Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, D. c., December 6.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives of
the United States:
An appalling calamity has befallen the Amer
ican people since their chosen representatives
last met IL the halls where you are now as.
sembled. We might else recall with unalloyed
content the prosperity with which throughout
the year the nation has been blessed. Its
harvests have been plenteot1s; It's varied indus
tries have thriven; the health of its people has
been preserved; it has maintained with foreign
governments the undisturbed relations Of amity
and peace. For these manifestations Of His
favor We owe to Him who holds our destiny in
His hands the tribute Of our grateful devotions.
To that mysterious exercise of will which has
taken from US the loved and illustri0us citizen
who was but lately the head Of the nation, we
bow in sorrow and submission. The memory
of his exalted character, Of his noble achieve
ments and of his patriotic life, will be treasured
forever as sacred possession Of the whole peo-
pie. The announcement of his death drew
from foreign governments and peoples tributes
of sympathy and sorrow which history will re-
cord as signal tokens of the kinship of nations
1NTER-ocEAN1c CANAL.
Save for the correspondence to which I shall
refer hereafter in relation to the proposed canal
across the Isthmus of Panama, little has oc.
Cured worthy of mention in the diplomatic
relation of the country.
FORTUNE BAY CLAIMS.
Early in the year the Fortune Bay claims
were satisfactorily settled by the British govern
ment's paying in full the sum Of 915, 1000, most
Of which has already been distributed, as the
terms of the settlement included compensation
for injuries suffered by our fishermen at Aspec
Bay. There has been retained from the gross
award a sum which is deemed adequate for
these claims.
GREAT BRITAIN.
The feeling of good will between our own
government and that Of Great Britain was never
more marked than at present. On the recog-
milton of this pleasing fact, directed, on the
occasion of the late centennial celebration at
Yorktown that a salute be given to the British
flag.
The insecurity of life and property in many
parts of Turkey has given rise to correspond
ence with the porte, looking particularly to the
better protection OF American missionaries in
| the Turkish empire. The condemned murderer
of the eminent missionary, DR.. Justin W. Par
son, has not yet been executed, although this
| government has repeatedly demanded punish
ment.
| THE DUTCH COLONIES.
| The abolition of all discriminating duties
against the Dutch colonial productions of the
Holland has been already considered by con-
gress and trust that at the present session
the matter may be favorably concluded.
WITH GERMANY.
No new questions respecting the status Of our
| naturalized in Germany have arisen during the
year, and causes of complaint especially in Al
| SAGE and Lorraine have practically ceased,
through the liberal action of the imperial gov
eminent in accepting our often expressed views
of 1868 to the lately-acquired Rhenish provinces
has received very earnest attention, and q def
mite and lasting agreement on this point is con-
fdently expected. The participation of the
descendants of Baron Won Steuben in the York
town festivities and their subsequent reception
the good will which unite the German people
and our own.
Our intercourse with Spain has been friendly.
An agreement concluded in February last fixes
q term for the labors for the Spanish aud Amer
ican claims commission. The Spanish govern
ment has been requested to pay the late awards
of the commission and will, it is believed, &C.
cede to the request as promptly and courteous.
onerous fines have been imposed upon Amer
ican shipping in Spanish and colonial
ports for slight irregularities in manifests
One case of hardship is specially worthy OF
attention. The bark MasOnica bound fol
Japan, entered Manila in distress and is there
sought to be con6scated under the Spanish
revenue laws for an alleged shortage in he1
transhipped cargo. Though tho efforts for hel
relief have thus far proved unavailing it is ex'
pected that the whole will be adjusted in 8
friendly spirit.
| WITH RUSSIA.
The senate reso lutions of coincidence on thu
assassination of the Gear Alexander Second
sian government, which in turn has expressed
its sympathy in our late national bereavement
It is desirable that our cordial relations will
Russia should be strengthened by proper en-
gagements, assuring to peaceable American
who visit the empire the consideration which il
due to them as citizens Of friendly state
This is especially needful with respect to Amer
lean Israelites whose classification with the ma
tive Hebrews has evoked energetic remon
strancss from this government.
WITH ITALY.
The consular agreement with Italy has beel
sanctioned and proclaimed which puts at res
the conflict of jurisdiction in the case Of crime
on shipboard. Several important internationa
conferences have been held in Italy during tn
year. At the geographical congress-, and a
Turin, this country was represented by dele
gates of branches of the public scr
vice or by private citizens duly accredited IN al
honorary capacity. It is hoped that congress
will give such prominence to their participation
as they may seem to deserve.
SWITZERLAND AND HER CRIMINALS.
The Swiss government has solicited the goot
for the protection of its citizens in countries
where it is not itself represented. The reques
has within proper limits been granted. Ou1
agents in Switzerland have been instructed tx
protest against the conduct Of the authorities
of certain communes in permitting the emigra
ton to this country Of criminal and other oh
jectionable PERSONS Several such persons
of emigration at New York, have been sem
back by the steamers which brought them.
continuance of this course may prove q more
effective remedy than diplomatic remonstranee
| RoUMAN1A AND sERv1A.
Treaties Of commerce and navigation, anG
for the regulation Of consular privileges have
been concluded with Romania and Servia, who
since their admission into the family of Euro
pean states, as is natural with contiguous states
have like institutions and like aims of advance
ment and development.
The friendship Of the United States and Mex
leo has been constantly maintained. The gov
ernment has lost no occasion Of encouraging
the Mexican government to beneficial realiza
ton of the mutual advantages which will result
from more intimate commercial intercours,
and from the opening of the rich interior O.
Mexico to railroad enterprise. I deem it i'm
portant that means be provided to restrain tn
1awlessness unfortunately 80 common on th'
frontier and to suppress the forages Of tn
reservation Indians on either side Of the Ri,
Grande.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
The neighboring states of Central America
have preserved internal peace, and their out
ward relations toward US have been those o
intimate friendship. There are encouraging
signs of their growing disposition to suberdinat
their local interests to those which are common
to them by reason Of their geo
graphical relations. The boundary Gts
pute between Guatemala and Mexic
has offered this government an opportunity t
exercise its good Offices for preventing rup
ture between those states and for procuring