Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-12-24
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

IT, the Senate and House Of Rcpyesext-
atircs IN Congress assembled:
A year of. peace and general prosperity
to the nation has passed since the last as.
sembling Of Congress. We have, through
kind Providence, been blessed with abund-
ant crops, and have been spared from COM
plications and war with foreign nations.
In our midst, comparative harmony has
been restored. 1t is to he regretted, how
ever, that free exercise of the elective
franchise has by violence and intimidation,
been denied to citizens in exceptional cases,
aud in several Of the States lately in rebel
lion and the verdict of the people has there
by been reversed. The States Of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas have been restored
to representation in our national councils.
Georgia, the only State now without repre-
scntation, may confidently be expected to
take her place there, also, at the beginning
ofthe new year; and then, let US hope,
will be completed the work Of recoustruc.
tion, with an acquicscence on the part Of
the whole people in the national obligation
to pay the public debts, created as the price
ofour Union, the pensions of our disabled
soldiers aud sailors and their widows and
orphans, and in the changes to the Consti.
tuition, which have been made necessary
by the rebellion.
There is no reason why We should not
advance in material prosperity and happi.
ness as no other nation did after so pro-
tractcd and devastating war.
AMERICAN PROTECTION TO FOREIGNERS
IN FRANCE.
Soon after the existing war broke out in
Europe, the protection Of the United
States Minister in Paris was invoked in
favor Of the North Germans domiciled in
French territory, and instructions were
issued to grant the protection. This
has been followed by an extension of
American protection to citizens Of Saxony,
Hesse and Saxe.Coburg, Gotha, Columbia,
Portugal, Urugua, the Dominican Repub.
lie, ECUADOR, Chilli, Paragua and Venezu.
ella, in Paris. The charge was an onerous
one, requiring constant and severe labor,
as we'll As the exercise of patience, prudence
and good judgment. 1t has been per.
formed to the entire satisfaction Of this
Government, and as I am officially in.
formed, equally 80 to the satisfaction Of the
Government of North Germany.
ATTITUDE OF THE UNITED STATES TO.
WARDS FRANCE.
As soon as learned that republic had
been proclaimed in Paris, and that the peo.
pie Of France had acquiesced in the change,
the Minister Of the United States was di.
rected by telegraph to recognize it and
tender my congratulations and those of the
people Of the United States. The re.estab.
lishmentin France Of system Of govern
ment disconnected with the dyuastic tradi.
tions Of Europe, appeared to be proper
subject for the Fluctuations of Amer.
leans, aud should the present strug.
gle result in attaching the. hearts Of the
French to q simpler form of representa-
tive government, it will be subject of
still further satisfaction to our people
While we make no effort to impose our in.
stitutions upon the inhabitants of other
countries, aud while We adhere to our ira.
ditional neutrality in civil conflicts else.
where, We cannot be Indifferent to the
strength of American political ideas in
great and highly civilized country like
France. .',-..-., a.s
PROPOSAL FOR THE UNITED STATES TO
MEDIATE IN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS.
We were asked by the new Government
to use our good Offices jointly with those
Of the European Powers, in the interest of
peace. An answer was made that the es-
tablished policy and true interests Of the
United States forbade them to interfere in
European questions jointly with European
Powers. l ascertained, informally and un-
officially, that the Government Of North
Germany was not then disposed to listen to
such representations from any Powers,
aud though earnestly wishing to see the