The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-03

exceed the amount which was tAus pro-
vided, and / rely confidently upon Con
gress to make adequate appropriations 10
enable the Executive Departmental enforce
the laws. / respectfully urge upon your
attention that the Congressional elections In
every district, in very important sense,
are Justly matter of political IN
terest and concern throughout the
whole country. Each State, every political
party, is entitled to the share OF power
which is conferred by the legal and constl-
tutional suffrage. 1t Is the right OIL every
citizen possessing the qualifications pre-,
scribed by law to cast one unlntfmldated
ballot, and to have his ballot honestly
counted. So long as the exercise OF thls
power and the enjoyment OF this flght are
common and equal practically as Wen as
formally, submission to the results OF the
suffrage will be accorded Loyalty and cheer
fully, and all the departments of the gov
renment will feel the true rIgor
of the popular will thus expressed.
No temporary or administrative interests
of the government, however urgent or
weighty, will ever displace the zeal OF our
people in defence of the primary rights Oh
citizenship. They understand that the pro-
lection of liberty requires the maintenance
in full vigor of the manly methods OF tree
speech, free press and free suffrage, anu
will sustain the full authority OF the gov
eminent to enforce the laws, which are
formed to preserve these inestimable rights.
The material progress and welfare OF the
States depend on the protection afforded to
their citizens. There can be no
peace without such protection, no
prosperity without peace, and the whole
country is deeply interested in the grown
and prosperity of all its parts. WhIle the
country has not yet reached complete unity
ofteeling, and reciprocal confidence between
the communities so lately and so seriously
estranged, / feel an absolute assurance
that the tendencies are in that direction,
and with increasing force the power OF
public opinion will override all political
preiudices, and all sectional or State at
tachments, in demanding that all over our
wide territory the name and character OF a
citizen of the United States shall mean one
and the same thing, and carry with them
unchallenged security and respect. a.
THE PARIS EXPOSITION.
The universal exposition held at Paris
during the past summer, has been
attended by large numbers OF
our citizens. The brief period
allowed for the preparation and arrange
ment of the contributions of our citizens
| to this great exposition was well employed
in energetic and judicious efforts to over
come this disadvantage. These efforts, led
and directed by the Commissioner General,
| were remarkably successful, and the exhi
| bition of the products of American indus
| try was creditable and gratifying in scope
| and character. The reports of the United
| States Commissioner giving its results in
detail, will be duly laid before you. Oul
/ participation in this international compe
| tition for the favor and the trade of thu
| world may be expected to produce usefu
| and important results in promoting inter
course and friendship and commerce with
| other nations.
| THE INTERNATIONAL COIN CONFERENCE
| In accordance with the provisions of the
act of Feby %, 1878, three commissioner
were appointed to an International Con
ference on the subject of adopting com
mon ratio between gold and silver for til
purpose of establishing internationally tn
use of bimetalic money and securing
fixity of relative value between those metals
Invitations were addressed to the variou
governments which had expressed will
ingness to participate in its deliberations
The conference held its meetings in Paris
in August last The report of the commits
sioners herewith submitted will show 1t
results. No common ratio between gol
1
Il conference The general conclusion wa
reached that it is necessary to maintain /
! the world the monetary functions Of silve
as well as of gold, leaving the selection c
the use of one or the other of these tw
metals. or of both, to be made by eac
State.
THE HALIFAX AWARD.
+ Congress having appropriated at its las
session the sum of So, 500, 900 to pay th
award of the joint commission at Halifax
if after correspondence with the BIRTHS
government on the subject of the conform
!, Ity of the award to the requirements of tn
} treaty, and to the terms OF the questio
: thereby submitted to the commission, I'll
: President shall deem it his duty to max
7 the payment. Communications upon thes
| points were addressed to the British GO
/ eminent through the legation of the Unite
e States at London. Failing to obtain II
: concurrence of the British government j
e the views of this government respectin
t the award, have deemed it my duty I
: tender the sum named within the year fiXe
: by the treaty, accompanied by notice
: the grounds of the payment, and a prote
, against any other construction ofthe sam
/ The correspondence upon this subject wi
/ be LAID before you.
u OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Il Our relations with other countries CO
|. tinue peaceful our neutrality in contests
u tween foreign powers has been maintaint
| and respected.
The Spanish government has official
s announced the termination of the insure
5 ton IN Cuba. and the restoration of pea
e throughout that island. Confident expect
i lions are expressed of revival of trat
and prosperity. which it is earnestly HOPE
c may prove well founded. Numerous CLAN
0 of American citizens for relief for mi
0 ries or the restoration of property have be,
/ among the incidents of the long continu
e hostilities. Some of these claims are
process Of adjustment by Spain, and t
c others are promised early and careful &C
d sideration.
The treaty made with Italy in regard
81 reciprocal consular privileges has been du
E. atified and proclaimed. No questions
grave importance have arisen with a
y other of the European powers.
IS The Japanese government has been {
ID sirous of a revision of such parts of
% treaties with foreign powers as relate
$, commerce, and 1t is understood has
~ dressed to each of the treaty powers
., quest to open negotiations with that vie
III The United States government has been
II clined to regard the matter favorab
So Whatever restrictions upon trade WI
70 Japan arc found injurious to that peol
Q, cannot but injuriously nations holdi
ID commercial intercourse with them. Jap
r after long period of seclusion has will
IL the past few years made rapid strides in
sc path of enlightenment and progress, q
ID not unreasonably is looking forward to
p time when her relations with the nations
ne Europe and America shall be assimila
ne to those which they hold with each 9th
ne A treaty looking to this end has been m,