtedness would not equal
In amount those from which wo have been re
ieved since 1884 by anticipation and payment
beyond the requirements of tbe sinking fund
•JJ ®f onr surplus revenues. The currency
withdrawn by the retirement of the
united Ststee notes and treasury notes
imonnting to probably less than S6J»0,000
night be (applied by such gold as would be
)S6d on their retirement or bj an Increase in
'.Regulation of our National banks. Though
the aggregate capital of these now in existence
mounts to more than 86 >6.0)0,0(10, their out
standing circulation based on bond security
mounts to only about 8 >80.033,000. They are
luthorized to issue notes amounting to ninety
ser cent of the bonds deposited to secure their
circulation, but in no event beyond the amount
if their capital stock they are obliged to pay
»uo percent tax on the circulation they issue.
I think they ought to be allowed to Issue cir
mlation equal to the par value of the bonds
they deposit to secure it, and that the tax on
'.heir circulation ahonld be reduced to one
f mrtb of one per cent, which would undoubt
idly meet all tlia expenses the government
would incur on their account. In addition
they ahonld be allowed to sub-ttate or deposit
■a lieu' of the bonds now required as security
'or their circulation thoio which would be is
med for the purpose of retliing the United
States notes and treasury notes. The banks
tlready existing, if they desired to avail ihem
lelvcsw of the provisions of law
thus modified could issue circulation
’n addition to that already outstanding,
mounting to $178,001.003, which would nearly
«r quite equal the currency proposed to bo j
cancelled. At any rate, I should confidently ox
sect to see the existing national banks or
Others to be organised avail themselves of the
proposed encouragements to iesue circulation
ind promptly fill any vacuum and supply every
currency need. It has always seemed to me *
that the provisions of law regarding the cap
ita1 of national banks which operate ns a Um
'tution to their location fails to mate proper
compensation for the suppres<ion of state
bonks, which came near te the p oplo in all sec
tion* of the country and readily famisbod
'■hem with banking accommodations and
Whatever is attempted should be entered
ipon folly appreciating: the fact that by care
less, easy descent, we have reached a dangerous
iepth and that our ascent will not be ao
somplished without laborious toil and struggle.
We shall bo wise if we realize that we are
inancially ill and that our restoration to
lealth may require heroic treatment.
inasmuch as tho withdrawal of oar gold has
•esultei largely from fright, there is nothing
ipparent that will prevent its continuance or
rocurrsnce. with its natural consequences, ex
cept such a change in onr financial m thoda as
will reassure the frtghtened and make the do
uro for gold less intense. It is not clear liow
tnincrease in tevenue, unless it bo in gold and
satisfactory to thoso whoso only anxiety is to
tain gold from the governments store. It can
lot, therefore, be safe to rely upon increased
■evenues as a cure for our present
troubles. It is possible t*»at tho suggestion of
ncreased revenue as a remedy for the difficul
ties wo are considering may have originated in
in intimation or distinct allegation that the
honda which have been issued ostensibly to
replenish our gold roservo were really issued
to supply insufficient revenue. N othing can bo
lurthorfrom the truth. Bonds wore issued to
ibtaingold for tho maintenance) of our natioual
•rodit.
Free Silver.
While I have endeavored to make a plain
ttatamont of tho disordered condition of our
:urrency and tho pro-jeut dangers men icing our
prosperity and to suggest a way which
eats to a safer financial system
l have constantly had in mind the fact that '
uany of mv countrym'-n, whoso sincerity I do
aot doubt, insist that tho euro for fc.ic ilia now
threatening us m»ybofouidin tho single and
simple remedy of tho free coinage of silver.
They contend that our mints shall be at once
thr <wn open to tao free and unlimited and
mdepe >dout coinago of both gold and silver
dollars of full legal tender quality, regardless
of the actiou of any other govjrument, and in
toll view of the fact that the ratio between
he metals which they suggest calls for one
hundred cents worth of g I’d in tho gold dollar
it tho present standard and only fifty cents in
utrinsio worth of silver m tho silvor dollar.
In tho present sta re of our difficulty it is not
5a y to understand how tho amonnt of our rev*
anue receipts affects it. The important ques
tion is not' tho quantity of money received in
wonue payments, but the kind of monoy we
maintain and our ability to con*iune in sound |
financial condition. We are considering the !
?ova. nment holding of gold as related to tho
wuatUiess of our money and ashilecting our na
tional credit and monetary strength. If our gold
reserve had never been imp ured; if no bonds
tad ever bean issue l to replenish if there had -
tean no fear and tim idity concerning our a bit
ty to continue gold payment; if any part
>f our revenues were now paid in gold,
ind if wo could look to our g*dd ro;eipts as a
means of maintaining a safo roservo the
amount of our ruvenu s would be an influential
factor in tho proLlem. But unfortunately all
tho circumstances that m gbt lend weight to
this consideration are entirely lacking. In our
oresent predicament no gold is received by the
jovernment in payment of revonue charges
lor would there be if the revenues wore in
jreared. Tho receipts of the treasury when not
!n Biivor certificates. consist of United
States notes and treasury notes, issued
for silver purchases. Those forms of money are
>nly useful to the government in paying its
aurrent ordinary expense* and its quantity
hi governmout possession do.-s nj$ in
aontribute toward giving us that kind of safe
financial standing or condition which is built
>a go d alon *. It is said that theso
lotos if held by the government can be u*ed to
t>b ain gold for our reserve. The answer is
lasy. Tho people draw gold from the treasury
an domand upon Unite 1 States notes and treas
ary not >8, but the proposition that the treasury
aan on domand draw gold from the people upon
them would be regarded in these days with
wonder and amazement. And oven if this
;ouM be done, there n nothing t-> prevent
there thus parting with tfc nr gold from regain
ing it the next day or the fcext hour by tho
presentation of the notos they received in ox
i.ur iu
Th-s'—’-ohiry of the treasury mightuse nc4
notes token Imm a surplus ruveuue to buy
gold in tho market Of course, he could not do
this without paying a premium. Private hold
ers of gold, unlike the government having no
parity to maintain, would not be restrained
from making the best bargain possible whoa
they fnrnishod gold to the treasary; but the
moment tho secretary of the treasury bought
gold on any terms above par he would estab
lish a general and universal premium upon it
thus breaking down the parity botween gold
and silver which tho government is plbsred to
maintain, and opening the way to new -*-d
serious complications.
In the meantime the premium would not te
rn -iin stationary and the absurd spectacle might
be presented of a dealer selling gold to the
Government and with United States notes or
trasnry notes in his hands immediately clam
oring for its return and a to-ale at a higher
premium It may be claimed that a largo rev
enue and reduced receipts might favorably af
fect the situation under discussion by affording
aa opportmftf affecting 0>eae notes a M
tnuuTvhta noolnd, and than preventing
their presentation tor gold. Booh retention te v*'
benssfal ought to be at least measurably P»M>.
manent, and thliii precisely what it prohjb- (1
ited so far as United States notes are ton- w
earned by law of 1878, forbidding their rei F
tirement That the statute in so many worded
provides that these notes' when receive ] into
the treasury and belonging to the United States
shall be "Paid out again and kept in circula
tion. " It will moreover be readily seen that '
the government could not refuse to pay out
United States notes and treasury notes in ear
rent transactions when demanded, and inaist
on paying out silver alone and still maintain
the parity between that metal end the cate
rency representing gold. Besides the eccnmn
lation in the treasury of currency of any kind
exacted from the people through taxation is
justly regarded aa an evil and it cannot pro
ceed far without vigorous protest against an
unjustifiable retention of money, .
Were there infinitely stronger reasons than
can be adduced for hoping that each action
would rgenre for ua a bimetallic currency mop
ing on lines of parity an experiment so novel
and hasardoua aa that proposed might wall
stagger those who believe that stability it an
imperative condition of sound money. No govs
eminent, no ham i n contrivance or act of legis
lation has ever been able to hold thetwo metals
together in free coinage at a ratio appreciably
different from that which is established in the
markets of the world.
In the light of these experiences, which am
cord with the experiences of other nations^
them is certainly no secure ground for the be
lief that an act of Congress could now bridge
an equality of SO per cant between gold and sil
ver at our present ratio, nor is there the least
possibility that our country, which has leas
than one seventh of the silver money in
world, could by it* action raise not only our
own, but all silver, to its lost ratio with gold.
Our attempt to accomplish this hy the free
coinage of silver at a ratio differing from the v
actual relative value would be the slgnol for J
complete departure of gold from our circula- J
tion, and the collapse of our entire credit nOm
tern.
Oar country's Indebtedness whether owing hyWi
the government or existing between individnala, ^
has boon contracted with reference to our prte
, ant standard To decree by act of Congress
that these debts shall be payable in less velum
hie dollais than those within the contemplated
end intentioh of the parties when contracted,
would operate to transfer by the fiat law and
withont compensation, an amount of property
and a volume of rights and interests almost in
calculable. Those who advocate a blind and
headlong plunge to free coinage in the name of
bimetallism and professing the belief, con
trary to all experience, that we could
thus establish a double standard and •
concurrent circulation of both metals in our
coinage are cortainly reckoning from a cloudy
standpoint. Our present standard of value in
the standard of the civilized world, and pen
nuts the only bi-metall ism now possible or at
least that within the independent reach of any
(ingle nation, however powerful that nation
may be. . While the value of gold
as a standard is steadiod by
almost universal commercial an l business it
does not despise silver nor seek its banishment.
Wherever this standard Is maintained there is its
side in free and unquestioned circulation a vol
ume of silver currency sometimes equaling, and .
sometimes even 'exceadin - it in amount, both
maintained at a parity Notwithstanding a de
precation or fluctuation in the intrinsic value of
Thor,’ is a root difference between a standard
of value an 1 a currency for monetary use. The
standard most necessarily be fixed and certain.
The currency may be in divorce forms and of
various kinds. No silver standard country baa
a gold currency in circulation but an enlight
ened and wise system of finance aoenres tho
benefits of both gold and silver as currency
and circulating medium by keeping the stand
ard stable and all other currency ut par with
it Such , a Bystem and such a standard also
gives free scope tor the use and expansion of
safe and conservative credit so indispcnsibls
to broad and growing commercial transactions
and so well substituted tor the actual use of
money.
The past is full of lessons, teaching not osl|
tho economic dangers, but the national ini.-,
morality that follows in tlio train of such ex.
pedient. I will not. believe that the American
people can be persuaded, after sober delibera
tion, to jeopardize their nation's prestige and
prond standing by encouraging financial nos
trums, nor that they will yield to the false al
lurements of cheap money, when they .ie iliza
that it must result in the wo&kenmg of that
financirl integrity and rectitude which thus far
sn our history has been so devotedly cherished
as one of the traits of true Americanism.
I havo ventured to oxpress myself on theso
subjects with earnestnoss and plainness of
speech because I cannot rid mvsolf of tho belief
that there lurks in the proposition for I he free
coinage of silver so strongly approved and
so enthusiastically advocate 1 by a multitude
or my cauutrymen a sorious menace to our pros
perity and insidious temptation of our peoplo
to wander from the allegianco th‘y owe to
public and pr vate integritv. It is because 1 do
not distrust the good faith on! siucorityof
those who press this scheme that 1 have
imperfectly but with zeal sumbitted my
thoughts upon this moment-us subject.
I cannot resrain from bogging them
to re-examine their views and beliefs in tho
light of patriots, reason end fami iar experi
ence, and to weigh again and again the conge
queue’s of such legislation as thoir efforts liavo
invited. Even the continu’d agitation of tho
anbjoct adds greatly to the difficulties of a
dangerous financial aituation already forced
npou us.
In conclusion I especially ontreat the people’s
representatives in the Congress who are
charged with the responsibility or inaugurat
ing monsnros for the safety and prosperity of
our common country to promptly and effec
tively consider tho ills of our critical financial
plight. I have srggosteda remedy which my
judgment approves I desire, to assure tho
Congress that I am prepared to co-opemto with'
them in porfocting any other measures premia
ing tnorough and practical relief and that I
will gladly labor with thorn in every patriotic
endeavor to further the interests and guurd tho
welfare of our countrymen whom in our re.
apoctive places of duty wo have undertaken to
serve. _ (Jrovee Cleveland,
J
1
\
It Beems Incredible.
Gazpin—How old does a woman havo
to be before she can vote?
Hazbin—Twenty-one, I believe.
Gazpin—Bn t usually she doesn’t voto
until she’s twice that age.
Hazbin—I know it. You see she has
to devote the intervening time to mak
ing up her mind how to vote.—Roxbury
Gazette.
Heinous offense,
Mrs. Figg—Tommy put & bent pin
in tho minister's chair when he was
calling this afternoon.
Mr. Figg—Gimme your slipper,quick.
A boy who will play such a trick on a
man who darsen’t swear needs one of
tho best licking that can be produced.
—Indianapolis Journal. ,
Lids should always be put over sanc^
pans when in use. The steam is usu
ally more beneficial to the dish being
prepared than to the kitchen walls.
in ijonaon the natural Increase of the
population, from excess of til ths over,
deaths alone, Is about 4,000 a month.
Most European nations average for
the male 5 feet 6 Inches, but the Aus
trians, Spanish and Portuguese Just fall
short of this standard.
Unterrifled small boys In Portland,
Me., a few-days ago stole the gravs
markers from the cemetery for use in
making bounds for hockey playing.
The cult known as Christian Science,
founded in Boston In 1866 by Dr. Mary
Baker Eddy, now has 200 Incorporated
churches in the United States. t
Last month was the most prosperous
to the history of the Br oklyn postot
flee. The sales from stamps, stamped
envelopes, etc, amounted to I9j.568.8fl, \