PRESIDENT M'KINLEY’S SPEECH.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 March 1901, Page 3

PRESIDENT M'KINLEY’S SPEECH.

Per San Francisco Mail. (per press association.) Auckland, This Day. At his re-inauguration M'Kinley on March 4th, said, “I have satisfaction to announce that Congress has reduced taxation by forty one million dollars. In every avenue of production is crowded with activity ; fabor is well employed and American productions find good markets at homo and abroad.

Our productions, however, are increasing in such an unprecedented volume as to admonish us of the necessity of further enlarging our foreign market by broader commercial relations.

War has imposed upon us obligations from which we cannot escape, and from which it would be dishonorable to attempt to escape. Latest news from Pekin has led the State Department to the conviction that difficulties will bo encountered in reaching an agreement between Foreign Ministers, respecting the amount of indemnities to be levied upon Chinese Government and methods for collecting. The United States Commissioner is doing all he can to restrain the demands of powers to a sum equal to that within the reach of the Chinese Government without destruction of the dynasty, and an upheaval that would result in valuable loss of much territory to China, encroachments by 'Russia, in Manchuria, and serious complication irritating to Japan. Mail advices from that country show Japan is hurrying preparations for war at all her arsenals and shipyards.

The Russians attitude in Corea where her soldiers have appeared, and arc planting the Russian flag on the Island of Hantoa at the mouth of Turnon have given an impetus to Japan’s preparations.