Morning journal and courier., 1881-12-07
HAVEN, CONN., WEDNESDAY MORNING.
The Presidents Message.

I Iu6 FFeSI0oHGS $ message. To the Senate aud House ofe Representatives of Ese United States
 An appalling calamity has befallen the I American people since the chosen represent | atives last met in the halls where you are now assembled. We might else recall, with un- | alleyed content, the prosperity with which throughout the year the nation has been blessed. It's harvests have been plenteous i; it's varied interests have thriven the health | of it's people has been preserved; 1t has maintained with. foreign governments the undisturbed relations of amity and peace. For these manifestations of his favor we owe to Him who holds our destiny in his hands the tribute of our gratitude and devotion. l To that mysterious exercise of his will which has taken from us the loved and illustrious citizen who was but lately the head of the nation, we bow in sorrow and submission. The memory of his exalted character, of his 1 noble achievements, and of his patriotic life l will be treasured forever as a sacred posses sion of the whole people. The announce ment of his death drew from foreign govern ments and peoples tributes of sympathy and | sorrow which posterity will record as signal l tokens of the kinship of nations, and the f federation of mankind. The feeling of good
 will between our own government and that of 1 Great Britain was never more marked than
 at present. In recognition of this pleasing | fact I directed on the occasion of the late centennial celebration at Yorktown, that ! salute be given to the British flag.
 FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
 Save the correspondence to which shall refer hereafter in relation to the proposed canal across the Isthmus of Panama, little has occurred worthy of mention in diplo- matic relations: Early in the year the For tune Bay claims were satisfactorily settled by the British government paying in full the sum of f15, GOO, most of which has been H. xL,I II- settlement included compensation for injuries suffered by our fishermen at Assize Bay there has been retained from the gross award sum which seemed adequate for these claims. The participation of Ameri- cans in the exhibitions at Melbourne and Sydney will be approvingly mentioned in the report of the two exhibitions, soon to be presented to Congress. They will disclose the readiness of our countrymen to make successful competition. in distant fields of enterprise. Negotiations for an information al copyright convention are in hopeful progress.
 The surrender of Sitting Bull and his forces upon the Canadian frontier has al- layed apprehension, although bodies of Brit ish Indians still cross the border in quest of sustenance. Upon this subject correspond ence has been opened which promises an adequate understanding. Our troops have orders to avoid all collisions with alien Indi- ans
 The presence at the Yorktown celebration of representatives of Lafayette and of his gallant compatriots, who were our allies in the revolution, has served to strengthen the spirit of good will which has always existed between the two nations.
 You will be furnished with the proceed ings of the bi-metallic conference held dur ing the summer at the city of Paris. No accord was reached, but valuable inter change of views was held. The conference will next year be renewed.
 At the electrical exhibition and congress, held at Paris, the country was creditab1y represented by eminent specialists, who in the absence of an appropriation generously lent their aid, at the instance of the State department. While our exhibitors in this almost distinctiVely American field of achieve ment have won several valuable awards, recommend that Congress provide for the re- payment of the personal expenses incurred on the public interest by the honorary commis- sioners and delegates.
 No new questions respecting the status of our naturalized citizens in Germany have arisen during the year, and the causes of complaint, especially in Alsace and Lorraine, have practically ceased, through the liberal action of the Imperial government in accept ing our often pressed views on the subject. The application of the treaty of 1868 to the lately acquired Rhenish provinces has receiv- ed very earnest attention. A definite and lasting agreement on this point is confidently expected The participation of the descend ants of Baron Won Steuben at the Yorktown festivities, and their subsequent reception by their American kinsmen, strikingly evinced the ties and good will which unite the German people.
 Our intercourse with Spain has been friend ly. An agreement, concluded in February last, fixes g term for the labors of the Span ish and American claims commission. The Spanish government has been requested to pay the late awards of that commission and will, it is believed, accede to the request as promptly and courteously as on former occasions. By recent legislation onerous fines have been imposed upon American ship ping in Spanish and colonial ports for slight Irregularities in manifests. No case of hard ship is specially worthy of attention. The bark Masonic" bound for Japan, entered Manila in distress and there sought to be confscated under Spanish revenue laws for ! an alleged shortage in her transhipped cargo. Although efforts for her relief have thus far ! proved unavailing, it is expected that the I whole will be adjusted in friendly spirit.
 The Senate resolutions of coincidence on the assassination of the Czar, Alexander IT., 1 were appropriately communicated to the ! Russian government, which in turn has ex- pressed it's sympathy in our late national be- 1 reavement. It is desirable that our cordial | relations with Russia should be strengthened l by proper engagements assuring to peaceable 1 Americans who visit the Empire the consider ation of which is due to them as citizens of l friendly State. This is especially needful | with respect to American Israe1ites, whose l classifcation with the native Hebrews has evoked energetic remonstranees from this I government. !
 A supplementary consular agreement with ! Italy has been sanctioned and proclaimed, l which put at rest the conflict of jurisdiction ! in the case of crimes on shipboard. Several | important international conferences have l been held in Italy during the year. At the l geographical Congress of Venice the benficent l Congress of Milan and the Hygienic Congress of Turin, this country was represented by 1 delegates from branches of the public ser vice or by private citizens duly accredite ed in honorary capacity. It is hoped that Con- gress will give such prominence to the result of the participation as they may seem to de- serve.
 The abolition of all discriminating duties against such colonial productions of the East Indies are imported hither from Hol- land has been already considered by Con- gress. trust that at the present session the I matter may be favorably concluded The insecurity of life and property in l many parts of Turkey has given rise to cor- respondence with the Porte looking particu- larly to the better protection of American | missionaries in the empire. The condemned l murderer of the eminent missionary, Dr. Jus tin A. Parsons has not yet been executed, all | though this government has repeatedly de- | manded that exemplary justice be done.
 The Swiss government has solicited the | good offices of onr diplomatic and consular | agents for the protection of its citizens in | countries where 1t is not itself represented | This request has, within proper limits, been | granted. Our agents in Switzerland have | been instructed to protest against the conduct l of the authorities of certain communes in | permitting the emigration to this country of l criminals and other objectionable persons. l Several such persons through the co-opera- ton of the Commissioners of Emigration at | New York have been sent back by the steam CTS which brought them. A continuance of | this course may prove a more effective reme- dy than diplomatic remonstrance.
 Treaties of commerce and navigation and for. the regulation of consular privileges have | been concluded with Roumania and Servia, | since their admission into the family of Euro l pean States.
 As is natural with contiguous States hay- ing like institutions and like aims of advance ment and development, the friendship of the | United States and Mexico has been constant