Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
psLIvEREp TO CONGRESS DEC. 8, 1881.


met in the halls where you are now assembled
We might else recall with unaltered content the
rare prosperity with which throughout the year
the nation has been blessed. Its harvests have
beer plenteous. Its various industries have thriv-
en-. The health OF its people has been preserved
Ii has maintained with foreign governments
the undisturbed relations of amity and peace
For these manifestations 0! His favor we owe to
din who holds our destiny ia His hands the
trihcte CT our grateful devotions to that mys.eri.
Gus exercise of will, which has taken from VI
the beloved and iustrious citizen, who
was but lately the head of this
nation. We bow in ssrrow-submission. The
memory Of his exalted character of his achieve
ments, and Of his patriotic life, will be- treasured
forever asa sacred possession Of the whole people,
The announcement OF his death drew from for
eign governments and peoples tributes Of sympa.
thy and sorrow which history will record as signal
tokens OF the knship of nations and the fedora
ton OF mankind.
GOOD WILL PREVAILS.
The feeling of good will between our own gov.
eminent and that Of Great Britain vas never more
marked than at present. In recognition of the
pleasing fact, directed, on the occasion OF the
late centennial celc3ratio. at Yorktown that
salute - given to the British flag.
OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Save for the correspondence, to which I shall
refer hereafter, In relation to the proposed canal
across the isthnus of Panama, little has occurred
the country. Early in the year the Fortune Bay
claims we're salts actorily settled by the British
government paying in full .ao sum Of ELS 900
most OF which has alreedy been distributed, as
the terms of the settlement which included com
pensation for injuries suffered by our fishermen at
Ashee Bay. There has been retained from the
gross award q sum which is deemed adequate for
these claims.
CONFERENCE.
The participation of Americans in the exh
billions at Melbourne and Sydney will be ap.
provingly mentioned in the reports OF the
two exhibitions soon to be presented to con
gress. They will disclose the readiness of our
countrymen to make successful competition 10
distant fields of enterprise. Negotiations for 40
International copyright treaty are In hopeful
nsTiNa BULL.
progress. The surrender of Sitting Bull ard hi,
iorce upon the Canadian frontier has allayed all
apprehension, although bod of British Indians
sui cross the border in quest of sustenance. Ur.
on this subject correspondence has been opened
which promises an adequat understanding. Our
troops have orders to avoid in the meanwhile, ali
collisions with alien Indians.
YORKTOWN,
The presence at the Yorktown celebration o.
representatives Of republicans, descendants of La
tayette and of his gallant compatrlots who were
cur allies in the revolution, has served to strength
en- the spirit of good will which has always exist
cd between the two nations.
BIMETALLIc.
You will be fu nished with the proceedings OF the
bimetalllc cor fei ence held during the summer at
the city of p iris. Nc accord was reached, but .
valuable Interchange Of views was had, and the
conference will cext year be renewed At the
electrical exhibition and congress, also held Al
Paris, this country was sredibly represented by
eminent specialists, who, in the absence of an APP
ropriation, generously lent their efficient aid at
instance of the state department; while our
Exhibition 10 this almost distnctively American
field OF achievement has won several awards. |
recommend that congress provide for the re.
payment OF the personal expenses incurred
10 the public interest by the honorary commits.
horers and delegates.
STATUS OF GERMAN CITIZENS
No new question respecting the status of our
natu,azed citizens in Germany have arisen dur
ing the past year and the causes OF complaint
especially in Alsace and Lorraine have practically |
eea ed through the liberal action of the imperial
government, in accepting often expressed
views the subject. The application of thu
:reaty Of 1868, to tho lately acquired Rhenish
provinces has received very earnest attention and
definite and lasting agreement On this point Is
confidently expected. The participation of the
descendants of Baron Won Steuben in the York
town festivities, and their subsequent reception
by their American kinsmen, strkingly comedies
with the good will which unites the German people
with our own.
SPAIN
Our intercourse with Spain has been friendly
and the agreement concluded in February In
fixes term for the labors for the Spanish
American claims commission. The Spanish gov.
crime 1t has been requested to pay the late awar
of the commission and will, 1t is believed, acceut
to the request pr mptly and courteously as Cd
former occasions. BY recent legislation on rous,
fine has been imposed upon American shipping 10
Spanish and colonial ports for slight irr,gu ari
ties
One case of hardship is specially worthy OF |
mention. The bark Masonica, bound for Japan
entered Manila in distress and is
THERE SOUGHT TO DE coNFIscATED
under the Spanish revenue laws for an alleged |
shortage in her transhipped cargo. Though Ell |
forts for her relief has thus far proved unayaiing
it is expected that the whole will be adjusted in
friendly spirit.
The senate resolutions of confidence on tn,
assassination Of the Gar Alexander II |
were appropriately communicated to the Russia,
government, which 10 turn has expressed ITS sym
pathy in our late national bereavement. 1t T.
desirable that our cordial relations with Russia
should be strengthened by proper engagements
assuring to peaceful Americans who visit that
empire the considers ..on which is due to them as
citizens Of friarily state. This is especial.
acsdfui with respect to American lsreaIltes
whose classification with the native Hebrews has
evoked eners cite remonstranoe IS from this govern
uenL
HOLLAND.
The abolition Of all discriminating duties
against Dutch colonial productions of the Dutch
last Indies as are imported hither from Hul-
and has been already considered by congress. ]
. ust that a: the present session the matter may
/, iavorably concluded.
TURKEY.
The insecurity OF life and property in man,
pats OF Turkey has given rise to correspondence
with the porte, looking, particularly to the be-
Ter protection of American missionaries in the
empire.
The condemned murderer of the eminent mis-.
,,onsry DR.. Justin W. Parsons, haa not yet been
executed, although this government has repeated
y demanded that exemplary justice be done.
SWITZERLAND.
The Swiss government mas solicited the good
0ices Of our diplomatic and consular agent, fot
,bo protection Of its citizens in countries where
- not itself represented. This request has, 'nhir
ttoper limits, been granted Our agents in Swift
.rland have been instructed to protest agains IN.
ronduc. of the authorities Of certain ooinmunes il
nerni ting the emigration to this country Of c-a