On Monday, December 6th, the first regular session of the Fifty-fifth
Congress began.
At twelve o'clock precisely the Senate and the House of Representatives
were called to order by their respective presiding officers.
The usual form of business was then gone through.
After a prayer by the chaplain, both bodies appointed two members to
inform the President that Congress was in session, and ready to receive
any communication from him.
At half-past one the President's secretary presented the Message to the
Senate, and a few minutes later handed another in to the House of
Representatives.
The Message, which is President McKinley's first annual message, was
listened to with the closest attention.
After a greeting to Congress, and congratulations on the good work done
in the extra session last summer, the President took up the
CURRENCY QUESTION.--You will remember that he was very anxious to make
some changes in our money system, which he did not consider
satisfactory. He asked Congress to appoint a committee to examine into
the subject, but Congress referred the matter to the Committee on
Finance, and no special committee was appointed.
The President realized from this that the country was not ready or
willing to have changes made in its money system, and therefore, in his
Message, he treats the currency with the utmost care.
He warns Congress that the present money system is unsound and needs
changing. He reminds the lawmakers that the country has undertaken to
pay out a certain amount of gold every year, but that it has not made
any arrangements for receiving gold. The consequence is that the
treasury has every year to buy the gold it needs to pay its debts.
This the President does not approve of.
He suggests that some arrangement should be made whereby debts due to
the Government shall be paid in gold, so that the treasury may receive
enough gold for its needs.
He leaves the matter in the hands of Congress, suggesting that it might
help matters if the bank-notes which the Government has to redeem in
gold shall only be paid out again in exchange for gold. He also asks
that earnest attention be given to the plan of the Secretary of the
Treasury.
THE CUBAN QUESTION is treated in a very impartial and statesmanlike
manner.
The President goes over its history in a way that is most interesting to
us, because he is in possession of facts that no private citizen can
obtain. We print a portion of his remarks:
"The story of Cuba for many years has been one of unrest, growing
discontent; an effort toward a larger enjoyment of liberty and
self-control; of organized resistance to the mother country.
"The prospect from time to time that the weakness of Spain's hold upon
the island might lead to the transfer of Cuba to a continental power
called forth, between 1823 and 1860, various emphatic declarations of
the policy of the United States to permit no disturbance of Cuba's
connection with Spain, unless in the direction of independence or
acquisition by us through purchase; nor has there been any change of
this declared policy since upon the part of the Government.
"The revolution which began in 1868 lasted for ten years, despite the
strenuous efforts of the successive Peninsular governments to suppress
it. Then, as now, the Government of the United States testified its
grave concern and offered its aid to put an end to bloodshed in Cuba.
The overtures made by General Grant were refused, and the war dragged
on, entailing great loss of life and treasure and increased injury to
American interests, besides throwing enhanced burdens of neutrality upon
this Government. In 1878 peace was brought about by the truce of Zanjon,
obtained by negotiations between the Spanish commander, Martinez de
Campos, and the insurgent leaders.
"The present insurrection broke out in February, 1895."
He goes on to say that the friendly offers of mediation made in April,
1896, by this Government, were refused by Spain. He mentions the cruel
policy of driving the peasants into the towns, the abuse of the rights
of war which were perpetrated, speaks of Minister Woodford's mission,
and finally shows that action on our part was rendered unnecessary by
the death of Canovas and the coming in to power of Sagasta.
He declares that the present Government of Spain seems determined to
give liberal Home Rule to the island of Cuba, and to give it in spite of
the serious objections raised by certain powerful political parties in
Spain.
In the face of these facts, he asks Congress to give Spain time, before
making any demands, to end the war.
He refuses to recognize the belligerency of Cuba, and bases his decision
on the action taken by President Grant in 1875, when the situation in
Cuba was similar to the present state of affairs.
He quotes the following words of General Grant:
"A recognition of the independence of Cuba being, in my opinion,
impracticable and indefensible, the question which next presents itself
is that of the recognition of belligerent rights in the parties to the
contest. In a former message to Congress I had occasion to consider this
question, and reached the conclusion that the conflict in Cuba, dreadful
and devastating as were its incidents, did not rise to the fearful
dignity of war...."
He declares that as regards filibustering, he thinks the Government has
simply done its duty. He leaves the Cuban question practically as it
was, asking Congress to wait and see how the Home Rule principle works
before taking any further steps.
He promises that if, in the future, intervention in the affairs of Cuba
seems necessary, he will face the necessity without hesitation.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION is treated very clearly by President McKinley.
He thinks the time is ripe for annexation, and recommends that the
treaty shall be confirmed as speedily as possible.
He seems to think there is no doubt that Congress will pass the treaty,
for he goes on to recommend that Home Rule shall be given to Hawaiians
as soon as the islands shall belong to the United States.
He reports progress on THE NICARAGUA CANAL, states that the surveys and
examinations are being made, and that he hopes soon to have a full
statement to submit to Congress.
THE SEALING QUESTION received some consideration. The Message gives the
history of the matter, with which we are all familiar (or can easily
become so by looking up the back numbers of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD, from
page 732, and through several numbers following).
The President announces the treaty arranged between Russia, Japan, and
the United States, and that on certain important points England is also
agreed. He thinks there will be little difficulty in getting measures
adopted for the preservation of the seal herd.
ARBITRATION.--On this matter he states that the "best sentiment of the
civilized world is moving toward the settlement of differences between
nations without the horrors of war."
He adds that he will give his constant encouragement to all such
treaties, provided they do not endanger our interests.
THE EXPOSITION OF 1900, which will be held in Paris, also comes in for
consideration.
President McKinley states that from the reports received from the
special commissioner who was appointed to look into the matter, he is of
opinion that the coming event in Paris will be one of the most important
of the many wonderful expositions which the world has seen.
He therefore asks Congress to make a liberal appropriation of money, so
that the United States may be properly represented.
In regard to THE NAVY, the President says:
"The present force of the navy consists of 4 battleships of the first
class, 2 of the second, and 48 other vessels, ranging from armored
cruisers to torpedo-boats. There are under construction 5 battleships of
the first class, 16 torpedo-boats, and 1 submarine boat. No provision
has yet been made for the armor for three of the five battleships, as it
has been impossible to obtain it at the price fixed by Congress. It is
of great importance that Congress provide for the purchase of this
armor, as until then the ships are of no fighting value."
Considering that five battleships of the largest class are now on the
stocks, the President only recommends the building of one more
battleship, which shall be for the Pacific Coast.
He also asks for several torpedo-boats, in connection with the system of
coast defence, and recommends that floating-docks for the repairing of
battleships be provided on all our coasts.
As to ALASKA, the government of the territory is, the President says,
not strong or effective enough to take care of the crowds that have
hurried into the country since the discovery of gold.
He therefore suggests that a more thorough system of government shall be
established.
He states that he agrees with General Alger, the Secretary of War, that
Alaska also needs a military force for the safety of her citizens. A
military post is about to be established at St. Michaels, which, as you
probably remember, is on Norton Sound, and is one of the principal
seaports of Alaska.
THE CIVILIZED TRIBES OF INDIANS were next in consideration.
President McKinley recommends that the relations with the five civilized
tribes shall be readjusted, giving the Indians citizenship and
individual ownership of their lands.
The five civilized tribes are the Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws,
Muscogees or Creeks, and the Seminoles.
(This latter point opens a very interesting subject for us. We have not
space to talk about it now, but hope to do so shortly. We should all of
us be familiar with the history of the Indians.)
The President recommends that to prevent the further invasion of the
United States by yellow fever it is important to discover the exact
cause of the disease. He suggests that investigations to that end shall
be made.
The quarantine laws, he thinks, should also be amended and improved.
He expresses a hope that now that the Congressional Library has been
finished, and is such a magnificent building, and so perfect in its form
and detail, Congress will appropriate sums sufficient to develop it,
until it shall be among the richest and most useful in the world.
Begging Congress to keep its expenditures within the limit of its
receipts, President McKinley brought his Message to a close.