The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-12-24
LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.
AmerIca.

By the Steamer Anjar Head'we have files of
San Francisco papers to llth instant.
America.
The most important item of news from the
United States IS the Presidents Message to
Congress, delivered on 9th inst. After referring
to the melancholy circumstances which have
called him TO Office the President says :--'' Save
for the correspondence to which / shall hereafter
refer IN relation 10 the proposed canal across the
lsthmus OF Panama little has occurred worth
mention in the diplomatic relations of the
countries" The relations of the State TO
almost every other foreign country are then
separately touched upon. A special reference Is
made TO the promotion of trade with Mexico but
in somewhat enigmatical terms, and no allusion
appears in 1t to General Grants favorite scheme
Of reciprocity with that State. 4 paragraph on
the Panama Canal informs US that on hearing
that Colombia had proposed TO the European
Powers to join In a guaranty of neutrality of the
canal (which he says - would be in direct con-
PREVENTION of our obligations as the sole guaran-
tor of the integrity of Colombian territory y the
late President felt it his duty to place before the
European Powers the reasons which made the
prior guaranty of the United States indispensa-
BILE and therefore would cause the extension of
similar guaranty to Colombia by foreign Powers
to :" be regarded as a supertuous and unfriendly
act OF Chilean and Peruvian affairs the mes
sage merely relates that existing circumstances
have led him to accredit a special Envoy to those
Powers and Bolivia with instructions which 1t was
trusted would enable him to bring them into
1rlenulN FcldLlOnS. IN referring 10 the SnlneSe
Treaties the President says -" In relation both
to China and Japan some changes are desirable
in our present system of consular jurisdiction.
/ hope at some future time to lay before you a
scheme for its improvement in the entire East. >
His reference to this Kingdom is in the following
words THE King of the Hawaiis, in the
course of his homeward return after a journey
around the world, has lately visited this country.
While our relations with that kingdom are
friendly, this Government has viewed with con-
Darn fha effort 10 GaaE ACCOMPLISHMENTS Of fha
diminishing population of the Islands from out
ward sources, to a degree which may impair
their native sovereignty and independence, in
which the United States was among the first to
testify a lively interest Abstracts of and COM
ments on the Reports from the Treasury, Army
and Navy, Judiciary and Interior Departments
occupy a large space IN the message. The ordi-
nary revenue Of the fiscal year ending June 10th
1881 was $3.50, 7S2, 297 and the expenditure
$3.50. 712,SS7 leaving a surplus of over
500, 600, 900, which had been applied in
reduction of debt. 1t was estimated that the
revenue for the current fiscal year wou d reach
$500, 0OO, 900, and that the surplus would be
Sl3O, DOC, 900. His remarks upon the navy show
that the President is in accord with the ideas of
the chiefs of that department who have recon-
mended n thorough reorganization of the navy and
improved provision for the defense of the coasts.
On Utah and pOlygamy the message contains
some animated remarks, and an explanation of
the marked failure to enforce the law of the
country in regard to polygamy, which is thus
given =" The secrecy attending the celebration
Of marriage IN that territory makes the proof of
polygamy very difficult, and the propriety is
suggested Of modification Of the law of evidence
which now makes q wife incompetent to testify
against her husband" The President goes on
to say, This suggestion Is approved, and |
recommend also the passing of an Act providing
that in the territories Of these United States the
fact that "a woman has been married 90 a person
charged with bigamy shall not disqualify her as a
witness upon his trial for that offense." The mes
600. IL. I.aNa nj I'll SO. e Gil
Service Reform. This matter Is ably dealt with,
and the President concludes with n suggestion
that "A portion of the nominations should be sub
united to a Central Board of Examiners, but
adds that If Congress should deem It advisable
To establish competitive examinations for ad-
mission To service, he will give the measure his
earnest support. The decline Of American
shipping draws from the President the following
sage remark =" must be a peculiar hind
rance To the development of this interest, or
the enterprise and energy of American mechan-
les and capitalists would have kept this country
at least abreast of our rivals IN the friendly
contest for ocean supremacy. Tn substitution
of iron for wood, and of steam for sail, have
wrought a great revolution in the trade Of the
world, but these changes could not have been
adverse 10 America If We had given to the navi-
CATION interests a portion OF the aid IN pro-
lection, which has SO wisely bestowed upon our
manufacturers Tn last subject dwelt upon
Is the Presidential succession, the question as to
what is meant by the words inability to dis
charge the powers and duties of said office,
and whether if, through q. temporary inability
the part of the President, the Vice-President
assumes Office he must hold it to the end of the
term or relinquish it again when the original
Presidents - inability - shall have ceased.
The trial of Guiteau was nearly at an end. On
Friday, 9th inst, 1t was adjourned to the 18th.
The telegram received by the 5. f. Chronicle,
from Washington concluded with the remark,
doubt IS now entertained that the verdict
Will be guilty The report of the proceedings
of the 9th is thus described in the sensational
headings to it in that journal nearing the
moose the assassin growing more violent in
Court he feels that his case is desperate he
continually insults witnesses for the prosecution
in the most outrageous manner" The evidence
being taken was in rebuttal of that brought for