Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

w q
kind Providence, been blessed with abund-
ant crops, and have been spared from com
plicatinns and war with foreign nations. In
our midst, comparative harmony has been
restored. 1t Is to be regretted, however,
that free exercise of the elective franchise
has, by violence and intimidation, been de-
MED to citizens in exceptional cases in seve-
raj of the States lately IN rebellion, and that
the verdict of the people h?s thereby been
reversed. The States of Virginia, Missis-
sipui and Texas, have been restored to rep
resentatiOn in our national councils. GeOr-
gia, the only State now without repfeSen-
tatioE, may confidently be expected to take
her place there, also, at the beginning of
the new year a1d then, let US hope, will be
completed the work of reconstruction, with
ea acluiescence on the part of the whole
people in the national obligation to pay the
public debt created as the price of our UH-
ion, the pensions to our disabled soldiers
aud sailors and their widows and orphans,
and in the Constitutional changes which
have been made necessary by great rebel
l!On there is no reason who we should not
advance in material prosperity and happi
ness as no other nation has after 50 pro:rac-
ted and devastating i war.
THE FRANCO GERMAN WAR.
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. Instructions were issued to grant
the protection. This has been followed by
an extension Of American protection to cit
izens Of Saxony, Hesse and SAKE Coburg
G0tha. Colombia, Portugal, Uruguay, the
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Chill, Para
quay, and Venezuela, in Pari,. The charge
was an OnerOus one, requiring constant and
severe labor, as vel! as the exercise O! pa
tence, prudence, and good judgment. 1t
has been performed 10 the entire satIssa'-
ton OF the Government, and, as | am off
cially informed, equally to the satisfaction
Of the Government of North Germany.
As soon as ! learned that Republic had
been proclaimed at 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 ten
der my congratulations and those Of the
people OF the United States. The re es-
Enlistment in France CT system OF gov
eminent disconnected with the dyna itic
traditions Of Europe appeared to be 4 prop
er subject for the fluctuations of Ameri-
cans.
Should he present struggle result in at
,aching the hearts of the French to au-
simpler forms Of representative govern
ment, it will be 4 subject OF still further sat
istGction to our people. While we make no
effort to impose our institutions upon the
inhabitants OF our countries, aud While we
adhere 10 our traditional! neutrality in clvj!
contests, re cannot be Indifferent to the
spread Of American POLITICAL ideas in
great and highly civilized country ike
F.auce
We were asked BY the new Goyernmen,
to use our good Offices jointly with those OF
European Powers in the interest Of peace.
Answer was made that the established poll
q and the true interests OF the Uuitei
States forbade them to interfere IN Europe
an questions jointly with European Powers
ascertainei, Informally and uuofliciaIly,
that the Government OF North Germany
WIS not then disposed to listen TO sucn rep
re-eI;atiOns from any Powers; and, though
earnestly wishing 10 sse the blessings OF
pcace restored to the helligerents. wiEh all
Of whom the United States are on terms OF
friendship, | declined, on the part OF lEis
Government, to take step which would
only EeSui, Il injury 10 our true interests
without advancing the OBJECT for which our
Intervention was invoked. Should the
time come when the action of the URited
States can hasten the return OF peace by a
single hoIc, that action viii be heartily Ia
ken
deemed IL prudent, in view Of the mum
Der OF persons Of German and French birth
lIrlug in the United States, to issue. soon
alter Othcla notice of 4 state of war had
been received from both the 5elligerents,
proclamation, defining the duties of the
United States IS a neutral aud the obliga-
tons of persons residing WITHIN their terri
tory to observe their laws and the laws of
nations. This proclamation was followed
bg others, as circumstances seemed to call
for them. The people, thus informed in
advance as to their duties and obligations,
have assisted in preventing violations of the
neutrality of tie United States.
THE CUBAN INsURRECTIoN.
1t is not understood that the condition OF
the IusurrectiOn in CuOa has materially
changed since the close Of the last session
OF Congress. In an early stage of the con
test, the authorities of Spain inaugurated q
system OF arbitrary arrests. OF close conine
Ment, and of military trial and execution Of
persons suspected OF completely with the
insurgents, and of summary embargo of
der properties and sCquestFatlOH OF their
revenues By executive warrant. Such pro-
ceedIngs, so far as they affected the persons
or property of citizens of the United States,
we're in violation of the provisions Of the
treaty of 1895. between the United States
and Spain. Representations of injuries, by
reason OF such violations, resulting to seve-
raj persons claiming to be citizens OF the
CWted States, were made TO the Spanish
Government From April, 1869. to June
iast, the Spanish Minister at Washington
haI been clothed with limited power to
al IN re iresslng such wrongs. That power
Vas found TO be Withdrawn, IN view, as i.
was sl!t. "ot the favorable situation in
Snlch the Island of Cuba then was which,
however did not lead To a revocation or
suspension of the extraordinary and arbi-
''ary functions exercised by the executive
poHers IN Cuba, aud we were Obliged to
make our complaints at Madrid.
IN the negotiations thus opened, and still
pending there, the United States only
Gained that, Cor the future, the rights Sc
cured To their citizens by treaty should be
respected in Cuba; and that as to the past,
lolnf tribunal should be established in the
United States with full jurisdiction over all
such claims Before such an impartial tn
olhal, each claimant would be required to
prove his case. On the other hand. Spain
would be at liberty to traverse every mate
tIaI fact; and thus complete equity wouid
Ge secured. A case which at one time
threatened seriously to affect the relations
o~'WGen the United States and Spain has
Already been diSnoSed nf in this Uay The