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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1900)
" tqpruxnBMr fn t ', f. TIBAFFAIHSOTATB! President McKinley Discusses Thorn in a Lengthy Message IMPORTANT MATTERS MLNTIONED The Situation, Present nml future, of Chinese AITalis (liven Atut.lt Spate Drorman of War Tin Advocated A to rciittona, C'ult.in Mutters, Utc. . lite. To Hie Semite nml House of Itcpresen tallvis; At the outgoing of the uhl and tin- lncoitiliiK of the new century von be Kln the Indt Hussion of the l-'lfty-slxth congress with evidences on every luiml of Itnliv tilual and tintloii.il prosperity nml with proof of the glowing stlellgth and increasing power for the guoel or lepub Itcuti Institutions Vour countr.v men will Join with ou in fellcltailon tint Ami r lean liberty Is mole llrtnl) established III. in evot before, uiul th.it love for It mid thr elctei mlmillon (u prcerve It are inure universal than at any loiinui per- J lod uf our hlstor). i The republic wan never so strong, be- ctuso never ho strongl) entrenched In the hearts of the people us now The constitution, with few umci.ilincnts, ex ists as It left the hands of Its authors. Tne additions which have bi.en iniule to It proehilm Inrger fietthim and more ex tended citizenship Popular government lias ilimoustrattil In Its 1241 h year of tilal htte Its Htablllty dud sei'liilty. and Us ellloleney as the best Instrument of na tional development mid the bust safeguard to human rights. When the Sixth concress imsetnlilt.il In November, ISOO, the population of the I I'ntteii states was 6,0ts3. it is now T(i.Wl,799 Then we hud sixteen stutes Now wo huvo forty-five Then tfur t"r rltory consisted of lW.QaO squiite miles It Is now 3.S-J0.&95 square miles l'llticutton, religion and morullt) have kept pace with our advaiicetueut In othtf direc tions, and while extending Its power the Koverumunt has adhered to Its founda tion prluelples and nbnteil none of them In duality with out new peoples and pus. seislons A nation so preserved and blessed gives reverent thnnks to (toil and Invokes Ills guidance and the con tinuance of Ills cum ,md favor In our foreign tnteicnuine the domi nant question has been the treatment of Iho Chinese pioblem Apart from this our relations with the powers have been happy. ki;vii:v or akiwiks in china Tho recent troubles In China spring from Iho nntl-fomign agitation which for the last three yens bus been Kilning In Hlieuctli In the northern provinces. .Their oilgln lies deep In tins character Tof tho Chinese races and In the tradi tions of their government. The Tnlplng rebellion uiul the opening of tho Chinese ports to foreign trade and settlement disturbed alike the huinngenlty and the seclusion of China. Meanwhile fotelK" activity made Itself felt In all quartets. t ulone on the coast, but along the groat river arteries and In tho remoter districts, carrying new Ideas and Introducing nw asoselatlons among u iirlmltlvu people which hail pursued for centuries a national policy of Isolation Tho telegraph and the railway nperadlng over their land, the steamers pi) lug on their waterways the inerchmnls nml the nilsloniitles pine t ratine cnr 1 enr tt the Interior be came, to the Chinese mind tyjies of an nllen Invasion, chnnglng the course of their national llfo and fraught with vague forrbodltiKH of dlauter to their beliefs and their self-control. Tor several yeals before the present troubles nil the resources of foreign di plomacy, backed by moral demonstra tions of tho physical forco of lleets and arms have been needed to .secure due respect for the treaty rights of for elKiiers and to obtain satisfaction from tho responsible authoiltles for the spo rndle outrages upon the persons and property of unoffending sojourners whleh from time to time occurred at widely separated points In the northern prov- lncts. as In the case of the outbreak In Szu Chutiu unit Shun Tung 1'ostlng of anti-foreign placards became n ilnllv neniirreiiei-. width the relienied reprobitlon of the Imperial power f'lllnl to check or punish. These Inllammutory appualR to tho Ignorunee and supersti tion of the, mnsius, mundarlous nnd nb mtrd In thtlr accusations and tleeply hos tllo In their spirit, could not but work cumulative harm. They aimed at no particular class of foreigner, they were Impartial in attacking everything for eign. An outbreak In Shan Tung. In which German mlslonurles were s I iln, was tho too natural result of these malevolent teachings. Tho posting or se ditious placards exhorting to the utter ilesit notion of foreigners and of every foreign thlnu continued unrebuknl Hos tile demonstrations townid the strnngcr gained strength by organization Tho sect, commonly ,stled the Uoxers, developed gicatly In the porvluces north of tho Yang Tse and with the collusion of many notable officials. Including some In tho Immediate councils of the throne Itself, became alarmingly aggressive. No foreigner's life outside of tho pro tected treaty ports was safe No for t eign Interest wuh secure from spoliation The diplomatic lepresentutlves of the powets in l'ekln strove In vain to check this movement. Protest was followed by demand nml demand by ri.nevved protest, to be met with perfunctory edicts from the palace and evasive and futile assur piich from tho tHting-ll-amen. The clr- cle of the Iioxcr Influence narrowed ", about Pekln, and while nominally stig matized as sudltlotis, it was foil tint tliu spirit pervaded tliu cupltal itself, that tho Imperial forces were imbuid with ItH doctrines and thut Immediate coun selors of the mpiess dowager were In full sjmputhy with the anti-foreign move ment. ' ... Tho Increasing gravity of the condi tions In China and tho imminence of peril to our own diversified Interests In tho empire, ns well as to those of nil tho other treaty governments, were soon appreciated by this government, caus ing It profound solicitude. Tho United Htntes, from the earliest days of for eign Intercourse with China, had followed a policy of pcuco, omitting no occnslon to testify good will, to further the ex tension of lawful trade to respect the sovereignty of its government nnd to in sure by all legitimate and kindly, hut nurnnal nionnu. the flllest measure Of protection for tho lives and property of our law-abiding citizens and for the ex crcUe of tholr beneficent callings sniong the Chinese people. Mindful of this, It was felt to be ap pioprlate that our purpose should be pro nounced In favor of such n course as would hasten united action of the pow ers nt Pekln to promoto the administra tive reforms so greatly neded for strengthening tho Imperial government and maintaining tho Integrity of Chlnn, " in which wo billeved the whole western world to he alike concerned. To these ends 1 caused to bo nddressed to the several powers occupying territory and maintaining spheres of Intluenco In China tho circular prnposuls of ist) Inviting fiom them declarations of their Inten tions nnd views ns to the desirability of tho adoption of measures Insuring the benefits or equality of treatment of all fornlgu trado throughout China. With grutlfilng unanimity tho re sponses coincided with this common pol Icy, t iiubllng mo to see In the .successful termination of these negotiations proof of the friendly spirit which animates tho various powers Interested In the untrnm meled development of commerce nnd In dustry of the Chinese empire as u source of viist boneflt to the whole commercial world. In this conclusion, which I hnd the Knttlltcutlon to unounco as n completed engagement to the Interested powers, on March So, 1900, I hopefully discerned a potential factor for tho abatement of the distrust of foreign purpoies, which for a year past hud apioured to Insplro the policy of tho Imperial government nnd for the effective exertion by It of power mid authority to quell tho crltlcnl nntl-forelgn movement In the northern a provinces most immediately Inllueuced " ihy tho Hunchu sontlment. Beeklng to testify conlldenee In the neeklng to testiry commence in mo wllllni;niiu nml fibilltv of the linnerhil admlnUtrutlou to redrca tho wrongs und prevent the evils we suffered nml ffnred On August M tho cnpltul wad reached, uio murine wiurd which had been x ttt After u lincf conllii't boni'uth tliu nulls to fk 11 In the uutimn of lvi for Hie the nllef culumii entered nml ihe legu protection of the Ugutlen win with lions wore saved. The I lilted States ml S..i ii '.i1'1" 'rtr,l,l''!'' ,,rn ctl('al moment dters, sailors und murines, ulllcers nnd ..!!.. . ' tn,i l"-'"'1"'! questions won- re- men ullko, In those distant clliiifx ami i,o ;'ii..V. . . ru ,,,,u''ril''' ,0 course'. t0" f diplomatic Inter-1 The Chinese government nrnvnl. Iintv ever, unable to died: the tlslug strength or the Uoxers and appeared to be n pre to Internal dissensions tn the unequal contest the nntl-forelgn Infill ences soon gnuied the astt d,ine under the leadership of Prince Tilan Organ zed armies of lloxers, with which tho Imperial nrmles afllltalod, held the conn tr between Pukln and the coast, pone ttuttil Into Maiuluirl.i up to the Husstatt border, and through their emlsssrles threatened a like rising throughout northtru China Altai ks upon foreigners, destruction of pioperty and slnughtur of native con verts were reported from nil sides The tsung-ll-juineii, ullead.v peimeated with hostile sjmpathles, could make no ef fective ruqiunre to the appeals of tho le gations, At this critical Juncture. In the lurly spring of this ear, a proposal was made bj tiie utlu r powers that v com bined fleet should be nsetnblcd In Chi nese wateis as a moral demonstration, under cover of which to exact of the Chlntso government respect for foreign treat) rights and the suppression of the Uoxets. The I'nltPd States, while not partici pating In the Joint demons) ration, promptly sent fiom the Philippines all ships that could be spared for service on the Chinese coast A small force of ma ilnes was lauded at Tnltti and sent to Pi kin for tho protection of the Anierlcna legal Ion Othtr povvcis look similar ac tion until some I'M) men were assembled In the capital u legation guards. Still the pel II Increased. Ihc legntlous reported the development of the seditious movement In Pekln nnd the need of In creased provision for defense against it Wh.lo preparations v. f re In progress for u larger expedition to strengthen the lega tion guards and ke p the rnllv.uys open an attempt of the foreign ships to mako a landing at Taku was met by a lire fiom tne Chinese forts The forts wer.e tin re Ulion shelleii be thn rnrelcn vessels, the' . .- .. . ..-... ... American admiral taking no p in In the attack on the ground thut wu wire not at war with China nnd that u hostile dem oiistrutlon might consolidate trte nntl forelgn elements and strengthen the Hov ers to oppose the relieving column. Two days later the Taku forts were captured after a siingulnuiy conlllct. Severance of communication with Pekln followed at'd a combined force of additional guards, which were advancing to Pekln by the Pel Ho, was checked ut hung Knng. Tho Isolation of the legut ons was complete. On Juno 19 the legations were cut off. An Identical note from the yameii or dered eieh minister to leave Pekln. un der a promised escort, within twenty four hours To guilt time, they leplled, asking proloug.it on of the" time, which was afterward granted, and requesting an Interview with the tmingll-yumen on the following dny No reply being re ceived, on the morning of the LOth the Cermnn minister, Huron von Ketteler set out for the yamen to obtain n response and on the way wns murdered. An attempt by the legation guard to recover h's body was foiled by the Chi nese. Armed forces turned out ngulnst the ligations. Their quarters were sur loillidesl and attacked. The mission compounds were nbnndoned. their Inmntes taking refuge hi the UrIMsh legation, where nil the other legations und gunrds gathered for more effective defense Kour hundred persons were crowded In its narrow compass. Two thousand nntlvo converts were assembled In a nearby pelace under protection of the foreign ers. Mnes of defense were strengthened, trenches dug, barricades raised nnd prop urhtions made to stnnd u siege, which nt once begun "From June 20 until July 17." writes Minister Concer. "there ns scarcely nn hour during which there was not llrlng upon some pnrt of our mios and Into some of the legations, niylng from ii ulnele shot to a geneial and con tinuous attack along the whole line." Ar tillery wns placed around the legations and on the overlooking pulace wnlls, nnd thousands of 3-Inch shot and shell were llred, destroying some buildings and ilum galng nil. So thickly did the bulls rain that, when tho ammunition of tho be sieged ran low, live quarts of Chtneso bullets were pothered In an hour In ono compound and recast. Attempts were made to bum the lega tions by setting neighboring houses on lire, but the flames were successfully fought off. although the Austrian, Hei glun, Italian nnd Dutch legations woio tin n and subsequently burned. To save life nnd ammunition tho be sieged sparingly returned tho Incessant Urn of the Chinese soldiery, fighting onlv to repel uttnek or muko tin occnslonnl successful sortie fur strategic advantage, such ns that or lltty-nve Americans, uru ish and Russian marines, led by Captain M)ers of the t'nlted States Marino eorps, which resulted In the capture of n for mlil iblo barricade on tho wall thnt grave lv menaced the American nosttlon. It was held to the last nnd proved an In valuable acquisition, hecuusc commanding the wuter gate through which tho relief column entered. During the siege tho defenders lost sixty-llvn killed, Lift wounded and seven b) disease the Inst all children. On Julv H the besieged hud their flist communication with tho tsunglt-yamrn. from whom n message cumo Inviting to a conference, which was declined. Cor respondence, however, ensued nnd a sort of armistice was agreed upon, which stopped the bombardment nnd lessened the rllln lire for a time Uven then no protect. on whutever was afforded, nor nn) ulil given, save to send to the legations a small supply of fruit and three .acks of flour. , , , Indeed, the only commiinlcntlon hud with the Chinese government relnted to the occnslonul dellvety or dispatch of a telgerum or to the demnnds of tho ttningll yiuncn for tho withdrawal of the legation to tho const under osoort. Not only nre the protestations of tho Chinese govern ment thut it protected and succored the legations positively contradicted, but Ir resistible proof accumuluti-s that tho at tacks upon them were mndo by Imperial troops, regularly uniformed, armed and ofllccred, belonging to the command of Jung hu, the Imperial communder-ln-chlef. Decrees encouraging tho Uoxers, organizing thim under prominent im perial nfllcers provisioning them and even granting them lurgo sums In tho name of the emp ess iiowuger are. kiiuwii iu exist, Members of tho tsungll-ynmen who counseled protection of the foreigners ,..n imiin.iilrd liven In tho distant prov inces men suspected of foreign sympathy were put to deuth. prominent among thesn being Chung Yen Hooh, formerly Chinese mlnlsti r In Washington. With the negotiation of the partial nr mlstlco of July U, a proceeding which was doubtless promoted by the representations of tho Chinese envoy In Washington, the way was opened for the conveyance to lr Conge.! of a test message sent by the secretary of stnte through the kind offices of Minister Wu Ting Tang. Mr. Conger's reply, dlspitehcd from Pekln on July IS through the same channel, afford ed to the outside world tho first tidings thut tho Inmntes of the legations were still nllvo'nnd hoping for succor. This news stimulated the powers for n Joint relief expedition ill numbers suffi cient to nveicomn tho resistance whleh for n month had been organizing between Taku nnd the capital. Helnforcemonts sent by all the co-operating governments wero constnntly nrrlvlng. Tho I'nlted Stntes contingent hnstllv assembled from the Philippines or dispatched from this country, amounted to koiiio fi.OOO men, un der tho nblc command first of the la mented Colonel htscum and afterward of Genernl Chaffee. Toward the end of July the movement began A severe conlllct followed at Tien Tsln, In which Colonel I.lscum wns killed. The city wns stoimed and partly de stroyed. Its capture afforded tho base of operations from which to muko tho final advance, which began In tho first days of August, the expedition being mndn of jupinese, Ilusslan, Urltlsh nnd American troops nt the outset. Another hnttlo wns fought Hnd won at Ynng Tsun. Thereafter the dlshenrtened Chinese troops offeied little show of te slstnnce. A few dnys Inter tho Import ant position of Ho SI Woo wns t.ken, A rapid mnnh brought tho united forces o tho poplll )US eiiy oi cuiik .iiijw, nincii capitulated without o contest, uiiusuu sntrrntnKlltmu, showed thu sum valor, discipline uiul good comlucl um e nd give proof of the same high degree of intull'geucu and elllcleucy which have dls- iiugiiisueii mem in every emergency 1 lie imperial family and the govern ment hud lied u few days before 'I lie clt was without visible control. Tho remaining Imperial soldiery had made on the night of the 13th a. Inst attempt to evterm.niite the besieged, whleh wus gal lantly repelled, It fell to the occupying f oiees to testorn order and uiguiuze a ptov Islonul jdmliiliirutlon, Happily, the uctile disturbances were confined to die northern provinces, It Is a lellef to tncull and u pleasure to record the hi) al conduct of the vlcorojs nnd local nuthoritlis of the southern and east ern pi ov luces Their tffoits wcru con tinuous!) directed to tho pacillc control of tho vast populations under their rule and to the rli uptiloiiH observance, of for eign treaty rthts At critical moments they did not htsltatu to memottullze the throne, uiglng the protection uf the lega tions, tho restuiatlou of cominuiilcitiou and the assertion of the Impel lal author ity against the subverMvo olumeilts. They malutaliitd et client relations with the olllclal tepresentutlves of foielgn powers. To tin I r klnill) disposition Is largely duo the suci ess of the eonsuls 111 leniovlug muny of the mlxslouurlu fiom thn In terior to places of sifety In this rel i tion the nation of the consuls should be highly commended. In Shun Tung and eistern I hi I.I the task was dltllcult, but, thanks to their energy nnd the co-operation of American and foreign naval com mindeis, hundreds of foreigners, Includ ing those of other nationalities than ours, were rescued from Imminent peril. The pollc of tho United 8tutes through all this tt)lng period was clearly an nounced and scrupulously carrlid out. A circular note to the powers dated July J. ptoclnlmcd our attitude Treat ing the condition In the north as one of vlttual aniiich), In which the great' provinces of the south had no share wu m,-,...i...i ,i... i i...-.ii... t.. ,i... i..t iiH,,iivi Kill IIIUII II IIIIIUI lilt 3 III Lite mi ter quarters as tcpioseiitliiK the Chimin people with whom we sought to remain n Pencil and frleiidsbln. Our declare d alms involved no war against the Chi nese tuition We adhered to the legitl mute olllee of rescuing the Imperiled le gntion, obtulnltig ledress for wrongs nl lendy suffired, securing wherever pos sible the safety of Ameilcaii life and property In China and piuveullng a spread of the dlsordeis or their recur rence As wns then said, "the policy of the government of the I'nlted States Is to seek a solution which mil) bring about peimniicnt safety and pi ace to China. pieserve Chinese territory and iidmlnls tt.itlve entity, protect all rights gu irnn teed to friendly powers by treaty and In ternational law and safeguard fur tho world the principle of eqiul and Impar tial trade with ull parts of the Chinese einpliu." Knlthful to those professions which, us It proved, rt llected the views and pur posis of the other co-operutlng govern ments, all our eilorts huvo been directed toward ending tliu anomalous situation in China by negotiations for u settlement ut the dullest possible mommit As soon as the fueled duty of relieving our le gation und its dependents wax accom plished we withdrew from active hos tilities, leaving our legation under nn adequate gu ml at Pektu as a channel of negotiations und settlement a course adopted by others of the Interested pow ers Overtures of the empowered lepre sintntlves of tho Chinese emperor have not been considerably entertained. The Kusslun propositions looking to the res toration of the Imperial power In Pekln has been uccepted us In full consonunce with our own desires, for we huo held und hold thut effective reparation for wrongs suffered nnd an enduring settle ment that will make their lecurrence Im possible, can best be brought about under an authority which the Chlnesu nation reverences und obeys. While so doing, we forego no Jot of our undoubted iignt to exact exemplary ana ucterrent punishment of the responsible authors and abettors of the criminal acts where by we nnd other nations huvo suffered grievous Injuries Taking as a point of departure the Im perial edict appointing hi Hung Cluing and Prince Chin plenipotentiaries to ar range; a settlement, and the edict of Btp tember 5. whereby certain high nfllcluls were deslgunt.'d for punishment, this government hns moved In concert with the other powers, toward the opening ot negotiations, which Mr Conger, as sisted b Mr, Kockhlll, baa been author ized to conduct on behalf of the I lilted Stntes. Uenerul base's of negotiation formulated by the government of the French lepub lie. have been adopted with rertnln res ervations us to details, inntln necessary bj our own circumstances, but like sim ilar reservations by other peiwers, open to discussion In the progress of the ne gotiations, ihc disposition of the em pnoi'b government to admit liability for wrong. done to foreign governments and their natlounl representatives und to act upon such additional designation of the guilt) persons us the foreign ministers ut Pukln may be In u position to make, gives hope of a complete settlement of all questions Involved, assuring foreign lights of residence und intereoursu on terms of equality for all the world. The matter of indemnity for our wronged citizens Is u question of grave concern, Measured in money alone, u sutllclcnt reparation tnuy prove to be be yond the ability of China to moot. All the powcis concur In emphatic dlrclnlm ers of any purpose of uggrudlzement through the dlsmembormcmt of the em pire, I am disposed to think that duo compensation may be made In part by liicTeMscd guaranties of security for for eign rights und Immunities, and, most Important of all, by the opening of China to the equal commerce ot ull tho world. These views huvo been and will he ear nestly advocated by our representatives. THliASUHY OPhHATlO.NS KAVOU AllhE. It is gratifying to be able to state that the surplus revenues for the fiscal ear ended June 30.1WU, were $7,K.'7,WV).ll. For thn six preceding years we hud only de ficits, the aggrcgato of which, from 1S94 to 1S31. Inclusive, umounted to JJS3,(Ui, 991.14. The receipts for tho yeur from all sources, exclusive of postal revenue, ag gregated JW7,ilO,SJl., and expeiidltuies for all purposes, except for the adminis tration of the postnl department, aggre gated JtS7.713.7Vl.71. Ihe receipts from customs were )233,1C4,871.16, an Increase over the preceding year of Ji7,OJij,3fc9.41. llecelnts from Internul revunue were fX&.WWiii. un Increase of 121,U0.7W,,M over 1VJ9. Tho receipts from miscellane ous sources were 1X7(8.003.97, ns ngulnst M,i3I.Wa.W for the previous year. It Is gratifying also to note that during the year a conslderablu reduction Is shown In the expenditures uf the gov ernment. Tho war depurtmc-nt expendi tures for the lineal yeur 1 O were $131, 774,7117.78, n reduction of JW,U66,eJ 6U over thosti of lf99. hi the nuvy depaitmeut the oxpcndlturrs were 55.!i53,77. far the yeur VJ)0, ns against 63,042,101 2.1 for the preceding year, a decrease of jT.'J.vl.C'JO r3. In the expenditures on account of In dians there was n decrease In 1900 over 1SU9 of R030.Cul.3-S; and In the civil nnd miscellaneous expenses for 1900 there was a reduction of tl3,41l,V7l. Ilecaitse of the excess of revenues over expenditures, the secretary of the treas ury was enabled to apply bonds and other securities to the sinking fund to the amount of 6,U4,U6 uti. Tho details of tho sinking fund uro set forth In the lepoit of thn secretary of the treasury, to which I Invite attention. The secre tary of tho treasury estlmatod thut the receipts for tin current llscul ear will uggiegute IJSO.OOO.OJO, and the expendi tures :M,0X,000, leaving an excess of revenues over expenditures of tW.WW.Oe". Tho present condition of the treasury is one of undoubted strength. Tho available cash buhiiicu In November wus (139,303, 791 50. Under fho form of statement prior to the financial Inw of March 14 lust, them would have been Included In the stntiment of available cash gold coin nnd bullion held for tho redemption of United Htntes notes. if this form wero pursued tho cb1i bal ance, including the present gold reserve of H&O.Ojo.OOQ would hu JJV),S0l,79l W Hueh halnnce. November 30, 1KI9. was JM4,495. 301. (5. Ill the general fund, which Is wholly sppaiuto from the reserve and trust funds, there was. on November :, $70jj't0.t73 15 In gold coin and bullion to which should be .tdded Ji!,M7,3W in gold certificate, subject to Issue against which there Is held In thn division of reelemp- Hon gold coin anil bulplloii, making a total holding of flee gold iiiiiiiuiiilng lei '.'l,lU,,.i;i Id. It will be the duty, as 1 inn sure It will be the disposition uf the congress to pro vide whatever further legislation Is 11, ,lni1 In Itiatif lli.i i.fit.l I, iilu, I titirlt. under all enutlltlons between our two I forms of metallic money, silver and gold. Our surplus n venues have pctnuttcd the secrelaiy of the treasury, since tho close of the llscul )eur, to call In the ' funded loan of 11-91. continued ut '.' per cent In the sum of fJ6 3ol,WJ. To and Including November 31. Jll.4fs,lU') of those bunds bus been paid litis sum, to gether with the amount which may iiccruo fiom further rulpinptlolis undi r the uall, will be upplled to tho sinking ' i unci. The benellelal effect of the tlnnnctnl net of I'M) so far us It i elates to the modlllca Hon of the national bunking act Is al tcadv aiiiiareiit. The tiroc Iston fur the lucorpoiiitiou of iihHoiiuI bniikp with a capital of not Hess than K.VOOU in places ' nut exifcdlug .l.OiO Inhabitants bus ie-' suited lii the extension of binding fa cilities to mini) small communities hith erto unable to piovide themselves with . banking Institutions under the national ! system There vveie organized from the I euai'ttiieiit of thn law up to and Including Noveinbtr 3y, ,ti.'i national banks, nf whleh Sill! weie with capital Itss than f'lO.OOU and I 10.1 with capital of S'liutx) m more. Our foicihp t utile shows a lemaikiihle I ricoril of ciiuimerciul and ludiistiliil prog less. The total of Imports uiul ixpoits for the Hi nt tlmu In tlin history of Ihe counlrj I'Nci-eeleel J.' mi w iwi The ex ports me fur gi enter than the) have ever hi en befme. the total for the fiscal )ear l'.j being )l .I'iUSUM, an lncieiitu , over jry.i in ti'ii.-iu'siv, an incienn over 1S9S of 1C'1,001'.072. over IvyT of II3 ll.5Sil, und greater than IMG by l.'.U..s.i.,itl The growth of maiiufacluies In Iho United Slates Is evidenced b) thn fact that the exports uf iniiiiufiictureil pin ducts lust yeur exceed lhoe of an) pre vious )ear, thulr Milne being s. $"1 7.",C ugalnrt ntii,5;c,Uii in 1M9, un Inciease of S.1 pe r cent. Agilctiltural products went also ex poriul during ti) In gi eater volume than 111 1V.9. the total ufr tho oir being JW3, M8.1.,3, uciillist 7M,77l.,14J In 1V.-3 i:xti:nsion ok amhuican tiiadu. Tho fultllle of action by the senate al Its! Inst sesiiiiti upon the commercial con ventions then submitted for Us consleleia tlun and approval, although caused lev the grout piessure of other legislative business, has caiiHivl much disappoint ment to the agricultural ami liidustilal interests of the count! y, whleh hopisl to prollt by their provls ons. The conven tional periods for their intlllcation huv Ing expired, It became necessiii) to sign article's extending the time for that pui poso. This was lequested on our part anil the other governments Interested have concurred, with the eci ptlou of one convention, in respect to whleh no formal reply has bien recelveel In my Inst com munication to congress on tills subject special commercial agreements under the third section of the tariff act have been piocmlmcd with Portugal, with Itnly nnd with Oermilny Commercial conventions under the general limitations of the fourth section nf the simo huvo been con tiudcil with Nicaragua, with Dciiudor. with the Dominican republic, with flreut llrltulu mi behalf of the Island of i rlnl dud and with Denmnrk on behalf of the Island of St Croix. This will be early communicated to the senate Negotiations with other governments nre In progress for the Improvement und security of our commercial relations The policy of recipioclty so muiilfently restH upon the pilnciple of international equallt) und hhu been so readily approved ny the people or the United Stuies thut there ought to be no hesitation In either branch of congress In Riving to It full effept. This government desires to preserve the most Just nml nmlcable commercial relu tlons with ull foreign countries, unmoved by the Industrial rivalries necessarily de veloped In the expansion of International trade. It Is believed that the foreign gov ernments generally entertain thn same purpose, although In some Instances there urn clamorous demands upon them for legislation speclllcall) hostile to American interests. Should these demands prevail i snail cummiinlcalu Willi congress with n vlovv of advising such legislation ns miiv be necossnry to tneot tho emergency. Tho exposition of the resources und products of the western hemisphere to be In: id ut Huffalo next yeur promises Im portant results, not only for the United BtJtus, but for the other participating countries, It Is grat f)lng thut the hatin Ameilcun states huvo evinced t,lio liveliest Interest, und the fact thut tin Interna tional American eongicss will be held 111 tho City of Mexico while the exposition Is In pi ogress encourages the hope of a larger display ut lluffulo than might otherwise he practicable. The work of preparing un exhibit of our national te sources Is milking satlsfjctor) progii-ss under tho direction of tho dlftereut nfll cluls of the federal government nnd the various stutes ot the union have shown a disposition tovvaid tho most liberal par ticipation in the enterpnso. Tho Hureaii of Amuiican Republics con tinues to discharge with tliu happiest re sults the Important work of promoting cordial lelallons between the United Stntes und the Li tin-American countries, ull of which nre now active members of the International union. The bureau has been Instrumental In In Inning about the agreement for another International American congress, vvhlth Is to u.eel In the City of Mexico In October, 1901. The bureau's future for another term of ten years is nvsuretl by the Intel national com pact, but the congress will doubtless have much to do with shuplng new lines of work und u general policy. Its usefulness to thn interests of I.atln-Anicrlcan trado Is widely appreciated und shows u grat ifying development. I17.it! practical utility of tho consular servire In obtaining a wide range of In formation n to tho Industries and com merce of other countries, for Introducing the Mile of our goods, has kept steadily In Hdvunin of the notable! oxprinslon of our foregln trade and uhundnnl evidence has been furnished, both ut home and abroad, of the fuct thnt the consular reports, in cluding muii) from our diplomatic repre sentatives, have to a conMdcrablu extent pointed out ways and means of disposing of a grout vuilety of mniuifattutfel goods which otherwise might not have found sale ubroad. revision op nnvDNun laws. 1 recommend thut tho congress nt Its present sosslon reduce the Internnl reve nue tuxes Imposed to meet the expenses of the war with Spain In tho sum of , 000,000. This reduction should be secured by tho remission of those taxes which vsprileiirc has shown to be the most burdensome to the Industries of the peo ple. I specially urge that there be Included In whatever reduction Is mndn the legicy tux, bequests for public uses of a literary, educational or charitable character. American vessels during the last threw years have carried ubout 9 per cent of our exports and Imports. Foreign ships shoulil carry the least, not the greatest, part of American trado. The remarknble growth of our steel Industries, the progress of ship butltTiitg for the domestic trade mil our steadily maintained expenditures for tho navy hnvo created an opportunity to pluce tho United States In the first rank of fommerclul maritime powers. Mesldes realizing a proper national as piration this will menu tho establishment and henlthy growth along all our coasts of a distinctive national Industry, ex panding the field for protltnble employ ment of labor and cupltal It will Inciease the transportation facilities and reduce freight charges on the vast volume of proelucts brought from the Interior to the senbowrd for export, and will strengthen an arm of the nntlouul defense upon which the founders of the government nnd their successors have rolled. In ngaln urging Immediate action by tho congress on measures to promote Amerleun ship building and foreign trade, I direct at tention to tho recommend itlons on the subject In previous messnges, und par ticularly to thn opinion expressed in the message of 1H9: "I um satisfied tho jiidgmont of tho country favors tho policy of aid to our merchant mmlnc, which will broaden our rommerce nnd mnrkets und upbuild our sou-cnrrylng capacity for tho jioO'j'ta of ngilculturo und manufacture, whloh, with the Inoionse of our nnvy, menu moro work and wnges to our count! ymen, us rU,as a safeguard to American Interests In every pnrt of the world," iitu attention of congress Is Invited to the ifc'iimmrudutlnn ut thn sccMtiuy nf the treasury lu his annual icport for leg islation In beliuir of the revniiiu cutter set vice, and favorable action Is urged. I In mv lust iiuiiiinl message to the con gress I culled intention lu the necessity ' for enrlv action to remedv such evils us might be found lo exist In connection with combinations of i.ipnnl organized Into ti lists, and again Invite intention to my illsciiHslon of the subject nt that time, which conclude el with these vvonls "It Is nppiireut thut utilformtiv of leg islation upon this subject lu tho several st'ites Is much to be deslied. It Is lo be hoped thut such uniformity, founded In a Wise and lusl discrimination lictwocn what is InlurloiiH nml what Is useful audi ncccsharj in business opeiatlous, may be obtained, and that menus ma) lie foiinil for thn eongriss, within thn limitations uf Its rouslltutloiial pnvvet, so lo supple ment an t'lTictlVi' endt of slato legislation us to muko a feiiupletc s)stem of liws throughout Iho United Stntes ndequiite to compel u gent nil ubsiirvnute of the snlu tiny inles to whleh I have teferred." The whole question Is so Important nid fa r-i caching that I am mini no part of It will ho lightly considered, but every phase of It will have the studied delib eration of thn congri s, resulting In wise and Judicious ictlon, Itestrafnt upon such combinations as am lujuiious, mid which are within fed oral Jiiililleiliiu should ho promptly up piled by thn ituigress, (lOVUItNMDNT OK I'OtlTO HICO. The civil guv eminent of Porto Itleo pro vided for bv the act nf congress appiovnl April 12, 1C. Is In Mierossful op ration The- cotnts have been established, The geivcttmr and his misotlate.i wiuklug In telligently mid hiiriiioulousl). urn meet ing with coiniucinlilhli! success. On Nov'einbii 0 u giliclal election was held 111 the Island for members of I hi legislature unit thn body eleeleel has been en I Icil to convene un the llrsl Monday lu December. I n rominenil Hint legislation be ntneted h tliu congress ounfeirlng upon the sec retin) of tho Intel lor supervision of the public hinds tn Porto HIco, Hint he be directed to ascertain the location uiul ilirilillt) of hinds the title to which ie malneil In the crown of Spain ut the lute uf cession of Porto ltlco to Ihe United Stutes unci that apnropilatlous noevs ar foi surveys be miuU mid thut the meth ods of the disposition of such lands be piescrlbeil by Inw, I'HAMINfl CONSTITUTION P'Oll CUI1A On July 8'i, IfiOO, I din tied thnt a call be Issued for nn election In Culm for members of u constitutional convention to fiume ii constitution on u basis for a stable uiul Imlcpcnelent government In lliu Island In purounice thcimif thn mllltar) gov ei nor Issued the following Instruc tions, "Whereas, The congress of the United Stales b Its Joint lesolullnu or April :, lM, declared' " 'Thnt tho people of Hit) Islnnd of Culn urn and of right ought to ho flee mid In dependent, " 'That the United Stutes hereby dls clulins nny disposition or Intention tn ex ercise sovereignt). Jurisdiction or ciintiol over snlit Island except for the p icltlcu Hon thereof, and usseits Its delermlnu tlon, when thnt Is iiccoinpllshed tn leave the government mid loiitml of the Islnnd to Its people ' "Anel whereas the people of Cuba hnvc cHtuhllsheil iiuinlclii.il governments, de riving their uiithorlt) from the suffrage of tho people glvwi under Just anil equal laws, and are now rrudy, In like manner, to proceed with the establishment of a general government which shall nsumo nml exercise sovereignty. Jurisdiction nnd control over tun lsllinu; "Then furii It Is onleied thut a general election be held In the Island nf Culm on thn third Sattirdny of September. In Hie year 1900, to elect delegates to the con vention to meet In the cltv of Havana at II o'clock noon, on thn llrst Monday of November, lu the yt nr l&o), tn frame nnd adopt a constitution for the people of Cuba nml, as a part thereof, lo provide for and agree with the government of the United Stales upon the rt lotions to exist between that government and the gov ernment of Culm, nnd to ptovldn for the election by the cople or olllcers uiuicr finch constitution and the transfer of gov ernment to the officers so elect"!. "The ob'cilon will be held lu tho several voting precincts of the Island under nnd pursuant to the piovlslons of tho elec toral law of April IS, 1S00, und tho amend ments thereof." The election wns held on September 15 und the convention assembled on Novem ber 5, 1900. mid Is now in session, In culling- the convention to order the military governor of Cuba made the following statement . "As military governor of the Island, representing tho president of the United States, I call this convention to order. "It will be your duty, llrst, tn frame and iiclnpt a constitution for Cuba and when that has been done to formulnte what lu your opinion ought to be the re latlous between Cuba mid tho United States. "The constitution must be ndisiunte to secure a stable, onli rly und free govern ment. "When )ou have formulated the reln tions whloh In )nur opinion ought to ex ist between Cuba und the United Stutes, the emolument of lliu United States will doubtless takn such action on Its part ns shall lend to u llunl ami authnrltntlve I agreement between the people of tho two countries to tnti promotion ot tneir com mon Interests "All ft lends of Cuba will follow jour deliberations with the deepest Interest, earnestly desiring that ou shall reach Just conclusions and that bv thn dignity, Individual self-restraint mid wise con servatism which shull chnrncterlze your proceedings the capacity of the Cubnn people for represi ntatlve government nmy bo signally Illustrated." HXPLAINB NHKDS OK TIIK NAVY. The personal strength nf the army Is 100,000 meii-fS.OiO regulars and 35,000 vol unteers. Under the act of March 2, H99. on Juno 30 next the present volunteer force will bo discharged und tho rpgular army will bo reduced to 2,447 officers and 2i,o enlisted men. In 1SS u board of officers convened by President Clevelnnd adopted a compre hensive scheme for coast defense fortlll cations, which Involved the outlay of Hiitnethhu: over IIOO.OOO.MO. This Plan re ceived the approval of congiess nml since then regular appropriations have been ' innde nnd the work nf fortification has j steadily progressed. Morn than tco.00nj0 lias been Invested In n great number of i forts uiul guns, with nil the complicated i und selentllle machinery mid electrical ; appliances necessary for thelc use The pioper cam of this defensive rmehlnery nqiilifi men trained to Its use. ihe num ber of men necessary to perform this duty alone Is ascot tallied by the war de imitmcnt, nt a minimum allowance, to bu 19.420. Them are fifty-eight or more military posts In the United Stutes other than tho const defense fortifications The number of these posts Is being constantly In creased bv congress. Morn than 122.000.- ! (M) has been expended In building nnd I equipment anu iney can uiuy no enren ' for by the regular army. The posts now i In existence nnd others to be built pro vide for nrcnmmbilntlnns for, nnd. If ' fully garrisoned, require- 2(1.000 troops, Many of thesn posts are along our fronr tier or nt important strategic points, mo occupation of which Is necessnry. We have In Cuba between &.000 anil 0,000 troops, Krir thn present our Hoops In that Islnnd cannot be withdrawn or ma terlnlly diminished, and certainly not .....II .t. '.n.Al.uln ,. ,1... 1.. !.,.,. nf !,. Illlllll Villi I.I,IUIIIPUI it ill" imri'tn 1,1 iiiit constitutional convention now In session i and n government provided bv the new constitution shall have been established und Its stability assured. In Porto ltlco we hnvo reduced the gar risons to 1,030, which Includes k'ji native troons There Is no room for further re duction here. We will he required to keep u Loiuldeinblo, forco in the Philippine Isluiidn for noma tlmo to come. Prom tho best Infoi mntton obtainable wo shull need there for tliu Immediate future from &0 000 to fifl.OW men. I nm sum Hie number inny be reducid as tho Insurgents shull come to acknowledge the authority of the United Stntes, of which there nre assur ing lndlcstinns. It must be apparent thnt we will re quire nn in my of nbout rAOCj und that during thn pieseut conditions In Culm, and the Philippine tho picsMcut should have authority to Incnnso tho forco to tho present number of lUO.OoO Included In this number authority should bo given to raise native troops In the Philippines up to 15,000, which the Tuft commission believes will be moro effective In dotect- Inr; .nifi i ippresstiiK gtierlllui, n-nasslim nnd Imlroni'S thin our own soldiers. The full dlsoiisnn of this subjeat by Ihe steretury of wnr lu his annual rcrlort Is culled lo )Our earnest attention. I renew the recoiuineudntlon nuiile In til) list annual missagt) Hint the con gress provide a special medal of honor for thn volunteers, tegulnrs, sailors nnd murines on duty In the Philippines who voluntarily remained In the service after their terms of enlistment hud expired. I favor tho recoiiiiiiendstlun of the see rut ui v uf war for a tlutull of officers of the Hue of the arm) when Micnnclrs oc cur lu thn udjututit general's depart ment, Inspector general's deputtment, quiit termiistei gent nil's department, sub sistence ilepariuieiit, pay depirtment, ctilnance department mid signal corps, 'Um mniy cannot be too highly coin meiiiled for Its faithful and elfecllve serv ice lu ucllve mll't.iiy operations In tlm Held nnd the tlllllciilt vvtirk or civil ad ministration. Ill ItAh KKi:i3 DHI.IVintY A ki:a- Tiiii: Thn continued mul rapid growth of the postal seivlee Is a sine Index of the great mul Inert iiKlng hiisiiuss activity ot tho niuntry Its most striking new de-velnp-tnenl Is tho extension of rural free de livery. This Ins come almost wholly within the lust )em At the la ginning or the llscul )iar Ifciy-lUJO the number of unites in epilation was only ,91 and most of these hud In en running less than twelve mouths On thn l.'.th of November, 1900, the number hud Increased to 2,011, leaching Into foitj-rour states ami ter rltoiles. and saving a population of l.v-ol,;,iq The numbi r of applications now pcnillnjf mid aw nltlng action nearly eqitaln all those granted up to thn present time, mid by the- close of the current tliicti! juir ubout 4, un.) iiiiilos will huvo been estiibllsheel. providing for the dally delivery of mulls at tho scattered homes or ubout J.rsUii teiXi i unit population. This service ameliorates the Isolation of fat m life, conduces to goml roads, and quickens nnd extends tine ills emluntlon of general information. Kxpcilcucu thus far has luuiletl to ulliiy thn uppieheiislon that It would he ho expensive us to for bid Its general adoptti u or to maku It u ueilous burden, lis net mil application bun shown that It Increases postal lecelpts, mid can be uccompaiilid b) reductions in other branched of tho neivice, so Hint the augmented revenues and the accom plished savings together materially lei dueo the net cost. The evld nces which point to thesn conclusions ale presented in detail In the annual icport of thn post innster general, which, with Its lecom nienilntlons, Is recommended to the con slderullun of the congress The full de velopment of this special service how ever, tequlris such a lingo outlay ot money that It should be undertuken caily niter a caieful study uiul thorough tin di riitniullng of ull thnt It Involves, INTHUIOH DKPAUTMKNT AI'PAIltS. The total urea of public lunds us given by the seeretury of tho Interior Is ap proximately 1,Ui1AS1,Mh! acins, of which .'17,911. NSe) ucies nin undisposed of ami I.i4,1I.1,iM2 acres huvo hern leserved fur various purposes, Th public lunds dis posed of during the year amount to 13, iM .S7.!ifl acres, Including bJ 123.09 ncies of Indian lunil, nn Increase) of 4,271,174 bO ovtr thu preceding yeur The tutiil re ceipts from the s lie of publlo lauds dur ing thn llscul ear were St.3iit.7SH 10. nn Increase uf (l,Jei9,620.7il over the piecedlng ear. Tho results obtnliird from our forest policy have demonstrated Us wisdom mul the necessity In the llitnictd of the publlo for Its continuance mid Inci eased appro prlnlluus by the congress tor the carrying on of the work. On June SO, 190a. them worn thirty-seven forest reserves, created by presidential proclamation under sec tion 24 or tho net of Mutch 3. 1VJ1, em bracing un area of 4i:,4uti,4MI acres. some uKNuitAh iu:co.mmi:nda- TIONB. In my aniiunl message of December S, IViK, I culled attention to the necessity for some amendment of the alien con tract law. There still remain Important features of tho rightful application of the eight-hour law for the bonellt ot Inbor mid of the principle of arbitration, und I iignlll commend tin so subjects to tho careful attention ot tho congress. Thnt there niuy be secured tlm best service possible! In thn Philippine IslniuU I have Issued, under (Into of November 10, 1900, thn following orde-r: "Thu United Stutes civil service com mission Is directed to render such as sistance us may be practicable to the civil service board, created under tho act of the United Stntes Philippine commis sion, for the establishment and mainte nance of tin honest und efficient olvil service in tho Philippine Islands, mid for that purpose to conduct examinations for tho civil service of tho Philippine Islands. upon tho request of tho civil sorvlco boa rel of suld Islands, under such regu lation us may be ugrocd upon by thu said board und thu said United Htntes civil service, commhiiilnn." Tho civil service commission Is greatly embarrassed In Its woik for want of an adequate! iicrmnucitl forco for clerical und other assistance, ltu needs lire fully set forth lu Its report. I Invite atten tion to the report, und especially urge upon tho congress that this Important bureau of the public service which pusses upon 11:3 qualifications und churuUer ot so lurge n number of the officers nnd cm plocs of lliu government should be sup ported by all bccsled appropriations to secure promptness and efficiency. I nm very much Impressed with (ho ntutement mude by the heuds of ull thu ilepnrtmeiits of the urgent necessity of u, hull of public records. In every depart mental building In Washington, so fur as 1 um informed, the space for offirlnl records Is not only exhausted, but tho walls of rooms are Hind with shelves, the mleldli! Hoor space of many, rooms Is tilled with file eases, und garrets nnd basements, which wero never intended, mid are unfitted for their accommodation, are crowded with them. Asldn from the Inconvenience there Is great dnnger, not only from lire, but from the weight of these records upon llmburs not Intended for their support. Them should be a separate building especially designed for the purpose of receiving nnd preserving; the annually accumulating archives of the Fovoral executive departments. Buch a hull nted not be u costly structure, but should be so urrmiged ns to permit of enlargement from tlmo to tlmu. I ur gently recommend thut the congress take, early action In this matter. The transfer of thn government to tills city Is a fact of great historical interest. Among the people there Is a fooling- ot genuine pride In the cupltal of tho repub lic. It is u matter of Interest In this; connection thnt In 1800 the population of the District of Columbia wus 14.093; toduy It Is 27S.718. The population of thn city of Washington wus then 3,210; today ft Is 218,190. Tho congress buying provided for "an appropriate nutlonal celebration ot the, centennial nnnlversury of the establish ment of tho scat of government in tho ! District of Columbia, the committees authorized uy it have prepnred a pro gram for the 12th of December. 1900, which dnte hns been selected as tho an niversary day. Deep Interest hns been shown In the arrangements for the cele bration by tho members of the commit tees of tho senate und house of repre sentatives, tho committee of governors appointed by the president, nnd the com mittees appointee! by the citizens nnd In habitants of the District ot Columbia generally. Tho program, In addition to a reception und other exercises nt the ex ecutive mansion, provides commemora tive exorcises to tie held Jointly by th senate and houso ot representative In the hull of tho houso of representatives, and a leceptlon In the evening ut thn Corcoran gullery ot art In honor of tho governor ot tho states and territories. in our great prosperity we must guard against the dunger It invites of extrava gance In government expenditures and appropriations, and tho chosen repre sentatives of the people will, I doubt not. furnish un exumple In their legislation of that wise economy whlcn In a season of plenty husbands for tho future. In this or u ot great business activity and opportunity cuutlon is not untimely, it will not abate, but strengthen conndonca. It will not retard, but promote legitimate IndiiHtiliil and commercial expansion. Our growing power brings with tt the complications nnd porlls requiring con stant vigilance to avoid. It must not bo iibiel to invite conflict, nor for oppression, hilt for tho most effective mnlntonnnca of thoso principles ot equality nnd Justice, upon which our Institutions und Imppi "'?:!!, to-V :.. A?!,?? ?P "'ways Vn ' .';.. '- vwtiuuuuii oi our Kovsm- m.eil lu lllmplu. Iiu .,....-....."' Sill- ment Is llborty; its superstructure peace. ., .. WIIiMAM McKINiJey. Kxccutlvo Mansion, Deo. 3, loot), ' Uil 1 'V t, .'if m i fr. A i&ylWwimfml'tt'"'wi .t J 'y.xO.: -ryV s Y j '"J ij . A isiA I1 eVif ytJkVtJh'ttBtKiwKS!''