Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-12-07
MANY SUBJECTS DISCUSSED
The Panama Canal Matter and the Financial
Situation Reviewed.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE STAR ROUTES
Word In Relation to the Mormons-Civii
Service Reform.
WASHINGTON, December 6.

-
In opening his message the President says:
An appalling calamity has befaflen the American
peopIe since their chosen Representatives met
IA the halls where you assembled. We
might also recall. with unaltered content the rare
prosperity with which. throughout the year. the
nation has been blessed Its harvests have been
plsuteous its various industries have thriven the
health OF the people has been preserved, it has
maintained with foreign governments the undis-
turbed relations of smity and peace. For these
manifestations of His favor owe 10 Him
Who holds our destiny in His hands the tribute of
our grateful devotion. To that mysterious exercise
of HIS will which has taken from us the loved and
Uusrious citizen who but lately the head of the
nation we bow in sorrow and submission. The
memory Of his exalted character Of his noble
achievements and Of his patriotic life will be treas
ured sacred possession of the whole peo-
ME The announcement of his death drew from for
sien governments and peoples tributes Of sympathy
and sorrow, which history will record as signal
tokens of the kinshp of nations and the federation
Of mankind
THE PANAMA CANAL
The President next takes up our foreign relations
and mentions the various nations of the earth with
which we a peace. In regard TO the Panama Ca
nal he says The questions growing out of the pro-
posed intereceanic waterway the Isihmus of
Panama of grave national importance. This gov
erument has not been unmindful of the solemn obl-
cations imposed upon 1t by its compact OF 1876 with
Colombia the independent and sovereign mistress
Of the territory crossed by the canal and has sought
to render them effective by fresh engagements with
the Colombian Republic looking TO their practical
execution. The negotiations to this end, after they
had reached what appeared to be mutually
satisfactory solution here, were met in Colombia
by di.avowal of the powers which its envoy had
assumed and by proposal for renewed negoiia-
lion a modified basis Meanwhile this gov
srument learned that Colombia had proposed to
the European powers to join in a guarantee of the
neutrality of the proposed Panama Canal-a guaran-
tee which would be in direct contravention of our
Obligation the sole guGran;or of the integrity of
Colombian territory and of the neutrality of the
canal dselL My lamented predecessor feit 1t his
duty to place before the European powers the
which make the prior guarantee of
the United States indispensable and for which
the interjection of any foreign guarantee might
be regarded superiuous and unfriendy
ac. Foreseeing the probable reliance of the British
government the provisions of the Clayton Bulwer
treaty of 1soo affording room for share In the
guarantee which the United States covenanted with
supplement the action of my predecessor by propos-
ing to her Msjesty's government the modification of
thereof as dc not eomport with the obligations of the
United States towards Colombia with the vital
needs Of the two friendly parties to the compact.
SPECIAL ENVOY.
This government sees with great concern the oon-
tinuanoe Of the hostile relations between Chill. Bo-
hvis and Peru An early peace between these Re
publics is much TO be desired not only that they may
themselves be spared further misery and boodshed
but because their continued agonism threatens
sequences which are in my judgment dangerous to
pent. and calculated to destroy the best elements
of our free and peaceful civilization As In
the present excited condition of popular feel
ing in these countries there has been
rious misspprehenson OF the position of the
United States and as separate diplomatic intercourse
with each through independent Ministers is some
times subject-Owing to want of prompt reciprocal
conmunication-to temporary misunderstanding.
have deemed il iudcious at the present time TO send
special envoy, accredited to all and each of them
and furnished with general instructions, which WILL
trust enable him to bring these powers into friendly
relations The President while still upon the sub
jec of foreign relations regrets that the commercial
interests between the United States and Brazil.
from which great advantages were hoped a year
ago have suffered from the withdrawal of the
American steamers. Regarding China and Japan he
says: renew the Recommendation which has been
heretofore urged by the Executive upon the aiten-
ton of Congress. that after the reduction of such
amount may be found due to American citizens
the balance of the indemnity funds heretofore ob-
tanned from China and Japan. and which are now in
the hands of the State Department. be returned to
the governments of those countries The President
recommends the restoration OF missions in Greece
and Ecuador and invites the attention of Congress
code of international rules for the preveu
ton OF collisions on the high seas
THE FINANCIAL SITUATION.
The President says that the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury represents in detail
o highly satisfactory exhibit of the state of the
finances and the condition of the various branches
Of the public service administered by that de-
partmeut The increase of the revenues for 1851
over those of the previous year SO 352 90l TO- 1t
is estimated that the receipts during the present fs
cal year will reach si0O coo and the expenditures
$40 goo co.. leaving surplus Of $50 0Oo0OO applica-
Bile to the sinking fund and the redemption of the
public debt. approve the Recommendation of the
made for the carly retirement of silver GER
tificaies and that the act requiring their Is
sue be repeaIed They were issued in pur-
suance of the policy of the government to main
tain silver at near the gold standard. and were
accordingly made receivable for all customs. taxes
and public dues. About sixty-sx millions are now
outstanding. They form Unnecessary addition TO
the paper currency. n sufficient amount of which
may be readily supplied by the national banks In
accordance with the act of February IS. Is7s. the
Treasury Department has monthly caused at least
two millions In value OF silver bullion 10 be coined
into standard silver dollars One hundred and two mil
lions of these dollars have been already coined while
only about thirty-four millions in circulation.
For the reasons which he speeches concur IN the
Secretary's recommendation that the provision for
coinage of a fixed amount each month be repealed,
and that hereafter only 20 much be coined As shall
be necessary to supply the demand The Secretary
advises that the issue OF gold certificates should not
for the present be resumed and suggests that the
national banks may properly be forbidden by law to
retire their currency except upon reasonable notice
of their intention to do. Such legislation would
seem be justified by the recent action of certain
han Ks on the occasion referred in the Secrearys
report OF the fifteen millions of fractional currency
still outstanding only about eighty Thousand nave
been redeemed the past year The suggestion ina.
this amount may properly be dropped from future
statements of the public debt seems worthy OF aP-
prevail
The President next speaks of the reiunding opera
lions and says the reduction OF the annual interest on
rie public debt through these transactions Is As i"
lows: By reduction of interest 10 three and one-ai
Der cent, Sl0.E3 952 25; by redemption of bonds.
S. $40; total SIG s26 292 s. The three and one-hai
per centum bonds being payable at the pleasure OF
the government available for the investment oil
surplus revenue without the payment OF premiums
Unless these bonds can be funded at meen
lower rate Of interest than they now BEAR