The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-12-25

FIghTfIfflpSS gi republican, iAiSltt A044Ns
and an intense desire to secure them.
The attempt, however, to establish
REPUBLICS there encounters many OhSta-
cles. most of which may be supposed
TO result from long-indulgCd habits Of
cplOnial supineness and dependence
upon European m0narchiaI powers.
While the United States have, on all
occasions, pr0fessed a decided unWii-
lingness that any part OF this continent
or its adjacent islands shall be made q
theatre for new establishment Of
m0aarchiaI power, too little has been
done by Us, on the other hand, to at
taeh the communities by which we are
surrounded our own country, or TO
lend even a moral support to the Ell
forts they are 50 res0!utely ana SO COLI
stantiy making to secure republican
institutions Cor themselves. 1t Is, in
deed, a question of grave consideTa-
tiOn whether our recent and present
example is not calculated to cheek the
growth and expansion Of free prlncl-
pies and make those communities dis
trust, if not dread, Government
which at will consigns to military
domination States that are integral
parts of our Federal Union, and while
ready to resist any attempts By other
nations to extend to this hemisphere
the monarchial institutions Of Europe,
assumes to establish over large por-
tion ofits people rule more absolute,
harsh, and tyrannic than any known
to civilized Powers.
The acquisition of Alaska was made
with the view OF extending national
jurisdiction and republican principals
in the American hemisphere. Believ-
ing that further step could be taken
in the same direction, ! last year en-
tered into a treaty with the King Of
Denmark for the purchase Of the is
lands of st. Thomas and ST. John on
the best terms then attainable, ana
with the express consent of the people
Of those islands. This treaty still re-
mains under consideration in tde Sen
ate. 4 new convention has been en-
tered into with Denmark, charging
the time fixed for final ratification Of
the original treaty. Comprehensive
national policy would seem TO sanction
the acquisition and incorporation into
the Federal Union of the several adjI-
cent continental and insular c0mmuai-
ties rs speedily as it can be done peace
ably, lawfully and without any viola
tiOn Of national justice, faith or honor
Foreign possession or control OF those
communities has hitherto hindered the
growth and impaired the influence OF
the United States. Chronic feVOlu-
tions and anarchy there would be e.
qnally injurious, Each one Of them,
when firmly established as an indepen-
dent republic, or when Incorporated
into the United States would be new
source Of Ofstrengthand power. Conform
ing my administration to these princi-
DIes. | have on no occasion lent support
or liberation to unlawful expeditions set
on foot upon the plea of republican pro-
pagandism, or Of national extension or
aggrandiZement. The necessity Of re-
pressing such unlawful movements
clearly indicates the duty which rests
upon Us of adapting our legislative ac-
tiOn to the new circumstances Of q de-
cline Of European m0uarchiai power
and influence, and of the increase Of ~
merican Republican ideas, Interests and
sympathies. 1t cannot be long before
it will become necessary for this gov
ernment to lend some effective aid TO
the solution Of the political and social
problems which are continually kept
before the world by the two republics
of the Island OF st. Domingo, and
which are now disclosing themselves
more distinctly than heretofore in the
Island of Cuba. The subject is com
mendad TO your consideration with all
the more earnestness because | am sat
isficd that the time has arrived when
even so direct proceeding a propo-
sition for an annexation Of the so re-
publics of the Island of St. Domingo
would not only receive the consent Of
the people Interested, but would also
give satisfaction TO all other foreign
nations. | am aware that upon the
questions Of further extending our pos
sessions, it Is apprehended by some,
that our political system cannot be sue
cessfully applied TO an area more eN-
tended than our continent, bat the con-
victiou is rapidly gaining ground in
the American mind, that with the in
creased facilities for intercOmmunica-
tion between all portions of the earth,
the principles Of free goVcrnmen as
embraced in our constitution, if faith
fully maintained and carried out. would
prOve Ofsuilicient strength and breadth
to comprehend within their sphere and
influence the civilized nations of the
world.
The attention Of thc Senate and Of
Congress is again respectfully inyitcd
to the treaty for the establishment Of
commercial reciprocity with the Ha-
Waiian Kingdom, entered into last
year and already ratified by that gov
ernment. The attitude Of the United
States towards these islands is not very
different from that in which they stand
towards the West Indies. Tt Is known
and felt by the Hawaiian government
and people that their government and
institutions are feeble and precariOus,
and that the United States, being so
near neighbor, would be unwilling
to see the island pass under foreign con-
troll. Their prosperity is continually
disturbed by expectations and alarms
Of unfriendly political proceedings, as
well from the United States as from
other foreign powers. \ reciprocity
treaty., while it could not materially
diminish the revenue Of the United
States, would bea guaranty Of the good
will and forbearance Of all nations, un-
til the people Of the Islands shall OF
themselves, at no distant day volunta-
rily apply for admission into the L
nion.
The Emperor Of Russia has aceecded
TO the treaty negotiated here in Janu-
AIRY last for the security of trade marks
in the interests Of manufactures aud
commerce. ! have invited his atten-
tiOn to the Importance Of establishing
now while il is easy and practicable, a
fair and equal regulation of the vast
fisheries belonging to the two nations
in the waters ofthe North Pacific Ocean.
The two treaties between the United
States and Italy in the regulation oI
consular power, and the extradition OF
criminals, negotiated and ratified here
during the last session of Congress,
have been accepted and confirmed by
the Italian government.
\ liberal consular convention, which