Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-12-17

-nt,v:N A'ri th1t"D3rA'ur b'tH,'u 'a"m
for thr tiN'~ All mo.thtHf ...p~ III Tie
Nu,Ii ", uj.j Gtllrt, a r&tn-r 80 rNi>IiH-
tr.a'ir- TIE v,-H- Mhj,a tlYr, ~-c.l in
a >I,ri!h iuf,-.i-r To- trr-ir>- ~ March
last in II ltti't1 - tlj- t.r"-prrt | d'7m it
my duty tn a..Jn press up'n Hour it'cn-
ti',H Sua~t,t.nf constitution has hut
confirmed The opinion that il il the right
ana duty OF the tnirrl States la A~>i>t and
maintain such SUPERVISION and authority
over any inter "rcauic canal ATS the
i>thmu, that CONNECTS North AMI south
America IL Will protect our national III.
trr>t
The war between the republic Of Chilli
on one hand and the allied republics OF
Peru and Bolivia un the other still CON
tnur>. This government has not felt
called upon To- interfere in the contest that
i Within the bclli~crent rights If parties
a. independent states. We have. however.
always held ourselves in readiness To- aid
in accommodating their differences and
have al different times reminded both bel.
ligrrcnts of our willingness 10 rcl,lrr such
service. Our good offices in tlii, direction
were recently accepted by all the hrlligrr
cnts, and ii WAS hoped that they would
prove ctlicaciou>; but regret to announce
4 that the measures which the ministers of
were authorized to take with IA view of
bringing about peace were not successful
In the course of the war some questions
! have arisen affecting neutral rights In
all, the ministers of the United States have
under their instructions acted with prompt
ness and energy in the protection OF Amer
lean interests.
The relations of the United States with
the empire of Brazil continue to be most
cordial, and their commercial intercourse
! steadily increases to their mutual advan.
tayc.
| The internal disorders with which the
Argentine republic has for some time past
been afflicted, and which have more or less
influenced its internal trade, are understood
to have been brought to close. This hap
py results may be- expected to rebound to
the benefit of the foreign com
mcrce of that republic rs well rs To the de
velopment of its vast interior resources.
In the Samoa government, King Male
toa is under the support and recognition
of consular representatives. The United
States Great Britain and Germany seem to
have given peace and tranquility to the
islands While it does not seem desirable
to adopt ~ u whole the scheme of tripertile
local government which has been proposed
the common interests of three great treaty
powers require harmony in their relations
to the native forms OF government, and this
may be best secured by simply diplomatic
agreement between them. 1t would be
we'll if the consular jurisdiction OF our rep
rcscnthtivcs at Opia were increased IN en-
tent and importance, so rs to guard Ameri-
can interests in the surrounding and outly-
ing lands of Occanica.
The obelisk generously presented by the
sc t.>f ,.,;f IL
has safely arrived in this country, and will
sion for the liquidation of the Egyptian
debt has lately concluded its work, and this
government, at the earnest solicitation of
the Khedivc, has acccdcd to the provisions
| adopted bv it, which will be laid before
congress for its information. 4 commits
sion for the revision of the judicial code for
the reform of the tribunal of Egypt is now
| in session in Cairo. Mr. Forman, consul
general, and J. NJ. Batchcldcr, ESQ., have
been appointed as commissioners to par
| ticipate in this work. The organization of
reform tribunals will probably be contin
ued for another period Of five years.
In pursuance of an act passed ut the last
session of congress, invitations have been
extended to foreign maritime states to join
in "a sanitary conference in Washington,
|
ceptance of this invitation by many promi.
nent powers gives promise of success in
this important measure, designed to estab.
lish a system of international regulations
by which the spread of infectious or cpl
demic diseases may be more effectively
checked or prevented.
THE MISSISSIPPI AND COLUMBIA RIVERS.
The two great rivers of the North Amer.
| 81, 81,
lumbia, have their navigable waters who'll
and are of vast importance to our internal
and foreign commerce. The permancncy
of important work in the south pass of the
Mississippi river seems now to be assured.
There has been no failure whatever in the
maintenance Of the maximum channel dur
ing the six months ending August 9th last.
! This experiment has opened a broad, deep
highway to the ocean, and is an improve
mcnt upon the permanent success Of which
congratulations may be exchanged among
people abroad and at home, and especially
among communities of the Mississippi val.
ley, whose commercial exchanges float in
an unobstructed channel safely to and from
the sea. Comprehensive improvement of
the Mississippi and its tributaries is a mat
ter of transcendent importance. These
| great wafer ways comprise system Ol Ill
land transportation spreading like network
over q large portion of the United States,
and are navigablc to the extent of many
thousands of miles Producers and con
sumers alike have common interest in such
unequaled facilities for cheap transporta-
ton, Geographically, commercially and
politically they are the strongest tie be-
tween various sections Of the country.
These channels of communication and in
terchange are the property Of the nation.
Its jurisdiction is paramount over their wa
tiers and the plainest principles of public
interest require their intelligent and care
full supervision with a view TO their pro
lection, improvement and the enhance
ment of their usefulness. The channel OF
the Columbia river for Il distance of about
ono hundred miles from its mouth, is OBJ
obstructcd by a succession of bars which
occasion serious delays in the navigation
and heavy expense for lighteragc and tow.
age. A depth of at least twenty feet at low
tide should be secured and maintained tn
meet the requirements of the extensive and
growing inland and ocean commerce it