The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-07

ment as being compatible with the dis.
| charge of these obligations on our part,
| and consistent with our interests ae the
principal powers of the Western hemis-
phere. The views which expressed 10 q
special message to Congress 10 March last
deem Dc relation !. my duty p ssstn to
press upon your attention. Sub
| seouent consideration has but Confirmed
| the opinion that it is the right aud duty of
the United States TO assert and maintain
| such supervision and Suthority. over any
interocenries canal across the I.thmus that
| cauuects North and south America, as
: will protect our national interest.
| THE WAR BETWEEN CHILL AND PERU
The war bet ween the htpublic of Chilli
| on the one hand. and the allied republics
OF Peru and Bolivia On the other still con-
| tinues This government has not felt
| called upon TO Interfere in contest ,h At is
with IN the oeiligerent rights of the parties
as independent states We have h,,wever
| always held ourselves 10 readiness to aid
| in accommodating their difference. and ave
a. different times reminded both bellivar-
ents OF our willingness to Fender such ser
vice.
Our good offices, in this direction, were
| recently accepted by all the b.lligerents.
cious; but regret to announce III It the
| measures, which the ministers of the
| Uaited States at Santiago and Lima took
| AXE, with the view to bring about q peace
| not successful la the course OF the
| war some questions have arisen AFT, citing
neutral rights; in all of these the ministers
| OF the United ates have, under their in
structions, acted with promptness and eu-
| ergy in protection of American interests.
BRAZIL AND TIE ARGENTINE CONFEDERA-
| TON.
The relations of the Uaited States with
| the Emp lre' of Brazil continue to be most
| cordial, and their commercial intercourse
| steadily increases, to their mutual advant-
| age
| The internal disorders with which the
| Argentine Republic has for sometime past
been afflicted, and which have more or less
| influenced It's external trade, are under
| stood to have been brought to a close.
This happy result may be expected to re-
douud to the benefit of the foreign COM
merce OF that Republic as well as to the de-
vel"pment of its vast interior resources
In Samoa, the government of King
MsIietoa, under the support and recagnt-
ton of the consular representatives OF the
United States, Great Britain, and Germany,
seems to have given peace and tranquility
TO the Islands While 1t does not appear
desirable to adopt as whole the scheme
of trIpartite local goven ment, which has
been proposed, the common interests of the
great treaty powers require harmony in
Ineff relations TO the naLIve frame of gov
eminent, and this may be best secured by
. simple diplomatic agreement between
them. 1t would be we'll if the consular
jurisdiction of dur representative at Apia
we're increased in extent and importance
SO as 10 guard American interests in the
surrounding and outlying Islands of
Oceanica
EGYPT.
The obelisk, generously presented by the
khedive of Egypt to the city of New
York, has safely arrived in this country,
aud will soon be erected ia that me ropJlis.
A Commission for the liquidation of the
Egyptian debt has lately concluded its
work, and this government, at the earnest
solicitation of the Khedive, has acceded to
the provisions adopted by it, which will
be laid before Congress tor its information.
a Commission for the revision of the jd-
diciai code of the Reform Tribun" of
Egypt Is now in session in Cairo Mr..
Farnham, consul general, and j. M.
Bachelder, ESQ have been appointed as
commissioners to participate in this work.
The organization of the reform tribunals
will probably ce continued for another Pc
Rod OF five years.
INTERNATIONAL SANITARY CONFERENCE.
In pu suance OF the act passed at the last
session OF Congress, invitations have been
extended to foreign maritime states TO join
in a sanitary conference in Warrington,
beginning the first OF January. The accep-
lance OF this Invitation by many prominent
powers gives promise of success in this lm-
porfant measure, designed to establish q
system of International notification by
which the spread OF in ectious or epidemic
diseases may be more effectively checked
or prevented The attention OF Congress is
invited TO the necessary appropriations for
carrying into effect the provisions of the
act referred to.
EXTENDING AMENIoAN COMMERCE..
The efforts of the d, partment of state to
enlarge the trade aud commerce of the
United States. through the active agency
OF consular officers aud through tue dis
semination of Information Obtained from
them, have been unrelaxed. The interest
IN these efforts, as developed In our COM
mercial communities, and the value of in
formation secured oy this means, 10 the
trade and manufactures OF the country,
were recognized by Congress at its last ses-
sion, and provision was made for the more
frequent publication OF consular and other
reports by the Department of State. The
first issue of this publication has now been
prepared. and subsequent issues may regu-
larly be expected. The importance and In
tereet attached TO the reports of consular
officers, are witnessed by the general de-
mand for them by all classes of merchants
aud manu- faciurers engaged in our foreign
trade. 1t is believed that the sy stem OF
such publication IS deserving of the appro-
val of Congress, and that the necessary ap-
preparations for Its continuance and enc
largement will commend itself to your con.
sideration.
The prosperous energies of our domestic
industries. and their immense prod uction
Of the subj ects of foreign commerce, invite,
and even require, an active Development
of the wishes and interests of our people 10
that direction. Especially important is Il
that our commercial relations with the At
lautlc and Pacific coasts of South America,
with the West ladies' and the Gulf of Mex
icy should be direct, and not through the
circuit of European systems, and should be
carried on in our own bottoms The full
spprecia ion of the opportu lities which
our front on the Pacific ocean gives 10
commerce with Japan. China. and the East
indies, with Australia and the Island
groups which lie along these routes of vavi-