Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-16

1
devise the method of correcting the evils
which are acknowledged to exist and not mine
| but Will venture to suggest two or three
| things which seem to me as absolutely nee
essary to return the specie payments The
| first great requisite in a return to prosperity,
the legal tender clause to the law authorizing
the issue of currency by the national govern
ment, should be repealed, to take effect as to
all contracts after day fixed in the repeating act
not to apply, however, to payments of salaries
| by the government, or for other expenses now
provided by law to be paid in currency In the
interval pending between repeal and final re-
| sumption, provision should be made by which
the Secretary of the Treasury can obtain gold,
as it may become necessary from time to time,
| from the date when specie resumption COM
mences. To this might and should be added
a revenue sufficiently in excess of expenses to
insure an accumulation Of gold in the treasury
| to sustain redemption.
sideration believing that favorable solution
is attainable, and that, if reached by this Con-
gress, present and future generations will ever
gratefully remember it as the delivery from
evil and disgrace,
| FREE BANKING. .-
| With resumption, free banking may be
authorized with safety, paying the full protec-
ton to bill-holders which they have under
existing laws. Indeed I would regard free
|
elasticity to the currency. AS more currency
would be required for the transaction of legiti-
mate business new banks would be started,
| and in turn banks would wind up their business
| when it was found that there was q superb
bundance of currency. The experience and
| judgment of the people can best decide just
| how much currency is required for the tran
| saction of the business of the country. It is
| unsafe to leave the settlement of this question
| to Congress, the Secretary of the Treasury or
the Executive. Congress should make the regu-
| lation under which banks may exist, but should
not make banking a monopoly by limiting the
| amount of redeemable paper currency that
shall be unchanged. Such Importance do I
attach to this subject, and so earnestly do I
commend it to your attention, that l give it
| prominence by introducing it at the beginning
| Of this message. .a-. 1888
FOUR FOREIGN RELATIONS. s.-fs
| During the past year nothing has occurred to
| disturb the general friendly and cordial rela-
| tons of the United States with other powers.
| The correspondence submitted herewith, be-
| tween the government and it's diplomatic rep
| resentatives in other countries shows salts
factory condition of all questions between the
United States and the representatives of those
countries, and, with few exceptions, to which
| reference is hereafter made, the absence of any
points of difference to be adjusted.
THE TREATY WITH BELGIUM.
| The notice directed by the resolution of Con-
gress of June 18th, 1874, to be given to ter
inmate the convention of July II, 1858, be-
| tween the United States and Belgium has
| been given, and the treaty will accordingly
terminate on the LIST day of July, 1875. This
convention was secured to retain for
Belgian vessels entering the ports of
| the United States exceptional privi-
| leges which are not accorded to our
own vessels. Other features of the con-
ror,tfo fiofon o,1 how
tended to a cultivation of mutually beneficial
commercial intercourse and friendly relations
between the two countries, / hope that nego
| tlatlons which have been instituted will result
| in the celebration of another treaty, which may
tend to the interest of both countries.
OUR RELATIONS WITH CHINA aat s1s
continue friendly During the past year the
fcar of hostilties between China and Japan,
growing out of the landing of an armed force
upon the Island of Formosa by the latter, has
occasioned uneasiness 1t is earnestly hoped,
however, that the difficulties arising from this
cause will be adjusted and that the advance Of
civilization in those empires may not be re-
| tarded by a state of war. In consequence of
the part taken by certain citizens of the United
States in this expedition, our representatives
in those countries have been instructed to i'm
press upon the governments of China and
Japan the firm intention of the country to main
tain strict neutrality in the event of hostilities
and carefully prevent any infraction on the
part of our citizens. .l..
.st CHINESE IMMIGRATION.
In connection with this subject I call the at
tention of Congress to a generally conceded
fact, that the great proportion of Chinese inn
migrants who come to our shores do not come
voluntarily to make their homes with us, and
their labor productive of a general prosperity,
but come under contract with headmen who
own them lnaO abSO16tp1v Tn
does this apply to Chinese women-hardly
perceptible percentage of them perform any
honorable labor. They are brought for shame
full purposes to the disgrace of the communi-
ties where they are settled, and to the great
Generalization of the youth of those localities.
If this evil practice can be legislated against,
it will be my pleasure as well as duty, to en-
force any regulation to secure 80 desirable an
end
JAPAN.
It is hoped that negotiations between the gov
eminent of Japan and the treaty powers. look
ing to the further opening of the Empire and
|. to the removal of serious restrictions upon
trade and travel, may soon produce the result
to the benefit of all the parties. Having on
previous occasions submitted to the consid-
Grafton Of Congress the propriety of the re-
lease Of the Japanese government from the
further payment of indemnity under the
convention of Oct. %. 1874, and as no action
LOU OOOli e1ohOI oflOIOOIl, IL UtCdl1S LILY W
regard the obligations of the convention
as in force, and as the other
powers interested have received their por-
ton of indemnity in full the minister of
the United States, in Japan has, in behalf
of the government received the remainder of
the amount due to the United States under
the constitution of Simsuseky. I submit the
propriety of applying the increase of part if
not the whole of this fund.- to the education in
the Japanese language of a number of young
men, to be under obligations to serve the gov
ernment for a specified time, as interpreters at
the legation and the consulates in Japan A
limited number of Japanese youths might at
the same time, be educated in our own vernac-
ular, and mutual benefit would result to both
governments. The Importance of having our
own citizens competent and familiar with the
language Of Japan, to act as Interpreters and
in other capacities connected with the legation
and consulates in that country, cannot readily
be overestimated.
FOREIGN CLAIMS.
The amount awarded to the government of
Great Britain by the mixed commission organ
lied under the provisions of the treaty of
Washington, in settlement of the claims of
British subjects, arising from acts committed
between April 18th, 1871, and April 9th. 1866.
became payable, under the terms of the treaty.
within the past year, and was paid upon the