The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
THE nrATU OF GARFIELD.

States An appalling Calamity uas oo'"''e"
the American people since their CHOSEN repre-
sentstives last met in the halls where you arc
now assembled. We might else recall with
nnalloved content the prosperity with which,
throughout the year, the nation has been Dless
sed It's harvesis have been plenteous, It's vatl'
ed industries have thriven, the health oi the
seople has been preserved. 1t has maintained
with foreign governments the undisturOed re-
lauons of amlty and peace. For these mani
festations of HIS favor, we owe 10 HIM VINO
holds our destiny in His hands the tribute Oh
our grateful devotions. To that mysterious eA'
erc,se of will which has taken from us inc loV'
ed and illustriOus citizen who was but lately
the head of the nation, we bow in sorrow ana
submission. The memory OF his exalted char'
acter, of his noble achievements ana oil MS
pstrlotic life, will be treasured forever AS u
sacred possession of the whole people Inc
announcement of his death drew from foreign
governments and peoples tributes OF sympathy
and sorrow, which history Will record as sig
nal tokens OF the klnship OF nations anu tut
federation of mankind.
GREAT BRITAIN.
The feeling OF good will between our own
government and that Of Great Britain was nev
er more marked than ut present. In rccoghi'
ton of this pleasing fact, directed on the oc'
casion of the late centennial celebration az
Yorktown that salute be given to the British
flag
THE IsTHMUs CANAL
In relation to the proposed canal across inc
Isthmus of Panama, little has occurred worthy
of mention in the diplomatic relations Oh the
country Early In the year the fortune pay
claims we're satisfactorily settled by the BIT
isb government paying in full the sum OIL tlo,-
,c ,yb;ch hua already bppn ulStri Du-
ted As the terms of the settlement included
compensation for injuries suffered by our fish.
ermen at Aspec bay, there has been retained
from the gross award sum which Is deemed
adequate for these claims.
THE AUSTRALIAN EXPOSITION
The participatons OF Americans III Tue eA'
positions at Melbourne and Sidney will he ap'
provlngly mentioned IN the reports OF the Two
exhibitions, soon to be presented to Congress
They will disclose the readiness OF our coun'
trymen to make successful competition in dis
tant fields Of enterprise.
COPYRIGHT.
Negotiations for an international copyright
convention are In hopeful progress
SITTING BULL
The surrender of Sitting Bull and his forces,
upon the Canadian frontier, has allayed all APP
prehension, although bodies of British Indians
btlIl CIOsS iilC uulutA III iuSo' va
Upon this subject correspondence has been
opened which promises an adequate under
standing. Our troops have orders to avoid
meanwhile, all collisions with alien Indians.
THE FRENCH GUESTS.
The presence at the Yorktown celebration OF
the representatives OF the descendants OF La
fayette and of his gallant compatrlots, who
were our allies In the Revolution, has served
10 strengthen the spirit of good will which has
always existed between the two nations.
BIMETALLIC CONFERENCE.
You will be furnished with the proceedings
of the Blmetallic Conference, held during the
summer at the city Of Paris. No accord was
reached but valuable interchange OF views
was had, and the conference will next year be
renewed.
ELECTRICAL EXPOSITION.
At the Electrical Exhibition and Congress,
also held at Paris this country was crediDiy
represented by eminent specialists, who, in the
absence of an appropriation generously lent
their efficient and at the instance OF the state
Department. While our exhibitions In this
almost distinctively American field OF achieve
ment have won several awards, recommend
that congress provide for the repayment OF the
personal expenses incurred in the pubic IN
terest by the honorary commissioners and dele
gates.
No new questions respecting the status OF
OUR NATURALIZED CITIZENS IN GERMANY
have arisen during the year, and causes OF
complaint especially IN Alsace and Lorraine,
have practically ceased through the liberal
action Of the Imperial Government in accept
ing our oftenexpressed views on the subject
The application of the treaty of 1868 to the
lately acquired Rhenish provinces has received
very earnest attention. A definite and lasting
tl,,a Y
ed The participation of the descendants OF
Baron Won Steuben in the Yorktown festivi
ties, and their subsequent reception by their
American kinsmen strikingly evinced the ties
OF good will which unite the German people
and our own. Our
INTERCOURSE WITH SPAIN
has been friendly. An agreement concluded
IN February last fixes term tor the labors Tor
the Spanish and American Claims Commis'
sion. The Spanish government has been re-
quested to pay the late award of the commits
sion, and will, it is believed accede to the re-
quest as promptly and courtcously AS on form
or occasions. BY recent legislation onerous
fines have been imposed upon American snip
ping IN Spanish aud colonial ports for slight
Irregularities in manliests. One case Oh
hardship is specially worthy OF attention. Inc
bark Masonic, bound for Japan entered Ma.
tiscaled under the Spanish revenue laws for
an alleged shortage in her transhipped cargo.
Though efforts for her relief have thus far
proved unavalling, 1t Is expected that the
whole wall he adjusted IN friendly spirit
THE CARS ASSASSINATION.
The senate resolutions of coincidence on the
ASSASSINATION Of the Car Alexander i. were
appropriately communicated to the Russian
government, which IN turn has expressed Its
sympathy IN 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 friendly state.
This is especially needful with respect to
American lsraelites, whose classification with
the native Hebrew has evoked energetic re-
monstrances from this government
ITALY.
The consular agreement with Italy has been
lai "a re