Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-12-08
By National Associated Press.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

|
10 the Senate and House of. Representatives of
the United States:
A appalling calamity has befallen this Ameri-
an people since their chosen representatives last
net in the hall where you are now assembled.
might else recall with unalloyed content the
prosperity with which throughout the year
he nation has been blessed. Its harvests have |
been plenteous, its varied industries have thirty
n; the health Of its people has been preserved;
t has maintained with foreign governments the
relations ofamity and peace. For these
manifestations of His favor we owe to HIM who
holds our destiny in His hands the tribute of our
grateful deyotiess. To that mysterious exercise
Of will which has taken from Us the
LOVED ASD iLLusTRIous CITIZEN
who was but lately the head Of the nation, we bow
u sorrow and submission: The memory of his
exalted character, OF his noble achievements, and
Of his patriotic life will be treasured forever as u
sacred possession of the whole people. The an
neuncement of his death drew from foreish gov
and people tributes of SYMPATHY and
tokens of the kinship of nations and the fedora
tiof OF mankind.
Foreign Relations.
The feeling Of good will between our own gov
more marked than at present In recognition of
this pleasing fact, l directed, on the occasion of
the late centennial celebration at Yorktown,
that n salute be given TO the British flag.
Save for the correspondence to which l shall
refer hereafter, in relation to the proposed canal
across the Isthmus of Panama. little has occurred
worthy of mention in the diplomatic relation of
the country. Early in The year the Fortune Bay
claims Nete satisfactorily settled by the British
paving in fun the sum of $1,000,
most of which has already been distributed. Al
tie terms of the settlement included compensa-
ton for the injuries suffered by our fisherman at
Aspee Bay, there has been retained from the gross
a sum which is deemed adequate for these
claims. The participation of Americans in the
exhibition at Melbourne and Sydney win be ap-
provingly mentioned in reports OF the two ex-
hibitiens soon to be presented to congress. They
will disclose the readiness of our countr ymen to
make successful competition in distant fields of
enterprise. Negotiations for an
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT
are in hopeful prosress.
The presence at the yorktown celebration of
representatives of the French Republic and de-
of Lafayette and his gallant compatri-
served to strengthen the spirit of good will which
has always existed between the two nations.
You will be furnished with the proceeding of the
bi-meisliic conference held during the summer
at the city of Paris. No accord was reached, but
a valuable interchange of views was had, and the
conference will next year be renewed. At the
ELECTRICAL EXHIBITION.
and congress, also held at Paris, this country was
who, in the absence of an appropriation, gen
erously lent their efficient aid at the instance Of
the State Department. While our exhibitions in
this almost distinctiyely American field of
achievement have won several awards, Irecom-
mend that congress provide tor the repayment of
the personal expenses incurred in the public in
terest by the honory commissioners and delegates.
No new questions respecting the status of our
CENTRALIZED CITIZENS IN GERMANY.
have arisen during the year, and causes of com
plant. especially in A1saee and Lauraine, 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. A
-G~.A .-I A-frp am ant an htg rntp -
confidently expected. The participation of the
descendants of the
BARON Won sTEUgEN
in the Yorktown festivities, and their subsequent
reception by their American kinsmen, evinced
the ties of coed viii which unite the German
people and our own.
Onrintercourse with Spain has been friendly
An agreement ended iniFebruary last fixes Il term
for the labors of the Spanish and American claims
commission. The Spanish government has been
requested to pay the late awards of the commits
sion, and will. il is believed. accede 10 the request
as promptly and c~ourteonsly as on former occa
sions. BY recent legislation onerous fines have
been imposed upon American shipping in Spanish
and colonial ports for slight irregularities i'll the
One case of hardship is specially worthy o
attention, The bark Masonic bound fol-
Japan, entered Manila in distress and is there
made to lie eonfiseated under Spanish revenue
laws for an alleged shortage in her transhipped
cargo. Though efforts for her relief have thus fal
proved unavailing, it is exected that the whole
| NIL pt hUJusitd IL u iiitltiy split
RESOLUTIONS OF CoSpoLESCE.
on the assassination of the Car Alexander II
were appropriately communicated to the Russian
government. which in turn has expressed It's
sympathy in our late national bereavement. 1t il
| desirable that our cordial relations with Russia
should be strengthened by proper engagements
assuring to peaceable Americans who visit th,
Empire the consideration which is due to them
as citizens of a friendly state. This is especial,
needful with respect to American 1sraelites
whose classification with the native Hebrews ha
evoked energetic remonstrances from this gov
eminent
A consular agreement with Italy has beef
sanctioned and proclaimed which puts al rest tn,
conflicts of jurisdiction in case of crimes OIL
shiphoard. Several important International con
ferences have been held In Italy during tn
Year. At the geographical congress of Venice
the Bonifce congress at Milan and the Nee con
gress of Turin this country was represented b,
delegates from branches OF the public service O
by private citizens duly accredited for the puI
pose. 1t is hoped congress will give such prom
inence to the results of their participation 4
they may seem to deserve. The abolition Of a
DISCRIMINATING DUTIES
against Dutch colonial productions of the Dutc
East Indies as are imported hither from Hollan
has been already considered by congress. | tru'
that at the present session the matter may lie !.
vorably concluded,
The insecurity of life and property in man
parts of Turkey has given rise to correspondent
with the Porte, looking particularly to the beute
protection of American missionaries in the En-
pire. The condemned murderer of the eInincr
missionary, DIR. Justin W. Parsons, has not VI
been executed, although the government III
repeatedly demanded that exemplary justice /
done
THE SWISS GOVERNMENT
has solicited the good offices of our diplomat
and consular agents for the protection OF its eli
zens in countries where il is not itself repr
scented. This request has, within proper linli
been granted. Our agents in Switzerland hav
been instructed to protest against the authorlti
of certain communes in permitting the emigratit
to this country of criminal or other objectl0nab
/ persons. several such persons, through De G.
operation of the commissioner OF emigration
l New York, have been sent back by the steam
which brought them. A continuance of tn
course may prove a more efficient remedy tbs
diplomatic remonstrauce. Treaties of commer
and navigation and for the regulation of consul
privileges have been concluded with Rouman
and Servia since their admission into the fami
= of European states. As Is uatura! with contis
Gus states having like institutents and like air
of advancement and development, the friendsh
of the United states and
MEXICO
have been constantly maintained. The Cover
/ meat has lost no occasion OF encouraging Il
Mexican government to q beneficial realization
the mutual advantages which Will result fro
. more intimate commercial intercourse and fro
the opening OF the rich interior of Mexi
for railway enterprise: | deem it importa
that means be provided to restrain the la
nessness unfortunately SO common on Il
%ervation Indians on eithe slider OF the r
Grande.
The neigboring states of
~, CENTRAL AMERICA
have preserved international peace and tn.
= outward relations towards us have been those
| intimate friendship. There are encouragil
signs of their growing disposition to subordina
their local interests to those which are CONNIE
. to them by reason of their geographical relation
! The boundary dispute between Guatemala a,
Mexico has offered this government an opport
nifty to exercise its good offices for preventing
: rupture betweent these states and for procurinf
peaceful solution of the question, l cheri
q strong hope, in view of our relations of ami
with both countries.
COSTA RIGA.
The Costa Riea government lately formed
engagement with Colombia for settling by ar
frnlinn the boundary unestinn hefNYpen thu