The Oregon mist., March 12, 1897, Image 1

OR
H
VOL. XIV.
ST. HELENS, OREGON, FJUDAY, MAltCII 12, 1897.
NO. 12.
nnT
JL JC
EVENTS OF THE DAY
Epitome ol the Telegraphic
Newt of the World.
TERSE TICKS FROM THK WIRES
Ab Interesting Collection of Items rrom
tba Tw Hemispheres Presented
la Condenas4 form
Joseph Wheolwr was killed near Tmw
ton, Wash., whilo walking the North
rn Pacific track.
President Cleveland htm rit a niei
sage to the houm) vetoing the tmmigra
tion bill. He assert in hi ni"c
that It reverses the national policy In
excluding illiterates, biifc permitting
political agitators and anarchists to en
ter the country.
United State Ambassador Bayard
was tendered ft banquet by the Ion
mayor of London, It in ui) tlntt not
in many years ha the Muimiiiii house
contained a gathering ho representative
of British lift) and achievement a a
seinblcd to lienor Mr. Bayard. '
Direct charge of bribery and at
tempted bribery were mmio before the
Kansas state legislature at 'Ioeka.
The chaw were made in open e
ion, Th name of Iliu accused wore
tpoken outright, and warrants mure is
sued for the arrest of the culprits. One
of the men implicated was arrested be
fore he could make hia tn4tijo from the
capital building. '
The state lunate of Oregon after a
session lusting newly fifty -day, at
which nothing could be accomplished,
has decided to dissolve nud tto home,
The attitude of absent members tnale
all effort at reorganisation appear
hopeless, and it was thought bent not
to add to the complication oi the pi en
en t troublesome situation, The dci
ion to quit wim brought about by the
failure of the bonne to eecure the at.
tendance of a single outside member.
Another filibustering expedition hat
been successful In evading the vigilance
of custom official ami are on their wny
to Cuba with arms, amuiunitloii and
supplies fur the insurgents. The expe
dition is under oommand of Major tun
trovordi, a young and daubing Cnbun
patriot, who was formerly Willi Muceo.
It ia laid that several men have taken
puna age on the filibuster for Cuba and
will enter the rank of the Insurgent.
The destination la thought to t the
mouth of the San Juan river.
The outlook for the opening of the
Colvllle reservation 1 now mild to lie
very unfavorable. The mutter ia In the
hands of the conference committee in
Washington, and aeveral ainemlinonta
are to be considered in connection with
the original bill. The chief interest
center in the placers at the mouth of
Hunter creek. Upon large bar in the
Columbia, fifty heavily armed and do-
- termlned men are in camp, mostly
rancher from the surrounding country.
Camped Just below them on a small bar
la a amall party commanded by Detec
tive Joe warren and ex-Hheriff Pugh
They are aaid to be the agent of the
federal y mi irate.
A cable dispatch from Manilla to
Madrid say over 9,000 insurgents were
killed in recent battle fought with gov
ernment troop at Silting and Las Ma
rimss. '
Another report is current that the
Spanish captain-general in Cuba, W'ey
ler, will step down. Tbia time it ia auid
the report i based on the very highest
authority. The reason given for hi
desire to retire is the release of Sun-
guilty.
The national senate held a Sunday
session, at which the principal business
transacted was the passage of certuin
items of the sundry civil bill, among
which was the river and harwir appro
priation. The attendance at the session
was large, only thirteen being absent.
Mrs. Eva Rodriguca, wife of Briga
dier-General Alexander liodriguos, of
the Cuban insurgents, has arrived in
Key West. Of her recent arrest and
treatment by Spanish officers she re
late a pitiful story of persecution,
She tells of being subjected to the in
dignities of the Spanish soldiers and
together with sixty other women she
was driven handcuffed through the
streets of Santa Clura to a felon's pri
son. Her release was finally obtained
tnrougn tjonsui-ueneral Lee.
The United States supreme court ha
rendered an opinion in the ease of the
steamer Three Friends, seised Novem
ber 17 last by the collector of oiistoms
forth district of St. Johns, Via., as
forfeited to the United States,, under
section 5,228 of the revised statutes,
known as the neutrality ant. The
opinion fully sustained the position of
the government, reversing the decision
of the dlatriot court for the southern
district of Florida. Chief Justioo Ful
ler delivered the opinion of the court
He defined neutrality to mean: Ab
stinence from participation in public,
private, or civil war, and impartiality
of conduct toward both parties, but
manitenanee of unbroken peaoeful rela
tion between the two, when the do
mestic affairs of one of them is dis
turbed, is not neutrality in the sense in
which the word is used when the dis
turbance haa acquired such head as to
have demanded the recognition of belli
gerency. Governor Lord, of Oregon, has re
ceived a letter in reply to his request
to Speaker Reed asking that the bill for
the relief of Indian war veterans be per
mitted to oome up in congress fur final
consideration. The spoakor says:
"The pressure of business at the clos
of the session renders it difficult to con
sider any particular measure, especially
one which has not been discussed much
before the house." This looks as if
there is not much show for the bill at
this session of congress, and no action
can be taken at the special session.
Make-Vp of tbe Cabinet.
President MoKlnley lias sent to th
United States senate the following
nominations:
Hooretary of state, John Sherman, of
Ohio.
Secretary of the treasury, Lyman J.
Gage, of Illinois.
Hooretary of war, Russell A. Alger,
of Michigan.
Attorney-general, Joseph MoKonna,
of California.
Postmastor-goneral. James A. Garr.
of Maryland.
Sooretury of the navy, John D. Long,
of Massachusetts.
Secretary of the Interior, Cornelia
N. Bliss, of New York.
Secretary of agriculture, James Wil
son, ol Iowa.
To compliment Mr. Sherman, bis
nomination was immediately confirmed.
The other nominations were referred to
various committees, who took action
upon them later, confirming all with
out objection.
Raw th InsU Will at mad.
The re-eloction of James If. Kyle to
the United States senate from South
Dakota determines the complexion of
that body at It will appear when the
Republican party comes into power
March 4. It will be composed of th
following elements:
Ki'puMli-mi ,M I Silver republicans...,,.!
lhmincrau .,...! Independent- 1
l'oiull.l 7 I Vacant-It ....I
Never In the history of the nation haa
the delineation of parties been so un
certain as will be exemplified by th
senate to be organised at the beginning
of the administration of President Mc
Kinley. No party as control In the
upper branch of the national legisla
ture, and although the Republicans
predominate in degree tiiey are short of
a majority, even after counting the
f roe-silver senators like Woloott, Hans
borough and Carter, who are true to
the party, while differing with it on
the most important political Issue of
tli day. '
Differences Are) Settled.
All differences between th house
and the senate on the postal appropria
tion bill have been settled. The sen
ate amendments have been accepted
which authorises the postmaster-general
to use the unexpended balance of
lost year's appropriation from special
trunk line facilities for any fast mail
facilities he may think proper; 950,000
for a transfer service between St. Louis
and East St. Louis, adding $183,000 to
the allowance for railway postal clerks,
and also the senate amendments strik
ing out the rating of the salaries of
postal inspectors at 11,200, $1,400 and
11,600.
The senate recedes from the amend
ment striking out the item for marine
free delivery for Detroit. The senate's
raise of the amount for transportation
by pneumatic tubes from $50,000 to
$150,000 stands
HHI Amending th Shipping Laws.
The bill amending the slapping law
was passed after adding a proviso that
it shall not change the law forbidding
flogging in the merchant marine. A
senator said the bill as drawn was in
the sailor' interests and did not re
store flogging, but to please certain
"wise men1' the provision had been or
dered. Gordon of Georgia, bad inserted in
the record an account of the extreme
simplicity of the Washington and
Adams inauguration.
Diplomatic Halations Restored.
The state department has been in
formed that diplomatic relations be
tween Vene'suela and Great Britain,
which were interrupted some years ago,
have been restored, and that Juan
Pietrie, the present Vencsuelan min
ister to Germany, has been transferred
to Gerat Britain. This will leave but
one step to wind up the whole embar
rassing and critical Venezuelan con
troversy, the assured ratification by
the Veneiuelan congress of the arbitra
tion movement.
The Kxtra S.e.loa.
According to call, congress will U
convened in siieoial session March IS.
The new president will send mesasugl
to congress calling attention to the
state of the government revenues, and
urging the speedy enactment of a gen
eral revision of the tariff. ",
Judge Tumor's Policy.
Judge Turner, Washington's newly
elected United States senator.announcei
that his policy In the senate will be to
favor a protective tariff, the protection
of Americans in foreign lands, and tht
early annexation of the Hawaiian
islands. .
' A Plaoo fo Boyle.
It 1 whispered among the Ohio con
gressional delegation in Washington
T..m.. T P.tvln. nrivnfA atterfttar
of President of McKinley, will be ap-!
pointed consul to Liverpool, succeeding !
James C. Neulof Ohio. The Liverpool J
post is worth about $30,000 a year.
Tha President's Approval.
The international monetary confer
ence hill is now a law, President Cleve
land having signed it this afternoon.
Om Cleveland's Head.
The house passed the immigration
bill over the president's veto by a votl
of 103 to 87. .
' Signed by Cleveland.
The nresident has signed the bill to
allow the bottling of spirits in bond in
which distillers are greatly Interested.
tmtniatura Delivered.
The note of the powers notifying
Greece that her forces must bo with
drawn from Crete witihn six days has
been delivered. Greece was warned
that this decision is irrevocable, and
that failure to onmply with the powers'
demands would rtwult in serious conse
quences. , .
A fifteen nound codfish, recently ex
amined by the fish warden of London,
was found to have a roe containing 4,-
873,000 eggs.
UH11MI
President McKinley Takes
Up the Reins of Our
Government.
THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY
Countless Thousands Viewed The Oreat
CIlo and Military Parade Bountiful
. Decorations and Magnllleant Illuml.
nations Inaugural Ball s Sucoaaa.
Thursday, March 4, for the fourth
time, a native-born citixen of Ohio, in
the presence of untold thousands of his
countrymen, took the oath which bound
blm for four years to guard the welfare
of the American people. It was an im
pressive yet beautifully simple cere
mony that marked the ascension of
William MoKlnley, soldier, lawyer,
representative, governor, to the high
office of president.
The popular demonstration of the day
was unique and a shining success in
every particular. In beauty, in taste,
in novelty the decorations were incom
parably superior to anything ever seen
in Washington. The magnificent body
of regular United State troops was
more numerous than any gathered
since Grant's great display at the close
of the war. Seventeen sovereign state
had citizens In the parade, and over
ixty civic organisations helped to swell
it magnificent proportions.
Along the brood avenue on every open
space were erected grandstands that
were not only comfortably covered and
of pretty architectural design, but ap
propriately decorated. The citizens
had spent money liberally to beautify
their house, and, with the aid of
thousands of flags of every kind, loaned
by the national government. Pennsyl
vania, the great artery avenue of the
city, was turned into a rainbow of
bright color, in which "Old Glory"
predominated.
Decorations In tbe City.
I A stiff breeae flaunted flags, banners
and bunting in the air, adding piotur
esqueness to the brood avenue, from
the treasury to the capitol, packed with
people.
The center of the Interest of the dec
orations of the city was Pennsylvania
avenue, stretching, an unbroken sheet
of asphalt 150 feet broad and a mile
long, from the capital to the foot of the
treasury, and thence, after a short
break at Fifteenth street, for another
mile and a half past the north front of
the treasury, past the White House and
the state, war and navy departments
to Washington Heights.
The great trough of buildings from
the capitol to the treasury waa a wealth
ef bunting. There were flag of all na
tion waving from tbe window.
Beginning of the Ceremonies.
The presidential family party arrived
at tne cbpitol t 11:40. and entered the
east reserved gallery. Mr. McKinley
and her sister, Mrs. Barber, took front
seat. Mr. MoKlnley, sr., waa two
seats from Mrs. McKinley, Jr., and the
two bent forward frequently for an ex
change of huppinea. -
The diplomatic corps entered the
chamber at 11:45, followed a moment
later by the chief justice and assoolate
justices of the United States supreme
court Members of the house of repre
sentative then entered. There Was a
stir when the senate officials announeed
Vice-President-elect Mr. Hobart, who
stepped to seat near the presiding
officer's desk. :
Presidential Party Anrlvos.
At 19:20 President Cleveland and
President-elect McKinley entered the
main doors. Attontion was riveted at
onoe on these two central figures. Mc
Kinley and Cleveland were seated im
mediately in front of the presiding
officer, facing the senate and crowd.
Members of the house of representa
tives filled the entire body of the hall
on th right side, and on the opposite
area sat senators and senators-elect.
The Vloe-Preeldent Swam In.
A the presidential party took seats,
Yioe-President Stevenson arose and In
vited his successor to step forward and
take th oath of office. Hobart ad
vanced to the desk, raised hi right
hand, and took the oath in aooordance
with the constitution.
Stevenson then delivered hi valedio-
tory address. He thanked the members
with whom he had been associated for
their many Kindnesses, ana wisnea
tbem God speed in their future delib-
rations,
Vioe-Presldent Hobart, speaking in
strong, well-modulated tone, then de
livered his introductory address. He
began by saying:
"Senators: To have been elected to
preside over the senate of the United
States is a distinction which any citixen
would prise, and the manifestation of
confidence which it implies is an honor
which I sincerely appreciate. My
gratitude and loyalty to the people of
the country to whom I owe this honor,
and my duty to you as well, demands
such a conservative, equitable and con
scientious construction and enforcement
of yonr rules as shall promote the well
being and prosperity of the people, and
at the same time conserve the time
honored precedent and established tra
ditions which have contributed to make
this tribunal the most distinguished of
the legislative bodies of the world."
His address was brief, and at its con
clusion he was loudly applauded. .
- Senators Sworn In.
The proclamation of the outgoing
nresident, calling an extra session of
the senate having been Tead, Vice
President Hobart requested the new
senator to advance and take the oath
of office. At the presiding officer's sug
gestion, Mr. Morrill, tbe patriarch of
the senate, was complimented with be
ing the first sworn in. No exact order
was observed-, tbe oath being given to
four senators at one time. With the
fifteen new men were twelve of the old
senator who were sworn in for new
terms. ...
While oaths were being administered,
Cleveland and McKinley sat talking in
low tone. It was clearly a most
agreeable change, for the old and new
presidents smiled now and then, as they
nodded acquiescence to each other.
It was 1:05 P. M.,when the last oath
had been administered, and the formal
exit began, the supreme justices going
first, Mr. Cleveland, President McKin
ley and other officials following. Just
before the official party withdrew, Mrs.
McKinley and the mother of the presi
dent were escorted from the gallery to
the east front of the capitol, where the
oath of office was to be taken by the
new president. The occupants of the
public gallery were held in their places
for some time in order not to block the
procession of officials. Gradually the
chamber was deserted.
The Procession Appears.
The crowd had waited patiently in
front of the stand erected at the east
wing for the procession from the senate
chamber to appear.
When the retiring and incoming
presidents stepped on the platform arm
in arm their appearance was greetod
with a thunderous roar. Cleveland now
Tbe President.
faced an inauguration audience for the
lourtn time, once more man any owier
president. As McKinley walked down
thn nl at form tlm veils and shouts be
came deafening, and as he stepped upon
the raised platlorm ne leltcompenea 10
acknowledge them by bowing right and
laft. Tin than took a seat The Dress
against the stand waa so terriflo tlmt
women screamed with pain and several
fainted. "'":.V ''
Meantime the -procession from the
senate continued. All the time 40,000
people were straining to keep up the
termendous applause.
McKinley Takee the Oath.
McKinley arose and unoovered while
Chief Justice Fuller, in flowing robes,
administered the oath. Tbe new presi
dent kissed the large, gilt-edged Bible
presented by the bishops of the African
Motlwwliut elinrch to seal hia oath. The
people continued to roar. Holding a
manuscript in his hand he turned to
the multitude, and, lifting np ma
hand as in admonition for order, began
bis inaugural address.
A short delay occurred alter .aicu.in
lav rinllvered hia inaueural. as it was
deemed advisable for the president to
partake of lunch at the capitol instead
of following the former custom and
halting the parade while he took lunch
at the White House,
Th Great Parade.
The capital oity never looked upon
such a perfect parade as that which es
corted President McKinley from the
capitol to the White House and then
passed in review under his eye. The.
feature of the splendid pageant was the
perfect balance between its contrasting
parts and the high order of skill that
waa shown in the handling of tbe 20,
000 or more men in line.
Amid the merry spectators a hearty
round of applause and a reverential un
covering of heads was called forth by
the passing of the limping and tmttie-
sonrred veterans of the war, now but
few in number, but of sturdy heart.
With the president and Major McKin
ley in the carriage were Senators Sher
man and Mitchell. Behind the presi
dential carriage, riding in solitary state,
waa Mr, John Addison Porter, seoretary
of the president-eleot. The cabinet
officials and other dignitaries followed
in carriages.
The bluok horse troop forming the
president's escort fell in at the rear of
the carriages. Following the Cleveland
troop came Colonel Ceoil Clay, com
mander of the District of Columbia Na
tional Guard, with a glittering stuff of
aides. There were 1,200 men in this
division, all in the uniform of the na
tional guard. The line moved down
the avenue through a black mass of
cheering thousands.
Th Inaugural Ball.
With the night came the crowning
glory of the inauguration. The resi
dences and public buildings were aflame
with lights, th street were crowded
with people, and the clamoring multi
tudes still battled at the doors of hotels
and restaurant demanding food and
drink, thousands surged to and fro in
front of tbe monument grounds, whence
arose the chromatic fireworks which
illuminated the city in , fitful gleams,
but it was at the pension building that
the politicians paid their respects to so
ciety. There distinguished guests of
the occasion paid homage to President
McKinley and the new mistress of the
White House, and Liter threaded the
mazes of the dance.
The ball waa the climax of the day.
The pension building is admirably
suited for this spectacular display. It
lends itself to tbe most artistic decora
tion, and it was never so beautifully
decorated and festooned and lighted as
on this night. The graceful arches
trembled with flower and greenery,
the colossal column seemed to grow
out of bank of flowers, and supported
the iron roof, which waa a royal canopy
of white and gold. Hundreds of cana
ries in gold cages tucked away in the
greenery sang merrily. The thousands
of electric lights flashed amid the
flowers and drapery. The artistic effect
of the lights was probably never
equalled, certainly not surpassed, in
this country.
It was like the portals of fairyland,
with its vision of beautiful women, its
myriads of gleaming ligths, it gorge
ous massing of colors, its wealth of
blossoms, its pulsations of music and
the heavy odor of thousands of per
fumes. The enormous floor space 800 feet
long and half as wide was so large
that it was divided into squares, each
under a corps of assistants to the gen
eral floor managers. Here the dancers
enjoyed themselves to their hearts con
tent. -- :
THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH.
Fellow-Citizens: In obedienoe to the
will of the people, and in their pres
ence, by the authority vested in me by
this oath, I assume the arduous and re
sponsible duties of the president of the
United States, relying on the support
of my countrymen and invoking the
guidance of Almighty God. Our faith
teaches that there is no safer reliance
than upon the God of onr fathers, who
has so singularly favored the American
people in every national trial, and who
will not forsake us, so long as we obey
His commandments and walk humbly
in His footsteps.
The responsibilities of tbe trust to
which I have been called, always of
mm
The Vice-President.
grave importance, are augmented by
the prevailing business conditions, en
tailing idleness upon willing labor and
loss to useful enterprise, The country
is Buffering from industrial disturbances
from which speody relief must be had.
Keed of Currency Revision.
Our financial system needs some revi
sion; our money is all good now, but its
value must not further be threatened.
It should all be put upon an enduring
basis, not subject to easy attack, nor
its stability to doubt or dispute. Our
currency should continue under the su
pervision of the government. The sev
eral forms of our paper money offer, in
my judgment, a constant embarrass
ment to the government and to a safe
balance in the treasury. Therefore, I
deem it necessary to devise a system,
without diminishing the circulating
medium or offering a premium for its
contraction, whioh will present a rem
edy for those arrangements whioh, tem
porary in their nature, might well, in
times of our prosperity, have been dis
placed by wiser provisions. With ade
quate revenue insured, but not until
then, can we enter upon such changes
in our fiscal laws a will, while insur
ing safety and volume to our money, no
f ; f . -. ..M,'t av .
-ALT"! : T'"fisVJ,l-rf
longer impose upon the government the
necessity of maintaining so large a gold
reserve, with its attendant and inevit
able temptations to speculation. Most
of our financial laws are the outgrowth
of experience and trial, and should not
be amended without investigation and
demonstration of the wisdom of the
proposed changes. We must be both
sure, we are right, and "make haste
slowly." If, therefore, congress in its
wisdom shall deem it expedient to
create a commission to take under early
consideration the revision of our coin
age, banking and currency laws and
give them exhaustive, careful and dis
passionate examination which the cir
cumstance demands, I shall cordially
concur in such action. If such power
is vested in the president, it is my pur
pose to appoint s commission of promi
nent, well-informed citizen of different
parties, who will command public con
fidence, both on account of their ability
and special fitness for the work. Busi
ness experience and public training
may thus be combined, and the patri
otic zeal of the citizens of tbe country
be so directed that such a report will
be made as to receive the support of all
parties, and our finances cease to be
the subject of mere partisan contention.
The experiment is, at all events, worth
a trial, and in my opinion it will
prove beneficial to the entire country.
International Bimetallism.
The question of international bi
metallism will have early and earnest
attention. It will be my constant en
deavor to secure it by co-operation with
the other great commercial powers of
the world. Until that condition is
realized tbe relative valae of silver al
ready coined and that which may here
after be coined must . be constantly
kept at par with gold by every resource
at our command.
Government Must Economise.
The credit of tbe government, the in
tegrity of the currency and the inviol
ability of its obligations must be pre
served. This was the commanding ver
dict of the people, and it will not be
unheeded. - Economy is demanded in
every branch of tbe government at all
times, but especially in periods like
the present depression of business and
distress among the people. The sever
est economy must be observed in all
publio expenditures and extravagance
stopped wherever found, and prevented
wherever in the future it may be de
veloped. If the revenues are to remain
as now, the only relief that can come
must be from decreased expenditures.
But the present must not become the
permanent condition of the government.
It has been our uniform practice to re
tire, not increase, our outstanding obli
gations, and this policy must be again
resumed and vigorously enforced.
Onr revenues should always be large
enough to meet with ease and prompt
ness not only our current needs and the
principal and interest of the public
debt, but to make proper and liberal
provisions for that most deserving body
of publio creditors, tbe soldiers and
sailors and widows and orphans who
are the pensioners of the United States.
Revenues Must Bo Increased, x
The government should not be per
mitted to run behind or increase its
debts in times like the present. Suit
ably to provide is tha mandate of duty,
a certain and easy remedy for the most
of our financial difficulties. A defici
ency is inevitable so long as the expen
ditures of the government exceeds its
receipts. It can only be met by loans
or an increased revenue. , While a large
annual surplus of revenue may invite
waste and extravagance, inadequate
revenue creates distrust and under
mines public and private credit. Neither
should be encouraged. Between more
loans and more revesne there ought to
be but one opinion.
The best way for the government to
maintain its credit is to pay as it goes
not by resorting to loans, but by keep
ing out of debt through an adequate
income, secured by system of taxa
tion, external or internal, or both.
Tariff Revision Nseeesary.
It is the settled policy of the govern
ment, pursued from the beginning and
practiced by all parties and administra
tions, to raise the bulk of revenue from
taxes upon foreign productions entering
the United States for sale and consump
tion; and avoiding for the most part
every form of direct taxation, except in
time of war. The country is dearly op
posed to any needless additions to the
subjects of internal taxation, and is
committed by its latest popular utter
ances to the system of tariff taxation.
There can be no misunderstanding,
either, about the principle upon whioh
this tariff taxation shall be levied. .
Nothing has ever been made plainer
at a general election than that the con
trolling principle in the raising of rev
enue on imports is aealous care for
American interests and American la
bor is wished. The people have de
clared that such legislation should be
had as will give ample protection and
encouragement to the industries and de
velopment of our country. It is there
fore earnestly hoped and expected that
congress will at the earliest practicable
moment enact revenue legislation that
shall be fair, reasonable, conservative
and just, and whioh while supplying
sufficient revenue for public purposes,
will still be signally beneficial and help
ful for every section and every enter
prise of the people. To this policy we
are all, of whatever party, firmly bound
by the voioe of the people a power
vastly more potential than the expres
sion of any political plarform. The
paramount duty of congress is to stop
deficiencies by the restoration of that
protective legislation which has al
ways been the firmest prop of the treas
ury. The passage of suoh a law or
laws would strengthen the credit of the
government, both at home and abroad,
and go far toward stopping the drain
upon the gold reserve, held for the re
demption of our ourrency, which has
been heavy and well-nigh constant for
several year. - " '
Revival Will Be Slow.
Business conditions are not th moat
promising. It will take time to restore
the prosperity of former years. If we
cannot promptly attain it, we can reso
lutely turn our faces in that direction,
and aid its return by friendly legisla
tion. However troublesome the situa
tion may appear, congress will not, I
am sure, be found lacking in disposi
tion or ability to relieve as far as legis
lation can do so. The restoration of
confidence and the the revival of busi
ness which men of all parties so mnch
desire, depends more largely upon the
prompt, energetic and intelligent action
of congress than upon any other single
agency that affects the situation.
It is inspiring, too, to remember that
no great emergency in the 180 years of
our eventful national life has ever
arisen that has not been met with wis
dom and courage by the American peo
ple, with fidelity to their best interests
and highest destiny, and to the honor
of the American name. These years of
glorious history have exalted mankind
and advanced the cause of freedom
throughout the world, and immeasura
bly strengthened the precious free in
stitutions which we enjoy. The people
love and will sustain these institutions.
. The greatest aid to our happiness and
prosperity is that we adhere to prin
ciple upon which the government waa
established, and insist upon their faith
ful observance. The equality of rights
must prevail and our laws be always
and everywhere respected and obeyed.
Trusts and Monopolies.
The declaration of the party now re
stored to power haa been in the past op
posed to all combinations of capital,
organized in trusts or otherwise, to con
trol arbitrarily the conditions of trade
among our citizens, and it has support
ed such legislation, as well, as to pre
vent the execution of all schemes to
oppress the people by undue charges on
their supplies or by unjust rates for
the transportation of their products to
market. This purpose will steadily be
pursued, both by the enforcement of
the law now in existence, and the rec
ommendation and and support of such
new statutes as may be necessary to
carry it into effect. ('
Immigration Levi.
Our naturalization and immigration
laws should be further improved to the
constant promotion of a safer, a better
and higher citizenship. A grave peril
to the republic would be s citizenship
too ignorant to understand or too
vicious to appreciate the great value
and benefit of our legislation and laws,
and against all who oome here to make
war upon them, our gates must be
promptly and tightly closed. 'Nor must
we be unmindful of the need of im
provement among our own citizens,
but with the zeal of our forefathers en
courage the spread of knowledge and
free education. Illiteracy must be
banished from the land if we shall at
tain that high destiny as the foremost
of the enlightened nations of the world,
which, under providence, we ought to
achieve.
' Kztra Session of Congress.
It baa been the uniform practice oi
each president to avoid as far as possi
ble the convening of congress in extra
session. . It is an example which under
ordinary circumstances and in the ab
sence of publio necessity, is not to be
commended, bnt s failure to convene
the representatives of the people in ex
tra session when it involves a neglect
of publio duty places the responsibility
of such neglect upon the executive.
. Tbe condition of th public treasury,
as has been indicated, demands the
immediate consideration of congress.
It alone haa the power to provide reve
nue for the government.
It is evident therefore, that to post
pone action in the presence of so great
a necessity would be unwise on the
part of the present executive, because
unjust to the interests of the people.
Our action now will be freer from
mere partisan consideration than if the
question of tariff revision was post
poned until tha regular session of con
gress. We are nearly two years from a
congressional election, and politic
cannot so greatly diatraot ns a if such
a contest was immediately pending.
Again, whatever action congress may
take will be given a fair opportunity
for trial before the people are called to
pass judgment upon it, and this I con
sider a great essential to rightful and
lasting settlement of the question. In
view of these considerations, I shall
deem it my duty as president to convene
congress in extraordinary session Mon- :
day, the 15th day of March, 1897. .
Concluding Words.
In conclusion, I congratulate the
country upon the fraternal spirit of the
people, and the manifestation of good
will everywhere so "apparent. The re
cent election not only most fortunately
demonstrated the obliteration of sec
tional or geographic lines, but to some
extent also the prejudices which for
years have distracted our councils and
marred onr true greatness as a nation.
; It will be my constant aim to do
nothing and permit nothing to be done
that will arrest or disturb this growing
sentiment of unity and co-operation, -this
revival of esteem and affiliation
which will affect so many thousands
in the old antagonistic sections, bnt I
shall do everything possible to pro
mote and increase it Let me again
repeat the words of the oath adminis
tered by the chief justice, which, in
their respective spheres, so far as ap
plicable, I would have all my country
men observe:
"I will faithfully execute the office
of president of the United States, and
will, to the best of my ability, pre
serve, protect and defend the constitu
tion of the United States."
This is the obligation I have rever
ently taken before the Lord, Most
High. To keep it will be my single
purpose, my constant prayer; and I
shall confidently rely upon the for
bearance and assistance of all the peo
ple in the discharge of my solemn if
spousibi lilies.