St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-12-17

been concluded with Roumania and servia
since their admission into the family of Eu-
rOpean states. AS is natural with contiguous
states having like institutions and like aims
OF advancement and development, the friend
constantly maintained. The Government has
lost no occasion of encouraging the Mexican
Governments to beneficial realization of the
mutua! advantages which will result from
more intimate commercial intercourse, and
from the opening of the rich interior of Mex
leo to railway enterprise. l deem it impOr-
tant that means be provided to restrain the
iawlessness unfortunately so common OH the
frontier, and to suppress the forays of the res
ervation flndians on either side of the Rio
Granue.
The neighboring States of Central America
have preserved international peace, and their
outward relations toward us have been those
OF Intimate friendship. There are encourag-
ing signs OF their growing disposition to sub.
ordinate their local interests to those which
are common to them by reason of their geo
graphical relations. The boundary dispute
between Guatemala and Mexico has afforded
this Government an opportunity to exercise
its good offices for preventing a rupture be-
tween those States, and for procuring peace
full solution of the question. cherish strong
with both countries our efforts will meet with
success.
The Costa Rican Government lately formed
an engagement with Colombia for settling by
arbitration the boundary question between
these countries, providing that the post of ar
bitrator shonld be offered successfully to the
King of the Belgians.. the King of Spain and
the President OF the Argentine Confederation.
The King of the Belgians has consented to
act, but am not as yet advised of the action
of the King of Spain. AS we have certain in
terests in the disputed territory which are
protected by our treaty engagement with one
OF the pacts, it is important that the arbitra
ton should not, without our consent, affect
our rights, and this Government has accord
to the parties to the agreement as well as
ito intimate them to the Belgian Government.
The questions growing out of the proposed
inter oceanic water. way across the Isthmus
of Panama are OF grave national Importance.
This Government has not been unmindful of
the solemn obligations imposed upon it by its
compact of ls.6 with Colombia. the independ-
aent and sovereign mistress of the territory
crossed by the canal, and has sought to rem
der them effective by fresh engagements with
the Colombian Republic, looking to their
end, after they had reached what appeared to
be mutually satisfactory solution here, were
met in Colombia by a disavowal of the power
which its envoy had assumed, and by pro
pOsal for renewed negotiation on modified
basis. Meanwhile this Government learned
that Colombia had proposed to the European
Powers to join in guarantee of the neu
guarantee which would be in direct
contravention of our obligation as the
sole guarantee of the integrity of Colombian
tefTlCOry, anu Oh the nouCTdllly OF Inc canal
itself. My lamented predecessor felt it his
duty to place before the European powers
the reasons which make the prior guarantee
of the United States Indispensable, and for
which the interjection of any foreign guaran-
tee might be regarded as Il superfiuous and
unfriendly act. Foreseeing the probable re-
lance of the British Government on the pro-
visions of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty of 1850,
as affording room for a share in the guaran-
tees which the United States covenanted
with Colombia four years before, have not
hesitated to supplement- the action of my
predecessor V proposing to her Majesty's
Government the modification OF that inStru
ment and the abrogation of snch clauses
thereof as do not comport with the obliga
lions of the United States toward Colombia or
with the vital needs of the the two friendly
parties to the compact.
This Government sees with great concern
the continuance of the hostile relations be-
tween Chilli, Bolivia and Peru. An early
peace between these republics is much to be
desired, not only that they may be spared
further misery and bloodshed, but because
their continued antagonism threatens con-
gerous to the interests of republican govern
ments and calculated to destroy the best ele-
ment of our free and peaceful civilization. AS
in the present excited condition OF popular
feeling in these countries there has been Sc
rious misapprehensions OF the position of the
United States. and as separate diplomatic in
tercourse with each through independent
is sometimes subject, owing to the
want of prompt reciprocal communication, to
misunderstanding, have deemed
it judicious at the present time to send a spe-
cial envoy accredited to all and each OF them,
furnished with general instructions which
will, / trust, enable them to bring these pow
ers into friendly relations.
The Government of Venezuela maintains its
attitude with great regularity in its payment
of the monthly quota of the diplomatic debt.
Without suggesting the direction in which
Congress could act, l ask attention to the
pending questions affecting the distribution
IF has Inn for relations
Venezuela and France growing out
of the same debt have been for SOM time
past in an unsatisfactory state, and this Gov
as the neighbor and one OF the
largest creditors of Venezuela has interposed
Itself since with the French Government. with
the view of producing friendly and hon )ra-
BILE adjustment.
I regret that the commercial interests be-
tween the United States and Brazil, from
which great advantages were hoped year
ago, have suffered from the withdrawal of the
lines of communication between
the Brazilian ports and our own. Through
the efforts of our Minister resident at Buenos
Ayres and the United States Minister at San
tiago, a treaty has been concluded between
of the long pending Patagonian boundary
question. 1t is matter of congratulation
that our Government has been afforded the
of successfully exerting its good
influence for the prevention of disagreements
between the republics of the American Con-
tinent.
/ am glad to inform you that the treaties
lately negotiated with China have been duly
ratified on both sides, and the exchange made
at Picking. Legislation is necessary to carry
the provisions into effect. The prompt and
friendly spirit with which the Chinese Gov !
at the request of the United States. !
conceded the modification of existing
treaties should secure careful regard for the
interests and susceptibiiities of that Govern
ment in the enactment OF any laws relating to
Chinese immigration.
Those clauses of the treaties which forbid
the participation of citizens or vessels of the
United States in the opium trade will doubt.
ess receive your approval. They will attest
The sincere interest which our people and
Government feel in the commendable efforts
If the Chinese Government to put a stop to
his demoralizing and destructive traffic. In
relation both to China and Japan some
changes are desirable in our present system
If jurisdiction. hope at some future time to
ay before you scheme for its improvement
n the entire East.
The intimacy between our country and ia