The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-10
Presidents Message.


last met in the halls where you are now as
scmbled. We might else recall with unailoyed
content the rare prosperity with which
throughout the year the nation has been
blessed It's harvcsts have been plcnteous,
its varied industries have thrivcn, the health
of its people has been preserved it has uain-
tanned with foreign governments the uudis-
turDcd relations OF amity and peace. For these
manifestations of His favor We owe to Him
who holds our destiny in Ills hands the tribute
OF our grateful devotion. To that mysterious
exercise OF will which has taken from us the
loved and iluStrious citizen who WAS but
lately the head of the nation, we bow in sor-
row and submission. The memory of his eX
allied character, of his noble achievements
and OF his patriotic life, will be treasured Tor.
ever rs "A sacred possession of the whole peo-
ple. The announcement of his death drew
fromforegn governments and peoples tributes
OF sympathy and sorrow which history will
record as signal tokens of the n~hip OF nat
tons and the federation OF mankind.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The feeling of good will between our Gov.
eminent and that of Great Britain was never
more marked than atpreSent. In recognition
of this pleasing fact | directed, on the Occa-
sion OF the late centennial celebration at
Yorktown, that "A salute be given to the Brit
Save tor the correspondence to which
shall refer hereafter in relation to the pro-
posed canal across the lsthmus of Panama,
little has occurred worthy of mention in the
ulp.omatlc relations OF the countries, EarlNm
tie year the Fortune Bay claims were salts
tactorily settled by the British Government
paying in full the sum of $4,000, most OF
which has already been distributed. As the
terms OF the settlement included cOmpensa-
ton for injuries suffered by our fishermen ut
Aspce Bay, there has been retained from
the gross award n sum which is deemed adc-
quate for these claims The participation of
Americans in the exhibitions ut Melbourne
and sydney Will be appropriately mentioned
in the reports of the TWO exhibitions soon to
be presented TO Congress They will disclose
the readiness of our COuntTNmcu to make sue
scessiul competition in distant fields of en-
tetpuse.
Negotiations for an international copyright
convention are in lOppful DrOurps-. The sur
render of Sitting Bullaud MS force upon the Ca.
madam iiontlcr, has allaNed all apprehension,
although bodies of British Indians still cross
the border in quest of sustCnance. Upon this
subject correspondence has been opened
which promises an adequate understanding.
our troops have orders to avoid, meanwhile
all collisions with alien Indians.
The presence at the Yorktown celebration
OF representatives of Lafayette and of his gal
liant COmpatriots who were our allies in the
Revolution has served to strengthen the spr.
il of good will which has always existed be
tween the two nations. You will be furnished
with the proceedings of the Bimetallic Con
ference held during the summer at the city of
Paris No accord was reached, but valuable
interchange OF views was had and the con
ference will next year be renewed.
AT the electrical exhibition and congress,
also held at Paris, this country was credltably
represented by eminent specialists who, in
the absence or an appropriation, generously
lent their efficient aid at the instance OF the
state Department. While our exhibitions in
this almost distmcuvey American field of
achievement have won several awards, rec
meht OF the personal expenses incurred IN
the public interest by the honorary commits
siOncTS ana delegates.
No new questions respecting the status of
our naturalized citizens in Germany have
arisen during the year, and causes OF com
plant, especially in AlsacC and Lorraine have
practically ceased, through the liberal action
OF the imperial government in accepting our
often expressed views on the subject. The
application OF the Treaty of 1868 to the lately
acquired Rhenish provinces has received
very earnest attention. and a definie and
lasting agreement on this point is confidently
expected
TIE participation of the descendants OF
BarOnNon Steuben ia the Yorktown festivities,
ANA their subsequent reception by their
American ldnsmen, evince the ties of good
will which unite the German people and our
own.
our intercourse with Spain has been friend
lY. An agreement concluded in February
last fixes a term for the labors of the Spanish
and American Claims Commission. The span
lsh government has been requested to pay
the late awards of the commission and will,
it Is believed, accede to the request rs
promptly and cOurtcOusly as on former Occa-
sions. BY recent legislation numerous fines
have been imposed upon American shipping
in spanish and colonial ports for slight irreg
ulartCs in manilests.
one case of hardship is specially worthy
of attention. The bark Masonic" bound
for Japan, entered Manila in distress,
and is there forced to lie cOnfiscated under
spanish revenue laws for an alleged shortage
in her tr9nshipped cargo. Though efforts for
her relief have thus far proved unaVailing, it
is expected that the matter will be adjusted in
a friendly spirit
The Senate resolutions of coincidence on the
assination of the Gar Alexander Second were
appropriately communicated to the Russian
Government, which in turn has expressed its
sympathy i'll our late national bereavement.
1t is desirable that our cordial relations with
Russia should be strengthened by proper en-
gagements assuring to peaceable Americans
who visit the Empire the consideration which
is due to them as citizens of a friendly State.
This is especially needful with respect to
American lsraeliteS, whose classification with
the native Hebrews has evoked enerpptip "a.
monstrances from this Government.
consular agreement with Italy has been
sanctioned and proclaimed which puts at
rest the conflicts of jurisdiction in case of
crimes on shipbOard. Several important in
ternational conferences have been held in
Italy during the year. At the Geographical
Congress of Venice, the Bonihcc Congress of
Milan and the Nice Congress of Turin this
country was represented by delegates from
different branches of the public service or by
private citizens duly accredited Tor the pul'.
pose. 1t is hoped Congress will rive such
prominence to the results of their participa-
tiOn as they may seem to deserve
The abolition of all discriminating duties
against colonial productions of the Dutch East
Indies rs are imported hither from Holland
has been already considered by Congress-
trust that at the present session the matter
may be fayorably concluded. The insecurity
of life and property in many parts of Turkey
has given rise to correspondence with the
Porte looking particularly to the better pro
lection of American missionaries in the EN-
pire. The condemned murderer of the en-
inent missionary, DR.. Justin W. Parsons has
not yet been executed, although this Govern
ment had repeatedly demanded that exem-
plary justice be done.
The Swiss Government has solicited the
good offices of our 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
of the authorities of certain communes i'm
permitting the emigration TO this country of
criminals or other Objectionable persons.
Several such persons, through the co-opera.
fion of the Commissioner of Emigration Mt