The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-12-09

tinues its work in Paris. invite your atten-
ton to the necessity of an appropriation to be
made in time to enable this Government to
comply with its obligations under the Metrical
Convention.
Our friendly relations with the German EN-
pire continue without interruption. At the re-
cent international Exhibition of Fish and Fish
cries at Berlin, the participation of the United
States was extremely successful and mer1tor1-
ous winning for private exhibitors numerous
awards of high class, and for the country at
large the principal prize of honor offered
BY His Majesty the Emperor.
There is nothing of importance to note in our
unbroken friendly relations with the Govern
ments of Austria-Hungary, Russia, Portugal,
Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and
Greece.
THE SPANISH OUTRAGE.
During the last summer several vessels be-
longing to the merchant marine of this country,
sailing in neutral waters of the West Indies,
were fired at, boarded, and searched by an armed
cruiser of the Spanish Government The cir
cumstances, as reported, involve not only
private injury to the persons concerned, but
also seemed too little observant of the friendly
relations existing for century between this
country and Spain. The wrong was brought
to the attention of the Spanish Government In
serious protest and remonstrance, and the
matter is undergoing investigation by the royal
authorities, with o view to such explanations or
reparations may be called for by the facts.
THE FLORIDA TREATY.
The claims against the United States under
the Florida Treaty with Spain were submitted
to Congress for its action at the late session,
| and I again invite your attention to this long
standing question, with a view to final dis
position of the matter.
OUR CHINESE RELATIONS
The provision made by Congress, at its last
session, for the expense of the commission
which had been appointed to enter upon
negotiations with the Imperial Government of
China, on subjects of great interest to the rela-
| tons Of the two countries enabled the Com
| missioners to proceed at once upon their mis-
sion. The Imperial Government was prepared
| to give prompt and respectful attention to the
matters brought under negotiation, and the
| conferences proceeded with such rapidity and
| success that, on the 18th of November last
| two treaties were signed at Pekin, one relating
to the introduction of Chinese into this country
and one relating to commerce. Mr.. Trescot,
| one of the Commissioners, Is now on his way
| homo bringing the treaties, and it is expected
| that they will be received in season to be laid
| before the Senate early in January.
| Our Minister in Japan has negotiated a con-
! vention for the reciprocal relief of shipwrecked
seamen. 1 take occasion to urge once more
| upon Congress the propriety of making pro-
| vision for the erection of suitable ire-proof
buildings at the Japanese Capital for the use Of
| the American Legation, and the Courthouse
and Jail connected with it. The Japanese
Government, with great generosity and
| courtesy, has offered Tor this purpose an ellgl-
| BILE piece of land.
| In nv last annual message invited the at
| tention of Congress to the subject of the in
| demnity funds received some years ago from
| China and Japan. renew the recommends
| ton then made that whatever portion of these
| funds are due to American citizens should be
| promptly paid, and the residue returned to the
nations, respectively, to which they justly and
| equitably belong.
| REAFF1RM1Na THE ''MoNRoE DOCTRINE" RE-
| sPECTING THE PANAMA CANAL SCHEME.
The relations between this Government and
| that of the United States of Colombia have en-
| gagged public attention during the past year.
| mainly by reason of the project of an inter
oceanic canal across the Isthmus of Panama, tc
| be built by private capital under concession
| from the Colombian Government for that pur.
pose. The treaty obligations subsisting between
| the United States and Colombia, by which We
guarantee the neutrality of tho transit and the
sovereignty and property of Colombia in thu
Isthmus, make it necessary that the conditions
| under which SO stupendous O change in thu
region embraced in this guarantee should b'
effected-transforming as it would, this 18th
mus, from a barrier between the Atlantic anc
Pacific Oceans, into a'gateway and thorough
| fare between them, for the navies and tho mer
chant ships of the world-should receive tn
| approval of this Government, as being com
| patible with the discharge of these obligation
ON our part, and consistent with our interest
as the principal commercial power of the West
crn Hemisphere. The views which expressed
| in a special message to Congress in March last
in relation to this project, 1 deem it my dnt,
again to press upon your attention. Subse
duent consideration has but confirmed the opin
ion ''that it is the right and duty of the Unite'
States to assert and maintain euch provision
and authority over any inter-oceanic cana
across the Isthmus that connects North ant
South America as will protect our national in
terest."
SOUTH AMERICA DISTURBANCES.
The war between the Republic of Chilli on tn
one hand, and the allied Republics of Peru an
Bolivia on the other, still continues. Thi
Government has not felt called upon to intel
fere in contest that is within the belligeren
rights of the parties as independent States
We have, however, always held ourselves i
readiness to aid in accommodating their differ
ence, and have at different times reminde
both belligerents of our willingness to rende
such services.
The relations of the United States with th
Empire of Brazil continue to be most col
dial.
The internal disorders with which the Arger
tine Republic has for some time past been a
hicted, are understood to have been brought t
close.
INTERNATIONAL SANITARY MEASURES.
In pursuance of the act passed at the la
session of Congress, invitations have been e.
tended to foreign maritime States to join in
! sanitary conference in Washington, beginnin
r the list of January. The acceptance of this il
J vltation by many prominent Powers gives prom
J Use of success in this important measure, d
signed to establish a system Of information
notification by which the spread of infection
, or epidemic diseases may be more effective
checked or prevented. The attention of Coz
gress is invited to the necessary appropriation
} for carrying into effect the provisions of IL
act referred to.
OUR PosTAL-CoNrMERcE FACILITIES.
The prosperous energies of our domestic il
| IF
subjects of foreign commerce, invite, and eve
require, an active development of the wish
, and interests of our people in that drectio
Especially important is it that our commerce
relations with the Atlantic and Pacific coasts
q South America, with the West Indies, and IL
! Gulf of Mexico should be direct, and n
I through the circuit of European systems, al
should be carried on in our own bottoms. tt
: full appreciation of the opportunities whic
our front on the Pacific Ocean gives to cor
Y merce with Japan, China, and the East Indie
with Australia and the Island groups which
, along these routes of navigation, should il
spire equal efforts to appropriate to our oW
shipping, and to administer by our own capita
! | a due proportion of this trade. Whatever mo-
ihcations Of our regulations of trade and nav
cation may be necessary or useful to me
3 3 and direct these impulses to the enlargement
f our exchanges and of our carrying trade, q
/ sure the wisdom of Congress will be ready
q | supply. One initial measure, however seems
, me so clearly useful and efficient that ventu
: to press it upon your earnest attentio
+ 1t seems to be very evident that Il
+ provision of regular steanl-postal commune
ton, by aid from Government, has been Il
forerunner of the commercial predominance
Great Britain on all these coasts and seas,
Q greater share in whose trade is now the desi
: and the intent Of our people. II is also mai
fest that the efforts of other European natio
to contend with Great Britain for share
this commerce, have been successful in propc
, ton with their adoption of regular steal
n postal communication with the markets who
8 trade they sought. Mexico and the States
q South America are anxious to receive su
4 postal communications with this country, Al
n to aid in their development. Similar cooper
a ton may be looked for, in due time, from t
: Eastern nations and from Australia. 1t is dit