The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-10

OWN. Negotiations are pending with a view to
The survey and construction OF snip canal
across the Isthmus under the auspices OF me
U nlted States. l hope to be apie TO submit the
results OF the pegotations TO tne senate onr-
The yery liberal treaty which was entered
into last veal by the United States and Mica
racpa his been ratified by the latter Republic.
With the earnestness OF sincerely friendly
neighbor Costa Rica solicits a reciprocity
of trade, which commend to the considera-
ton of Congress. The convention created by
the treaty between the United States and Ven
ezuela in July, 1865, for the mutual adjustment
OF claims has been held, and its decisions have
been received at the Department OF State
The revolt against the government of The
State of Venezuela has been successful, and
provisional government having been instituted
under the circumstances which promise dura-
bility it has been formally recongn zed.
L nave been reluctantly obliged to ask ex-
PLANTATION and satisfaction for national injuries
committed by the President of Hayti. The
political and social condition of the Republics
of Hayti and ST. Domingo is very unsatisfac-
tory and painful. The abolition of slavery,
which has been carried into effect throughout
the Island OF st Domingo and the entire West
Indies, except the Spanish islands OF Cub
and Porto REQ, has been followed by pro-
found popular conviction Of the rightfulness of
republican institutions and desire 10 secure
them. The attempt, however, 10 establish re-
pubitcs there encounter many obstacles, most
Of which may be supposed TO result from long
Indul ed habits of colonial dependence upon
Europ an ,mOnarcbical powers. While the
United States have ON all occasions profrssed
decided unwi lingness that any part of this
continent, or of its adjacent islands, shall be
made q theatre for a new establishment of
mOnarchial power, too little has been done
by the United Sta es on the other hand to at
taeh the communities by which We are sur
rounded to our own country, or to lend
even moral support to the efforts they
are SO constantly making to secure re.
publican institutions for themselves. 1t is,
indeed, question for grave consideration
whether our recent and present example is
not calculated to check the growth and expan-
sion OF tIes principles ana make those commu
mites distru>t government which at will
cous9pS to military domination States that
are integral parts of one Federal Union, and
while ready to resist any attempts by other
nations to extend TO this hemisphere the NON
archial institutions OF Europe. assumes to es-
tablish over large portion OF its people a will
more absolute, Harsh and tyranncal than
anv Known to civilized powers.
TIE acquisition of Alaska was made with
the view of extending the national jurisdc-
lion ani republican principles in the Amari-
eau hemisphere. Believing that a further step
could be taken in the slme direction
last wear entered into treaty with the King
Of Denmark for the purchase of the Islands of
s.. Thomas and ST. John on the best terms
This treaty still remains under consideration
ia the Senate A new Conve ntion has been
entered into with Denmark. the time for final
ratification of the original treaty having ex
pired. Comprehensive national policy would
seem to sanction the acquisition and incorpor-
alton into Federal Union OF the several ad-
Jacent co. tlnental and insular communities as
speedily as it can be done peacefully, law
fully and without any violalation of national
justice, faith or honor. Foreign possession or
control OF those communities have hitherto
hlndered the growth and impaired the infiu-
ence of the United States. Revolutions and
anarchy there, would be equally injurious.
Each one of them when firmly established as
an Independent Republic, OR when incorporat
ed into the United States would be a new
source of strength and power. Conforming
my administration in these particulars to these
views, have on no occasion lent support or
liberation to unlawful expeditions on foot upon
the plea OF republican propagandism or of ma
uonal extension or ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The ne
cessity. however, of REFRESHING such. unlawful
movements clearly indicates the duty which
rests upon us of adapting our legislative action
as the new circumstances of decllue of Eu-
ropean monarchial power and influence render
necessary. 1t cannot be long before it will be-
come nece sary for this government to lend
somt effective aid 10 the solution of the politi-
cal ana social problems which are continually
kept before the world by the two republics of the
Island Of St. Domingo and which are now de-
claring themselves more distinctly than here.
tofore in the Island OF Cuba. The subject is
commended to your consideration with all the
more earnestness because am satisfied that
the TINE has arrived whea even so direct a
proceeding as proposition for AN annexation
OF the two Republics of the Island of st. Do
mlngo would not only receive the consent of
the people interested, but would also give sat
l>iaction to all other foreign nations. I am
aware that upon the question OF further ex-
&c Ill l.
some that our political system cannot success
fully be applied to an area more extended than
our continent, but the conviction is rapidly
gaming ground in the American mind that
with the increased facilities for inter-commu-
cation between all portions of the earth the
princIp'es OF free government as embraced in
'ur constitution, faithfully maintained and
carried out, would prove of sufficient strength
and breadth to comprehend within their scope
world.
The attention of the Senate and of Congress
Is again respectfully invited to the treaty for
the establishment OF commercial reciprocity
with the Hawaiian kingdom, entered into last
year and already ratified by the government
The attitude OF the United States towards
these Islands is not very different from that in
which they stand towards the West Indies.
IL Is known ana felt by the Hawaiian govern
mens ana people that thei governaaer,s ,,.a
institutions are feeble and preca, ious that the
United States being so near neighhor would
be unwilling to see the Islands pass under for
eign control. Their prosperity is continually
disturbed by expectations and alarms of uu-
friendly political proceedings, as well from the
United States as from other foreign powers
A reciprocity treaty, while it could NOT mate
rally dmin sh the revenues of the Uaited
STATES would be guarantee of the GOO. will
aud forbearance of all nations until the peo le
of the Islands shall of themselves at no distant
Union.
lie Emperor of Russia has acceded to the
trea.y negotiated in January last for the Sc
curlty OF trade marks in the interest of manu-
lecturers and commerce. have invited his
attention to tue Importance OF establishing
now, while it seems easy and practicable. fair
and equal regulations of the vast fisheries be-
longing to the two nations in the walters of the
North Pacific Ocean.
The two -reaties between the United States
and Italy, for the regulation of consular puw-
ers and the extradition of criminals, negotiat
ed and ratified here urng the last session of
Congress, have been adopted and confirmed
by the Italian Government. A liberal consu.
lar convention, which has been negotiated
with Belgium. will be submitted 10 The Senate.
Inc very important treaties which were ne
SotlaIed between the United States and Nor'h
liermapy and Bavaria. for the regulation OF
the rights of naturalized citizens, have been
duly ratified and exchanged, and similar
treaties have been entered Into with this king
dom and Belgium and Wuriemburg a,d with
the Grand Duchess of Baden and Hessedarn-
sradt. 1 hope soon to be able to submit ennaI.
~ satisfactory conventions of the same char
aceer, now IN the course of negotiation with
the respective Governments of Spain. ItaIv
and the Ottoman Empire
examination OF claims against the United
States by the Hudson Bav Company and the
Puget Sound Agricultural Company on ac-
count OF certain possessorv rights in the State
OF oregon and Territory of Washington alleo-
ca Dy tnese companies in virtue of prov> ions
OF the treaty between the United States and
Great Britain in June 1916 has been diligently
prosecuted under the direction of the Joint
Commission to which they were
submitted for adjudication bv treaty between
!he TWO governments of July l, 1868, and will.
IL IS expected be concluded at an early day.
NO practical negotiation concerning the col
onlai trade and the fisheries can be accom- plsb-
ed by treaty between the United States and
Great Britain until Congress shall have ex-
pressed tnelr Judgment concerning the rinci.
pie involved. Three other questions, however.
between the United States and Great Britain
remain open for adjustment These are the
mutual rights of naturalization, the bourdarv
question, involving the title to the Isle of San
Juan ON the Pacific coast, and the mutual
claims arising since the year 1853, of the citi.
zens and subjects of the two countries for in
lures anu eeprepauons committed under the
authorlty OF their respective governments
Negotiations upon these subjects are pendinp.
ana am not without hope of being able to
lay before the Senate, for its consideration dur
Ing the present session, protocols calculated to
bring to an end these justly exciting and long
existing controversies
we are not advised of the action of the Chi.
nese government upon the liberal and auspic-
lous treaty which was recently negotiated with
It's plenlpoteneiaries at this capital.
Japan remains theatre of civil war, mark
ell by the religious incidents and political Sc.
yerItIes peculiar 10 Il at long isolated emnire.
Inc Executive has hitherto maintained strict