The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 5, 1897, Page 3

y THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1897. 8 THE GRAND INAUGURAL PARADE PASSING THE REVIEWING STAND IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE. [Drawn by a “ Call” artist from a desoription by telegrapli] REEL 0 ! l t - PRESIDENT MKINLEY'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS. - f : WASHINGTON, March 4.—The inaugural address made by President McKinley was listened to be o relief to both. No portion of our population is more devoted to the indtitutions of free government nor more loyal in their with close attention by those near enough to understand his words, but the crowd around the platform ‘was so large that many were unable to hear him. He said: : In obedience to the will of the people, and in their presence by the authority vested in me by this oath, duous and responsible duties of President of the United States, relying on the support of my countrymen and mighty God. Our faith teaches that there is no safer reliance than upon the Gol of our fathers, who ¢ favored the American people in every National trial, and who will not forsake us so long as we obey his com- and walk humbly in bis footsteps. The responsibilities of the high trust to which I have been called, always of tance, are augmented by the prevailing business conditions, entailing idleness upun willing labor and loss to useful s This causes suffering from industrial distarbances, from which speedy reliet must be had. Our ncial system needs some revision. Our money is good now, but its value must not further be threatened. It should all be put on an enduring basis, not subject to easy attacks, nor its stability to doubt or dispute. Our currency should continue under the supervision of the Government. The several forms of our paper-money offer, in my judgment, a constant embarrass- o the Government and a safe balance in the treasury. Therefore I believe it necessary to devise a system which, without hinz the circulatinz medium or offering a premium for its contraction, will present a remedy for those arrangements, which, temporary in their nature, mizht well in the years of onr prosperity have been displaced by wiser provisions. With ade- e revenue secured, but not uniil then, we can enter upon such changes in our fiscal laws as will, while insuring safety and me 1o our money, no longer impose upon the Government the necessity of maintaining so larze a gold reserve, with its attendant and inevitable temptations to speculation. Most of our financial laws are the outgrowth of experience and trial, and should not be amended without investization and tion of the wisdom of the proposed changes. We must be “‘sure we are right'’ and “make haste slowly.” If, therefore, s wisdom shall deem it expedient (o create a commission to take under early consideration the revision of our coin- age, banking and currency laws, and give them that exhaustive, careful and dispassionate examination that their importance de- mands, I shall cordially concur in such action. If such power is vested in the President, it is my purpose to appoint a commission of prominent, well-informed citizens of different parties, who will command public confidence both on account of their ability and special fitness for the work. Busi- ness experience and public training may thus be combined, and the patriotic zeal of the friends of the country be so directed that such a report will be made as to receive the support of all parties and our financescease to be the subject of mere partisan conten- he experiment is, at all events, worth a trial, and, in my opinion, it can but prove beaeficial to the entire country. The question of international bimetallism will have early and carnest attention. Itwill be mv constant endeavor to securs it by co-operation with the other great commercial powers of the world. Until- that condition is arrived at, when the parity of our gold and silver money springs from and is supported by the relative value of the two metals, the value of the silver already coined and of that which may hereaiter be coined, must be kept constantly at par with gold by every resource at our command. The credit of the Government, the integrity of its currency and the inviolability of its obligations must be preserved. This was the commanding verdict of the people, and it will not be unbeeded. Economy is demanded in every branch of the Government at all times, but especially in periods like the present of de- pression in business and distress among the people. The severest economy must be observed in all public expenditures, and ex- travagance stopped wherever it is found, and prevented wherever in the future it may be developed. If the revenues are to re- main as now the only relief that can come must be from decreased expenditures. But the present must not become the perma- nent condition of the Government. It has been our uniform practice to retire, not increase, our outstanding obligations, und this policy must again be resumed and vizorousty enforced. Our revenues should always be large enough to mest with ease and promptness not only our cutrent needs and the principsl and interest of the public debt, but to make proper and liberal provision for that most deserving body of public creditors, the soldiers and sailor and the widows and orphans who are the pensioners of the United States. The Government shou!d not be permitted to run behind or increase its debis in times like the present. Suitably to provide against this is the mandate of duty— the certain and easy remedy for most of our financial difficulties. A deficiency is inevitable so long as the expenditures of the Government exceed 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 undermines public and private credit. Neither should be encouraged. Between more loans and more revenue there ought to be but one opinion—we should have mure revenue, and that without delay, hindrance or postponement. A surplus in the treasury created by loans 1s not a permanent or safe reliance. It will suffice while it lasts, but it cannot last long while the outlays of the Government are greater than its receipts, as has been the case during the past two years. Nor must it be forgotten, however much such loans may temporarily relieve the situation, tne Government is still indebted for the amount of the surplus thus accrued, whien 1t must ultimately pay, while its ability to pay is not strengihened, but weakened, by a continued deficit, Loans are imiperative in great emergencies to preserve the Government or its credit, but a failure to supply needea revenue in time of pezce for the maintenance of either has no justification, Tite best way for the Government to maintain its creditis to pay as it goes—not by resorting to loans, but by keeping out of debt—through an adequate income secured by a system of taxation, external or internal, or botb. 1t is the settied policy of the Government, pursued from the beginning and practiced by all parties and ad ministrations, to raise the .bulk of our revenue from taxes upon foreign productions entering the United States for sale and consumption, and avoiding, for the most part, every form of direct taxation, except in time of war. The country is clearly opposed to any needless additions to the subjects of internal taxation, and is committed by its latest popular utterance to the system of tariff taxation. There can be no misunderstanding, either, about the principle upon which this tariff taxation shall be levied. Nothing has ever been made plainer at a general election than that the controlling prin- ciple in the raising of revenue from duties on imports is zealous care for American interests and American labor. The people have deciared that such legislation should be had as will give ample protection and encouragement to the in- dustriesand the development of our country. It is therefore earnestly hoped and expected that Congress will, at the earliest practizable moment, ewact revenue legislation that will be fair, reasonable, conservative and just, and which, while supplying sufficient revenue for pubiic purposes, will still be signally beneficial and belnful to every section and every enterprise of the people. To this policy we are all, of whalever party, firmly bound by the voice of the people—a power vastly more potential than the expression of any political platform. The paramount duty of Congress is to stop deficiencies by the restoration of that protective legislation which has always been the firmest prop of the treasury. The passage of such alaw or laws would strengthen the credit of the Government, both at home and abroad, and go far toward siopping the drain upon the gold reserve held for the redemption of our currency, which has been heavy and well nigh constant for several years. In the revision of the tariff especial attention should be given to the re-enactment and extension of the reciprocity prin- ciple of the Jaw of 1890, unaer which so great a stimulus was given to our foreign trade in new and advantageons markets for our surplus agricuitural and manufactured produc's. The brief trial given this legislation amply justifies a further experiment and ad3litional discretionary power in the making of commercial treaties, the end in view always to bo the opening up of new markets for the products of our country by granting concessions to the products of other lands that we need and cannot produce our- selves and which do not involve any loss of labor to our own people, but tend to increase their employment. Thevlepression of the past four years Las fallen with especial severity upon the great body of toilers of the country, and upon none more than the hoiders of smali farms, Agriculture has languished and labor suffered. The revival of manufact uring will support, while none bears more cheerfullyor fully its proper share in the maintenance of the Government or is better entitled to its wise and liberal care and protection. Legislation belpful to producers is bencficial to all. The depressed condition of industry on the farm and in the mine and factory has lessened the ability of the people to meet the demands upon them, and they right- fully expect that not only a system of revenue shall be established that will secure the largest income with the least burden, but that every means will be taken to decrease rather than increase our public expenditures. Business conditions are not the most promising. It will take time to restore the prosperity of former years. If we caanot promptly attain it, we can resoiutely turn our faces in that direction and aid its return by fiiendly legislation, However troublesome the situation may appear, Congress will not, I am sure, be found lacking in disposition or ability to relieve it as far as legislation can doso. The restoration of confidencs and the revival of business which men of all parties so much desire depend more largely upon the prompt, energetic action of Congress than upon any other single agency affecting the situation. It is inspiring, too, to remember that no great emergency in the 108 years of our eventful National life has ever arisen that has not been met with wisdom and couraze by the American people, wilh 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 immeas- urably strengthened the precious free institutions which we enjoy. The people love and will sustain these institutions. The great essential to our happiness and prosperity is that we adhere to the principles upon which the Government was established and insist upon their faithful observance. Equality of rights must prevail and our laws be always and everywhere respected and obeyed. ‘We may have failed in the discharge of our full duty as citizens of the great Republic, but it is consoling and encouraging to realize that ireo specch, a free press, free thought, free schools, the free and unmolestea rights of religious liberty and worship and free and fair elections are dearer and more universally enjoyed to-day than ever before. These guarantees must be sacredly preserved and wisely strengthened. The constituted authorities must be cheerfully and vigorously upheld. Lynchings must not be toleerated in a great and civilized country like the United States. Courts—not mobs—must execute the penalties of the law. The preservation of public order, the rights of discussion, the integrity of courts and the orderly administration of justice must continue forzyer the rock of safety upon which our Government securely rests. One of the lessons taught by the election, which all can rejoice in, is that the citizens of the United States are both law- respecting and law-abiding people, not easily swervea from the path of patriotism and honor. This is in entire accord with the genius of our institutions, and but empbasizes the advantages of inculcating even a greater love for law and order in the future. 3 3 Immunity should be granted to no one who violates the laws, whether individuals, corporations or communities, and the constitution imposes on the President the duty of both its own legislation and of the statutes enacted in pursuance of its pro= visions.s Ishall endeavor carefully to carry them into effect. The declaration of the party now restored to power has been in the past that of “‘opposition to all combinations of capital, organized 1n trusts or otherwise, to control arbitrarily the condition of trade among our citizens,” and it Eas supported such legislation “'as will prevent the execution of al! such schemes to oppress the people by undue charges on their supplies or by un« just rates for the transportation of their products to market.” ‘This purpose will be steadi'y pursued, both by the inforcement of the laws now in existence and the recommendation and support of such new statutes as may be necessary to carry it into effect. Our naturalization and immigration laws should be further improved to tha constant promotion of a safer, a better and a higher citizenship. A grave peril to this republic would be a citizanship too ignorant to understand or too vicious to appreciate the great valueand beneficence of our institutions and laws, and against all who come here to make war upon them our gates must be promptly and tightly closed. Nor must we be unmindIlul of the needed improvement among our own citizens, but with the zeal of our forefathers encour- age the spread of knowledge and free education. Iiliteracy must be banished from the land if we shall attain that high destiny as the foremost of tue enlightened nations of the world, which under providence we ought to achieve. Reforms in the civil service must go on, but changes should Ge real and genuine, not perfunctory nor prompted by a zeal in behalf of any party, simply bacause it happens to be in power. As a member of Congress I voted and spoke in favor of the pres- ent law and I shall a:tempt its enforcement in the spirit in which it was enacted. The purpose in view was to secure the most efficient service of tbe best men who would accept appointment under the Government, retaining faithful and devoted public servants in office, but shielding none, under the authority of any rule or custom, who are inefficient, incompetent or unworthy. The best Interests of the country demand this and the people heartily approve the law wherever and whenever it has been thus administered. Congress should give prompt attention to the restoration of our American merchant marine, once the pride of the seas in all the great ocean highways of commerce. To my mind few more important subjects so imperatively demand its'intelligent con- sideration. ‘Thie United States has progressed with marvelous repidity in every field of enterprise and endeavor until we have become foremost in nearly all the great lines of inland trade, commerce and industry. Yet while thisis trde. our American merchant marine has steadily declined until it is now lower, both in percenfage of tonnage and number of vesseis employed, than it was prior to the Civil War. Commendable progress has been made of late years in the upbuilding of the American navy, but we must supplement these efforts by providing as a proper consort for it a merchant marine amply sufficient for our carrying trade to foreign countries. The question is one that appeals both to our business necessities and the patriotic aspirations of a great people. - It bas been the policy of the United States since the foundation of the Governmant to cultivate relations of peace and amity with all the nations of the world, and this accords with my conception of our duty now. We have cherished the policy of non-interference with the affairs of foreizn Governments, wisely inaugurated by Washington, keeping ourselves ires from ene tauglement, either as allies or foes, content to leave undisturbed with them the settlement of their own domestic concerns. 1t will be our aim to pursue a firm and dignified forelgr: policy which shall be just, impartial, ever watchful to our National honor, and always insisting upon the enforcement of the lawful rizhts of Américan citizens everywhers. We want no wars of conquest; we must avoid the temptation of territorial aggression. A war should never be entered upon until every agency. of peace has failed: peace is preferable to war in almost every contingency ; arbitratiog is the trae method of settlement of interna- tional'as well as local or individual difference. It was recognized.as the best means of adjustment of differences between em= ployers and employes by the'Forty-ninth Congress in 1886, and its application was extended to our diplomatic reiations by the unanimous concurrence of the Senate and House of the Fifty-first Congress in 1890, The later resolution was accepted as the basis of negotiations with us by the British House of Commons in 1803, and upon our invitation a treaty of arbitration betweeu the United States and Great Britain was signed at Washington and trans- mitted to the Senate for its ratification in January last. Since tibis treaty is clearly the result of our own initiative; since it has been recognized as the leading feature of our foreign policy throughout our entire National history—the adjustment of diffi- culties by judicial methods rather than force of arms—and since it proves toj the world the glorious example of reason and peace, not passion and war, controlling the relations between two of the greatest nations of the worldgan example certain to be fol- lowed by others, I respectfully urge the early action of the Senate thereon, not merely as a matter of policy but asa duty to mankind, The moral influence of the ramifications of such a treaty can bardiy be overestimated ia the cause of advancing civilization. It may well engage the best thought of the statesmen and people of every country, and 1 cannot but consider it as fortunate that it was reserved to the United States to take the leadership in such a great work. It is the practice to avoid as far as possible the convening of Congress in extraordinary session. Itisan example which, under ordinary circumstances and in the absence of a public necessity is not to be commended. But a failure to convene the