Most High. To keep it will be my single purpose, my constant prayer; and
I shall confidently rely upon the forbearance and assistance of all the
people in the discharge of my solemn responsibilities.




MESSAGES.


EXECUTIVE MANSION, _March 15, 1897_.

_To the Congress of the United States_:

Regretting the necessity which has required me to call you together,
I feel that your assembling in extraordinary session is indispensable
because of the condition in which we find the revenues of the
Government. It is conceded that its current expenditures are greater
than its receipts, and that such a condition has existed for now more
than three years. With unlimited means at our command, we are presenting
the remarkable spectacle of increasing our public debt by borrowing
money to meet the ordinary outlays incident upon even an economical and
prudent administration of the Government. An examination of the subject
discloses this fact in every detail and leads inevitably to the
conclusion that the condition of the revenue which allows it is
unjustifiable and should be corrected.

We find by the reports of the Secretary of the Treasury that the
revenues for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, from all sources
were $425,868,260.22, and the expenditures for all purposes were