PRESIDENT ISTRlNLÉ
Turning to the other associated parties,
RESIDENT M’Kl'NLEV'S letter
we find l i the l ’opullst national platform
of hcceptanee i« probably the most adopted at Mloux Falla. 9. l>., May 19, 1900,
Important unofficial document ia- the follow ing declaration:
“ We pledge auew the People’s party nev
in thia country in a quarter of a
¡century. The President take« the cottn- er to cease the agitation until this financial
conspiracy 1» blotted from the statu te book,
<try into bit confidence and throws a new the Lincoln greenback restored, the bonds
jlitfht upon the history of the past two all paid and all corporation money forever
{ptara. Irrespective of its caustic arraign- retired. We reaffirm the demand for the re­
aaent of the critics of the administration opening of the m ints of the Culled State»
for the free and unlimited coinage of sliver
ad ita forceful clinching of the fact that
and gold at the present legal ratio of 16 to
Iryanism means the “immediate de- 1. the Immediate Increase lu the volume of
xictlon of the gold standard and sub- silver coins and certificate» thus created to
tution therefor of free silver coinage be substituted, dollar for dollar, for the
bank notes issued by private corporations
j»t the ratio of 16 to 1, the letter is im­
under special privilege, granted by law of
p o rta n t in the historic sense because it March 14, 1999, and prior national banklug
jgtee« the American people their first law s.”
(knowledge of the statesmanship and con­
D e c la r e T h e i r H o s t i l i t y .
The platform of the silver party adopted
ditions connected with recent epoch-malt-
at K ansas City, July 6, 1999, makes the fo l­
*»« events.
lowing announcement:
The President, although by nature a
“ We declare It to be our Intention to lend
mild and conciliatory man, can be arous- our efforts to the repeal o f thia currency
ied to a point of dangerous combativeness, law, which not only repudiates the ancient
-and when the mood is on him he becomes and time-honored principles o f the Ameri­
can people before the C onstitution was
one of the most effective debaters we
adopted, but Is violative o f the principles of
(feave had in this country for many years, the C onstitution Itself; and we shall uot
ila his letter he wastes no time in what cease our efforts until there has been estab­
might be called preliminary sparring, but, lished In Its place a monetary system based
upon the free sn d unlimited coinage of silver
waving definitely located the enemy s
and gold Into money at the present legal
vital spot, which Is the free silver heresy, ratio of 16 to 1 by the Independent action of
he «trike# at it with force and precision. the United S ta tes, under which system all
'Tho financial question, he says, may not paper money shall be Issued by the govern-
ha the paramount issue, but it is the im­ ment. and all such money coined or Issued
shall be a full legal teuder In payment of
mediate issue. “It will admit of no de­ all debts, public and private, w ithout excep
ploy and will suffer no postponement.’’ tlon.”
.Tor has not the Democratic party declar­
C o m b in e A g s l m t G o ld .
ed for the “immediate’’ coinage of silver
In all three platform s th ese parties an
at a ratio of 16 to 1? And is there any nounce that their efforts shall be unceasing
doubt that Mr. Bryan, who insisted upon until the gold act shall be blotted from the
statu te books aud the free and unlimited
Ib o insertion of the silver plank in the coinage c f silver at 16 to 1, shall take Its
platform, against the advice of the best place.
The relative Importance of the Issues I do
men in the party, will use every means.
If he is elected, to carry his principles not stop to discuss. All of them are Im­
portant. W hichever party ts successful will
into practice?
be bound in couscience to carry Into admin­
After paying the tribute of his regret istration and legislation Its several declara­
.that the Democratic party by its nominee tions and doctrines. One declaration will be
taad its reiteration of the free silver plank as obligatory as another, but all are not Im­
mediate.
o f 1896 has made it necessary for the
It Is not possible that these parties would
«voters to reaffirm their decision of four treat the doctrlDe of 16 to 1, the Immediate
years ago in favor of the existing gold realisation o f which Is demanded by their
¡Standard, President McKinley boldly several platform s, as void and Inoperative
In the event that they should be clothed
ipicks up the gage of battle on the issue with power. Otherwise their profession of
o f imperialism.
What that issue is lie faith is Inslueere. It is therefore the Im­
states moat happily in a single paragraph perative busluess c f those opposed to this
near the end of his letter. After lie has financial heresy to prevent the triumph of
the parties whose union is only assured by
¡marshaled the facts which place the
adherence to the sliver Issue.
■ whole controversy in the clearest possi­
F a c in ic G r a v e P e r i l .
b le historical light before the reader, he
Will the American people, through Indif­
F
S
C
The American question is be­
tween duty and desertion—the
American verdict will be for duty
and against desertion, for the He-
puunc against train anareny and
Imperialism.
i A s a campaign documeut the letter is
Regarded as phenomenally strong. But
¡It is more than a campaign document. It
ila a contribution to history. The Presi-
jdent deals candidly with the American
{people. He is not afraid to*
* tell them
{w hat he has done or why he did it. He
Meals in facts rather than in arguments.
TEXT OF TH K
LETTER.
S 8 ro « id e n t’ » V i e w s o u F r e e S i l v e r a n d
t h e P h i l i p p i n e Q u e s tio n .
E x e c u tiv e
M ansion.
W ashin gton ,
D.
C„
Sept. 8.—To the Hon. Henry t'alrat l.odge.
Chairman Notification Com m ittee -M y Dear
Sir: The nouilnatlou o f the Keputdlcau na
(to nal convention of June 1». 1990, for the
¡•flic« o f President of the United States,
¡Which, a t the official representative o f the
¡convention, you have conveyed to tue. Is
«accepted. 1 have carefully examined the
{platform adopted aud give It my hearty
¡approval.
» 1
U pon the great issue of the last national
•lection It Is clear. It upholds the gold
¡Standard and indorses the legislation of the
{present Congress by which that standard
■has been effectively strengthened. The sta
jbility of our national currency Is, therefore,
taocure so long as those who adhere to this
{platform are kept In control of (he govern
¡m eat.
S a m e Is s u e s I n v o l v e d .
F a ith fu l
to
ocean traii-portaHon we pay annually to for­
eign ship ow ners over * 165,000,into.
We
ought to owu the ships fur our carrying
trade with the world, and we ouglil Io build
them In American shipyards aud man them
with American sailors. Our own cltlaeua
should receive the transportation charges
now paid to foreigners.
I have called the atten tion of C ongress to
this subject In uty several annual m essages.
In that of Dec. 6, 1997, I said:
“ Moat tlcslrable from every standpoint of
national Interest aud patriotism 1» the effort
to extend our foreign comm erce. To this
eud our merchant marine should l>eImproved
and eularged. We should do our full »hare
of the carrying trade of the world. We do
not do It now. We should be the laggard uo
longer.”
In uty message of Dec, 5. 1899, 1 said;
“Our natloual developm ent will be one sided
and unsatisfactory so loug as the remark­
able grow th of our inland Induatrlea remains
unaccompanied by progress on the seas.
There Is no lack of constitutional authority
for legislation which shall give to the coun­
try m aritim e strength coium cusurate with
Its Industrial ach ievem en ts and with It»
rank among the na lions o f the earth.
••The pa»t year has recorded exceptional
activity In our shipyards, aud the promise»
of coullnunl pro»pcrlty lu shipbuilding are
abundaut. Advanced legislation for the pro
te d Io n o f our seamen ha« been enacted. Dur
coast trade, under regulation» wisely framed
at the b e g lu n lu f of the goveruuieut and
G o v e r n m e n t S a v in g M o n e y .
since, show s It» results for the past fiscal
The ordinary receipts o f the government year unequaled In our records or ».hose of
for the fiscal year 1999 were *79,527,060 In any other power.
exeesa o f Its expenditures.
N e e d o f t h e C a n a l.
W hile o u r receipts lo th front custom s and
• We shall fall to reallxe our opportunl
Internal revenue have been greatly Increns
ed, our expenditures have been decreasing. ties, however. If we com placently regard
Civil and m iscellaneous expenses for the fis­ only,m atters at home anil blind ourselves to
cal year ending June 30. l'.Mtn. were nearly the necessity of securlug our share In the
*14.990,009 leas than lu 1899. while on the valuable carrying trade o f the world.
" I now reiterate these view s.
• war account there I* a decrease of more
PR ESID ENT
P r o s p e r i t y In G e n e r a l .
Dur Industrial and agricultural conditions
are more promising IhHtt they have been for
many years; probably more so than they
have ever been. Prosperity abounds every­
where throughout the republic. I rejoice
that the Mouthern as w ell ns the Northern
S tates are enjoying a full share of these Im­
proved national conditions aud that all are
contributing so largely to our remarkable
Industrial developm ent.
The money lender receives lower rewards
for his capital than If It were Invested In
active business. The rates o f Interest ere
lower than they have ever been In th is coun­
T h e P a r a m o u n t lo a u e .
So the issue Is presented. It will he noted try , w hile those things which sre produced
(h a t the demand Is for the Immediate restor­ on the farm and In the workshop, and the
ation of the free coinage of silver at 16 to labor producing them, have advanced In
J. I f another Issue la paramount, this Is value.
Im mediate. It will admit of no delay and
Our foreign trade show s a satisfactory and
|w lll finffer no postponement.
Increasing grow th. T h e am ount o f out ex
M ’K IN L E Y .
(In the Sftltl day of April, 1898. fon gresa
declared that a sla te of war existed betw een
Mpnln and the Untied Mtates. On May I,
1998, Admiral Dewey ilesiroyeil tlte Mpaaleb
fleet In Manila llay. Du May 19. 1899. MaJ.
Geu. M errill, U. M. A„ was placed In com .
tiiaiul of the military expedition lo Manila
nntl directed among oilier things lo Immedi­
ately “publish a proclumatlou declaring tits#
we come uut lo make war upon the peoplo
of the Philippines nor upon any part or fsv*
lion among them, hut to protect them Itk
thclr Ito in e a , In their em ploym ents, and its
their peraoniil and religious rights. All per­
sona who, either by active «Id or by hones#
stibiulsaloti, co operate with the United
Mtates la It» efforts lo give effect to th is
I m - iic f lr e t it p u rp o s e s i l l receive the r e w a r d
of its support and protection.”
Hom e F o r t u n e s o f W ar.
On July 3, 1898, the Mpanlslt fleet In st-
V a l u e o f h l c r l t M y a te in .
tem pting lo escape from Mautlago bsrboe
It Is gratifying that the experience of more w ss destroyed by Ibe American fleet, snd oq
than a year has vindicated these changes In July 17. 1899, the Mpanlsh garrison In thd
the marked Improvement of the public ser city of Mautlago surrendered to the corns
nniuder of the American forces.
vice.
The merit system , as fsr as practicable.
Following these brilliant victories, on tha
Is made the basis for appointm ents to of
12th tlay of August. 1898. upon the InltlsG vo
of Mpnlii, h ostilities were suspended, and a
flee lu our new territory.
The American people are profoundly grate­ protocol was signed with a view 10 arrang­
ful to the soldiers, sailors and marines who in g term« of peace between the tw o govern^
hare lu every lim e of coufilct fought their ntenle. In pursuance thereof I appointed so
country's bottles snd defended 11» liouor. eotuiiilseloiiere llte follow ing distinguish*'*
The survivors and the widows and orphan« cltlxecx to conduct the h egotlatlons ou th a
of those who have fallen are Juatly entitled I a il of the fu lle d »tales
Hon W illiam R .
to receive the generous and considerate care Day of Ohio, lion . William I ’. F ry e o f
Minnesota, Hon George G ra y o f D e la w a re
of the nation.
Few are now left of those who fought In and Hon. W hitelaw Iteld o f New York.
the Mexican war, and while many of the
F o r c e d I n t o C o n f lic t .
veterans of the Civil War are still »pared to
In addressing the peace comm ission fiefor*
us their numbers are rapidly dim inishing
It« departure for Pari», I »aid:
and age and Infirmity are Increasing their de.
•'It Is uty wish that throughout the nego­
pendence. These, with the soldiers of the tiation» Ini rusted to the com m ission the pur­
Spanish war, will not be neglected by their pose and spirit with which the United fttate«
grateful counlrym ent.
The pension laws accepted the unwelcome ner*s»liy of wae
have been liberal. They should be Justly Should be kept constantly *ln view.
W«>
adm inistered, and
will be.
Preference took up arms only In obedience to the dic­
should be given to the so'dlera, suitors and tates of humanity amt the fulfillment of high
marines, tlielr widows aud orphans, with public itnd moral obligations
We had no
respect to employment lu the public ser design of a g g t'it ndlxcuient aud no ambition
vice.
of conquest.
dren, and, with thrift anil economy, lay
som ething by fur the day« of Infirmity aud
old age.
Practical civil service reform ha« a lw ays
had the support and encouragem ent of the
Republican party. The future of the merit
system la safe In Ils bands.
During the present adm inistration as oc
easlons have arisen for m»tllflealloii or
amendment In the existin g civil service law
and rule» they have Iteen made. Imporlunl
amendment« were promulgated by executive
order uuder d ale of May 29, 1899. having for
their principal purpose the exeepilon from
com petitive exam ination of certain pla> es lit
voicing fiduciary responsibilities or duties
of a strictly confidential, scientific or execti
live character, which II w ss thought might
better be filled by uoiicum prilllve examlna
tlon or by dlher test» of flluess In the dl*
cretlvu of tbs appolutlug officer.
K e p t F a ith
w ith
Cuba.
We have beeu In possession of Cubs since
the first of January. 1899
We have re
stored order and established dom estic tran­
quillity. We have fed the starving, clothed
the naked, and ministered to the s ic k . We
have Improved the sanitary <A<11<II1I011 of the
island.
W e have stlm alated Industry. In
troduced public education, anil taken a full
and com prehensive enumeration of the lu
habitants.
The qualification of electors ha« been set­
tled aud under It officers have been chosen
for all the m unicipalities of Cuba
These
local governm ents are now In operation, ail
m inistered by llte people. Dur military es
tabllsbinent has been reduced from 48,990
to less than 6,999.
An election ha» been ordered to be held on
the 15th of Meptetnber under a fair election
law already tried In the uiiiulcipal elections,
to choose members of a constitutional »•on
vention, ami the convention, by the same
order. Is to assem ble on the first Monday c f
November to frame a cou slltailou upon
m -U toh
P le -lic e a .
The Republican parly remains faithful to
Its principle of a tariff which supplies su f­
ficient revenues for the government and ade­
quate protection to our enterprises and pro
ducer«, and of reciprocity, which open« for­
eign market- to the fruits of Atuerlcau labor
aud furnishes new channels through which
to market the surplus of American farms.
The time-honored principles of protection
and reciprocity were the first pledges of Ite
publican victory to be writteu into public
law.
The present Congress has given to Alaska
a territorial governm ent for which it had
waited more than a quarter of a century;
has established a representative government
lu Haw aii; has enacted bills for the most
liberal treatm ent o f the pensioners aud their
widow»; has revived the free homestead
policy.
in Its great financial law It provided for
the establishm ent of banks of Issue with a
capital of *25.000 for the benefit of villages
aud rural comm unities, bringing the oppor­
tunity for profitable busluess In banking
wltbln the reach of moderate capital. .Many
are already availing them selves of this priv­
ilege.
ETTER ACCEPTING THE
porta for the year IPOtt over those of the ex
erplloim lly prosperous year o f tM<9 was
alxiut half a million dollars for every day
of the year, and th ese sum s have gone Into
the homes and enterprises o f the iieople.
Th“re has been an Increase of over *59,000,-
last In the ex|Kirts o f agricultural products.
*82,002.220 In m anufactures and In the prod
ucts of the uilues o f over *10,009,0110.
Hi a ( t a i n s In *1 r u d e .
Our trade balances cannot, fall to give sa t­
isfaction to the people o f tlie country. In
1996 we sold abroad *615.(32,67« of products
more than we bought abroad. In 18tM* 8529,-
974.813 and lu 1180 »544,471,701. making dur­
ing the three years a total linlam-e lu our
favor of *1.689.778,100-nearly five lim es the
balance o f trade In our favor for the whole
perl oil o f 199 years from 1799 to June 30,
1887 Inclusive.
Four hundred snd thlrty-alx m illion dol­
lars o f gold have been added Io the gold
stock o f the fu lle d S tates sin ce July 1, 19!>6.
The law of March 14. 1000. authorised (he
refunding Into 2 per cent bonds o f that part
o f the public debt represented by the 3 per
cen ts due In 1999, the 4 per cen ts due In 1807
and the 5 per cen ts due In 1904, aggregating
*849.000,(MM). More than one-third of the
sum of th ese bonds was refunded In the first
three mouths after the passage of the set,
and on Sept. 1 the anna hud been Increased
more tbnu *33,000,900. making In all *330.-
578,909, resulting lu n uet saving of over *8,
370,529.
ference or fancied security, hazard the over­
throw of the w ise financial legislation of the
last year and revive the danger of the silver
standard, with all of the Inevitable evils of
shattered confidence and general disaster
which iustlv alarmed and arau.ved n»-ni lu
1996’:
The Chicago platform of 1896 is reaffirmed
in Its entirety by the K ansas City conven­
tion. Notbiug has been om itted or recalled;
so that all the perils then threatened are
presented anew with the added force of a
deliberate reaffirmation.
Four years ago
the people refused to place the sp «I of their
approval upon tbese dangerous and revolu-
tlonary policies, aud th is year they wilt not
fail to record again their earnest dlsaeut.
I In the first battle, that o f 1896, the friends
¡•f the gold standard and of sound currency
¡were triumphant and the country Is enjoy­
K o nte C o n v i n c i n g F ljg u r e « .
in g the fruits of that victory. Our sn tag
During the past year more than *19.990.909
•nlata, however, are not satisfied They com of I'nited States bonds have been paid front
pel us to a second battle upon the same lines the surplus revenues of the treasury, and In
'•n which the first w ss fought and won.
addition *25,000.000 of 2 per cents matured,
W hile regretting the reopening of this called by the government, are In process of
question, which can only disturb the present paym ent. Pacific Railroad bonds Issued by
M tlsfactory financial condition of the gov­ the government In aid of the roads In the
ernment and visit uncertainly upon our S'tui of nearly *44,000,009 have been paid
g reat busluess enterprises, we accept the since Dec. 31, 1897. The treasury balance Is
Issue and again Invite the sound money I11 satisfactory condition, show ing on Sept.
Iforcos to join In winning another and we 1 *135,419,000, lu addition to the *150,000,000
hope a permanent triumph for An honest gold reserve in the treasury. The govern
financial system which will continue Invlo
ment relations with the Pacific railroads
(able the public faith.
have been substantially closed, *124,421,090
being received from these roads, the greater
A l l L o y a l to S i l v e r .
A s In 1896, the three silver parlies are part lu cash and the remainder with ample
united under the same leader, who, Imuie securities for paym ents (Jeferred.
Instead of dim inishing, as was predicted
•la t e ly after the election o f that year. In an
four
years ago, the volume of our currency
■address to the bim etallists, said:
Is greater per capita than It has ever been.
1 "The friends of bim etallism have not been
It w ss *21.10 lu 1896. It bad Increased to
{vanquished; they have simply been over­
com e. They believe that the gold standard *26.50 on July 1, 1900, and *26.85 on Sept. 1,
1909. Our total money on July 1. 1806, was
is a conspiracy of the money changers
»1,596,434,06«: oil July 1, 1999, II was *2,-
-against the w elfare of the human race mid
062,425,490, aud *2,096,683,042 on Sept. 1,
th ey will continue the warfare against It.”
1900,
1 The policy thus proclaimed has been ac
cep ted and confirmed by tbese parties. The
pllver D em ocratic platform of 1999 continues
tha w arfare against the »6 called gold con
•piracy when it expressly says;
"We reiterate the demand of that (the
Chicago) platform of 1896 for nn American
-financial system made by the American peo
pie for them selves, which shall restore snd
maintain a bim etallic price level; and as
tiart of such system the Immediate restora
{tlon of the free and unlimited coinage of
•liver and gold at the present ratio of 16 to
*1, without w aiting for the aid or consent of
¡cny other nation.”
V
than S95.999.099. There was required *8.-
<st9.999 less to support the navy this year
than Inst, am i the expenditure« on account
o f Indians were nearly two and threeqnar-
ters million dollars less than lu 1899.
The only tw o Items of Increase in the pub­
lic expenses of 1900 over 1899 are for pen
»Ions and Interest on the public debt. For
1899 we expended for pensions *139,394,929,
and for the fiscal year 1900 ottr paym ents on
this account amounted 10 *149.877,316. The
net Increase of Interest on the public debt
o f 1999 over 1899 required by the war loan
was rJ63.409.2ft.
H o nd a Speed I ly T a k e n .
W hile Congress authorized the govern­
ment Io make a war loan of *400,000,000 at
the beginning of the war with Spain, only
*290,900.900 of bonds was Issued, bearing 3
per cent Interest, which were promptly and
patriotically taken by our citizens.
I'nless som ething unforeseen occurs to r
dttee our revenue« or Increase our expendi­
tures. the Congress at Its n e lt session should
reduce taxallon very materially.
F ifty years ago we were selling govern­
ment bonds bearing as high as 5 per cent In­
terest. Now we are redeeming them witli a
bond at par bearing 2 per cent Interest. We
sre selling our surplus products and lending
our surplus money to Europe.
E u r o p e 1» D u r D e b t o r .
One result of our selling to other nations
so much more than we have bought from
them during the past three years Is s radical
Improvement of our financial relations. The
great utnounts of capital which have been
borrowed of Europe for our rapid, material
developm ent have remained a constant drain
upon our resource« for Interest and d id
fiends and made onr money markets liable
to constant disturbances by rails for pay­
ment or heavy sales of our securities w hen­
ever money stringency or panic occurred
abroad. We have now been paying these
debts and bringing home many of our se­
curities and estab lish in g countervailing
credits abroad by our loans and placing our­
selves upon a sure foundation of financial
Independence.
In the unfortunate contest between Great
Britain and the Boer states of South Africa
the I'nited S tates has maintained an a tti­
tude of neutrality In accordance with Its
well known traditional policy. It did not
h esltale. however, when requested by the
government« of the Mouth Afclcnn republics,
to exercise It« good offices for u cessation of
host llltles.
Did W h a t We Could.
It Is to be observed that while the Month
African republics made like request of other
powers, the I'nited S tates Is the only one
which complied. The British government
declined to accept the Intervention of any
power.
Ninety one per cent of our exports snd Im­
ports are tow carried by foreign sblpa. For
an
l» « l» i> w » d '-u t
•a v w v n in e w t
fo e
tin -
island will rest. All Ibl« 1» a long step lu
the fulfiliinent of our sacred guarantees Io
I he people of Cuba.
F l a n < f o r I 'o r t o H ic o .
We hold Porto Rico by the «ante title a«
the Philippines. The treaty of peace which
ceded 11» the one conveyed to ns ibe other.
Congress bar glveu to this Island a govern
ment In which the Inhabitant« participate,
eleet their own legislature, enact tbelr own
local laws, provide their owu system of lax
atlon, a n t In these respects have the same
power and privileges enjoyed by oilier lerrl
lories belonging Io llte I'ulted Mtates and a
much larger measure of self government
than was given to the Inhabitants of Lottlsl
ana under Jefferson. A district court of llte
United Mtates for I’orto Rico ha« Iteen estab ­
lished ami local courts have been luaiigtir
"A subject of Immediate Importance to sled , all of which are In operation.
The generous treatm ent of the I’orto
our country Is the com pletion of a great
w aterway of commerce between the A tlantic Ricans accords with the most liberal 1 hoiig.it
and Pacific. The construction of a marl of our own country snd encourages the best
aspirations of the people of the Island.
time canal Is now more than ever Indlspen
sable to that Intimate and ready comm uni­ W hile they do not have lu«tanP free com
mercial intercourse with the United Stales,
cation betw een our eastern aud w estern sea
ports, demanded by the annexation of the Congress compiled with my recommendation
H aw aiian Islands aud the expansion of our by removing, on the 1st day of .May last,
85 per ceut of the duties aud providing for
Influence and trade In the Pacific.
"Our national policy more im peratively the removal of the remaining 15 per cent
than ever calls for Its com pletion and con on the 1st of March. 1002. or earlier If the
trol by this government, and it Is believed legislature of Porto Rico shall provide local
that the next session of Congress, after re­ revenues for the expen-*» of conducting the
ceiving the full report o f the comm ission ap governm ent.
I s l a n d 1» P r o f i t e d .
pointed under the act approved March 3,
During this Interm ediate period Porto
1899, will make provisions for the sure ac­
Kli/an products coining Inlo the United
com plishm ent of thia great work.
S tates pay a tariff of 15 per cent of the rates
W o u ld R e s t r i c t T r u s t » .
under the Dlngley act aud our goods going
Combinations of capital which control the
to Porto Rico pay a like rate. The duties
market In com m odities necessary to the gen­
thus paid and collected both In I’orto Rico
eral use of the people by suppressing nat­
and the United Htatea are paid Io llte gov­
ural and ordinary com petition, thus cn
h andng prices to the general consumer, are ernment of I’orto Rico and no part thereof
obnoxious to the common law and the public Is taken by the national governm ent.
All o f the dutlea from Nov. 1, 1898, to June
welfare. They are dangerous conspiracies
Against the public good, and should be made 30, 1909, aggregating the sum of *2,25n,-
523.21. pnld at the custom houses In the
the subject of prohibitory or pennl legiala
United S tates upon I’orto Rican products,
tlon.
Publicity will be a helpful Influence to under the law s ex istin g prior to the above
check th is evil. Uniform ity of legislation In mentioned act of t'ongreaa, have gone Into
the different States should be secured. D is­ the treasury of I’orto Rico to relieve llte
crim ination between what la Injurious and d estitu te and for school« and other public
what Is useful and necessary In business purposes. In addition to tills, we have ex
operations la essential to the wise ami effect­ pended for relief, education and Improve
ment of roads the sum of *1,513,084.9-5.
ive treatm ent of th is subject.
M ilit a r y F o rc e C u t D o w n ,
Honeat co-operation of capital Is necessary
The United State» military force In the
to meet new business conditions and extend
our rapidly Increasing foreign trade, but islands lina been reduced from 11,1819 Io
conspiracies and com binations Intended to 1,500, and native I’orto Ricans con stitu te for
restrict business, create monopolies and con­ the most part the local constabulary.
Under the new law and llte Inauguration
trol prices should he effectively restrained.
ol civil government there lias been a grati­
B est F r i e n d » o f L a b o r .
The best service which can be rendered to fyin g revival of bualneas. The inaniifm lures
labor la to afford It an opportunity for of Porto Rleo are developing: her Imports
steady and rem unerative employment and are Increasing; Iter tariff 1« yielding In­
give It every encouragement for advance­ creased returns: her field» are being itilll
m ent. The policy that subserves th is end 1« vated; free schools are being eatsbllahed.
the true American policy. The past three Not w ithstanding the many em barrassm ents
years have been more sailsfaetory to Ameri­ Incident to a change of national < »mill Ions,
can workingmen tbnn many preceding years. she Is rapidly show ing llte good effects of
Any rhange of the present industrial or her new relations Io this nation.
For the sake of full and Intelligent under
financial policy of the government would be
standing of the Philippine question ami Io
disastrous to their highest Interests.
With prosperity .at home and an lucre«« give to the people authentic Information of
Ing foreign market for American products the nets snd alm s of the adm inistration, I
em ploym ent should continue to wait upon present st som e length the even ts of Impor­
labor, ami with the present gold standard tance leading up to the present situation.
the workingman la seeitrM against payment The purposes of the execu tive are best re
for bis labor In a depreciated currency. For vealed and can beat be judged by wliat lie
labor a short day Is better than a short dol­ has done and la doing.
lar. One will lighten the burdens, the other
E v e ry M o v e fo r Peace.
lessen« the reward« of toll. The one will
It w ill be seen that the power of the gov­
promote contentm ent and Independence, the ernment has been used for the liberty, the
other penury and want.
peace snd the prosperity of llte Philippine
S p e a k « f o r G o o d W a tte « .
peoples, and that force has been employed
T h e wage« o f labor should be adequate to only against force which stood la the way
of the re a lis a tio n of these ends.
keep the home In comfort, educate the chll
“Through 1 he long c o tirs c of repeated rep­
resentation« which preceded »ml alined tt>
avert the struggle and In the ilnsl ar*»ltra-
meat of fore* thl« country «»» ntpel c l ■»'.«•
ly by the purpose of relieving grieve uo
wrongs and removing long existin g condi­
tions which disturbed Its tranquillity, whirls
shocked the moral »ense of mankind «ud
which could 110 longer be endured.
H ig h mfuhf o f D u ty .
“ Il 1» my earnest wish that the I n . '»6
Mtates tu tunklug peart should follow tho
same high rule of couduct which g-tlded i t
In fiieilig war. Il should be As scrupulous
aud mAgnattliuoti- In the eoucludlllg »elf,la­
ment as It was Just »ml humane in It* orig­
inal action. • • • Onr s la t m Ihe adjust­
ment of peace should be directed to lasting
results and to the achievem ent of the com­
mon good under the dqiu.iud- of c lv iils a tl' n
rather than 1» am bitious <|e«lgu» • • •
"Without any origins, iliougltl of cotnp.eio
or even partl-tl aequlsllIon. lb* pvc-en. <• And
success of our arm» nt Manila Impose npol#
us obligations which we cannot disregard.
The luarcli of events rules aud overrule«,
human a lion. Avowing unreservedly tins
purpose which It»» auim ated all our efforts,
mid still solicitous to adhere lo it, we can*
not be uuuiludful lltat wltbout any d eslto
or de-ign on ottr part the war ha» bro'igb#
us Hew duties and resp. u -ib lilties which WO
must meet and discharge as beisxites a great
uallou on w no.-e grow h it ltd career, frm »
the beginning. Die Itiiler of Nation» ha»
plainly written the lilgn command a u d
pledge of civilisation."
M lilr k c t l
No
R e -|> i n s l b i l i t y .
On Did. 28, 18181, while l l t e p e a c e ' oiu.uts
slim was .outInning 11» negotiations lu Paris.
Die follo w in g a tl'lll iotial instruction wao
se n t:
"Il 1« im perative upon 11« Dial as victor»
we »ho.ild lie governed only by m otive»
w hich will exalt our n.ition. Territorial e l-
panslou should be our least concern; that
we shall n»l shirk Die moral ob .lgalloas o f
our victory Is of the greatest,
"It Is itmlisputeil that Spain's authority lo
periiiuncully destroyed In every part of tho
Philippines, io leave Mity part lu he* feeblo
control now would Increase our dlfflcultleo
and lie opposed 1« Ihe Interests of hum an­
ity. • • • Nor can we permit Mpaln to
transfer any of ihe island* to another
power. Nor can we Invite another power
or power» to Join the United Mtsles In sov­
ereignty over them. We must either hold
them or turn them back to Mpaln.
O n ly O n e H o n o r a b le C o u rs e .
"Consequently, grave as are Ibe respousl-
bllltles ami unforeseen as are Ibe difficul­
ties which arc before us, the President Cats
See but one plain path of duty, the accept­
ance of the archipelago. Greater tllffienllle*
and more serious com plications adinlnis'ra
live and luterualional— would follow auy
other course.
"The President ha« glveu lo the view s o t
(be coiuuilsalouers the fullest consideration,
and lu reachiug the conclusion above a n ­
nounced, in tne light of Information coui-
inunlcated lu the commission and to tho
President since your departure, he has been
InflttFitced by the single consideration o f
duly and h 11 him til I y . llte President la not
<111 till ml fit I of llte distressed financial eondl-
tlon of Mpaln, and whatever con sid erstloa
the United S lates may show must cotuo
from Its sense of generosity und benevol­
ence rather thuu from any real or technical
obligation.”
C o u ld N o t A b m t d o n T h e m .
Again, ou Nov. 13, I instructed Ih* com­
mission :
"Frotn llte standpoint of Indemnity, bo;lx
Ibe archipelagoes iPorto Rico and the Phil­
ippines) are Insufficient to pay our war ex-
pcltsea, but u«lde from litis, do we uot nwo
mt obligation 10 llte people of (he Philip
pines wlileli will not permit us to return
them to Ihe sovereignly of Spain'.' CouJiLwo
Justify ourselves In such a course, or conltl
we permit tlielr b a rte r lo some other power?
"W illingly or not, we have the responsi­
bility of duty which we cannot escape.
* • * The President cannot believe nny
division of the archipelago run bring us an y­
thing but etiil'm i'itssincnt In the future. Tho-
trnde and conimerclal side, aa well as tho
Indemnity for the cost of the war, are q ues­
tions we might yield. They utlghl be waived
or compromised, lint Ibo questions of duty
uiul humanity appeal lo the President no
strongly that he can Hud no npproprlste si),
«wer but the one he has here marked out." J
T e rm « o f th e T r e a ty .
The treaty of peace was concluded on Dec.
10, 1898. By Ita terms the archipelago,
known ss the Philippine Islands, was cedetl
by Mpsln to the United Mtates. It w ss also
provided that "the civil rights and political