The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-12-17

eminent has accordingly thought proper to
make its views known to the parties to the
agreement and to intimate them to the Belgian
| government.
SOUTH AMERICA
| This government sees with great concern the
continuance of the hostile situation between
Chill, Bolivia and Peru. An early peace be-
tween those republics is much to be desired, not
| only that they may themselves be spared further
misery and boodshed, but because their con-
tinued antagonism threatens consequences
which are in my judgement dangerous to the
| interest of republican governments on this con-
tlnent, and calculated to destroy the best ele-
ments of our free and peaceful civilization.
! AS in the present excited condition of
| popular feeling in these countries there has
been serious misrepresentation of the position of
! the United States, and as separate diplomatic
| intercourse with each, through independent
ministers, Is sometimes subject, owing to the
! want OF prompt reciprocal communication, to
| temporary misunderstanding, have deemed it
! Judlclous at the present time to send special
! envoy accredited to all and each of them, and
furnished with general instructions which will
enable him to bring these powers into friendly
relations.
The goVernmet of Venezuela maintains its at
! titude of warm friendship and continues with
great regularity its payment of the monthly
| quota of the diplomatic debt. With
out suggestion as to the direction in which
| congress should act, l ask attention TO the
pending question affecting the distribution of
the sums thus far received. The relations be-
tween Venezuela and France, growing out of the
same debt, have been for some time past in an
unsatisfactory state, and this government, as
| the nelghbor and one of the largest creditors of
| Venezuela, has interposed itself since with the
French government with the view of producing
! a friendly and honorable adjustment.
! L 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 American
| lines Of communication between Brazilian ports
| and our own. Through the efforts of our
minister resident at Buenos Ayres and the Uni
| ted States minister Santiago at treaty has been
concluded between the Argentine Republic and
| Chill dispOsing of the long pending Patagonian
boundary question. 1t is matter of congratu-
latlon that our government has been offered
the opportunity Of successfully exerting its good
influence for the prevention of Engagements
between the republics of the American CONT
nent.
WITH CHINA.
! / am glad to inform you that the treaties late
| ly negotiated with China have been duly rati-
fed ION both sides and the exchange made at
Pekng. Legislation is necessary to call its pro-
Visions into effect. The prompt and friendly
| the request of the United States conceded the
I modification of treaties, should secure careful
regard for the interests and suscepti-
bllities of that government in the enact
ment of any laws relating to Chinese
| immigration. These clauses of the treaties
which forbid the participation of citizens or
1 vessels OF the United States in the opium trade
| Will doubtless receive your approval, and they
will attest the sincere interest which our people
and government have in the commendable eff
Of
! to this demorahzing and destructive traffic. In
relation both to China and Japan, some changes
are desirable in our present system of consulate
| jurisdiction. l hope at some future time to
/ lay before you a scheme for its improvement in
| the entire east
| The intimacy between our country and Japan,
| the most advanced of the eastern nations, con-
| tinues to be cordial. I am advised that the
| emperor contemplates the establishment of a
! constitutional government, and that he has al
ready summoned parliamentary congress for
| the purpose Of effectlng change. So remarka-
! bic step toward complete assimilation with
western systems cannot fail to bring Japan to
closer and more beneficial relationship with our
| selves as the chief pacific power. A question
! has arisen in relation to the exercise in that
country of the judicial functions carried on by
our minister and consuls. The indictments,
| trial and conviction in the consular court
| at Yokohama, of John Ross merchant
| seaman on board an American vessel, have
| made it necessary for the government to insti-
tute careful examination into the nature and
methods of this jurisdiction. 1t appeared that
Ross was regularly shipped under the protec-
ton of the United States but was by birth a
British subject. My predecessor felt it his
duty to retain the position that a regularly
shipped seaman board an American mer-
chant vessel, Ross was subject to the laws Of
the service and to the Jurisdiction of the United
Sfnta 1c11la and ant, r 4Io
ommendatiOn which has been heretofore urged
by The executive upon the attention of congress,
that after the reduction of such amount as NAV
be found due to American citizens, the balance
of the indemnities heretofore obtained from
China and Japan, and which are now in the
hands of the state department, be returned to
| the governments of those countries.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The king of Hawaii, in the course of his
homeward return after journey around the
world, has lately visited this country While
our relations with that kingdom are friendly,
this government has viewed with con-
Germ the efforts to seek replenishment
of the diminishing population of the
island from outward sources to degree which
may impair the native sovereignty and indie
pendence, in which the United States was among
the first to testify lively interest.
VARIOUS NATIONS.
Relations of unimpaired unity have been
maintained throughout the year with the re-
| spectIve governments of Austria, Hungary
Belgium, Denmark, Hayti Paraguay, Uruguay,
Portugal, Sweden and Norway, and this NAV
also be said of Greece and Ecuador. Although
our relations with these latter states have for
some years been severed by the withdrawal of
appropriations for diplomatic representatives at
Athens and Quito, it seems expedient to re-
| store those missions, even on reduced scale,
| and decidedly recommend such a course,
| especially with respect to Ecuador, which is
likely within the near future to play an impor-
tant part among the nations of the Southern
Pacific.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
The participation of Americans in the exhibi-
tons at Melbourne and Sydney will be APPROX
ingly mentioned in the reports of the two exhi-
| billions soon to be presented to congress. They
will disclose the readiness of our countrvmen to
| make successful competition in distant fields OF
| enterprise.
| Negotiations for an International copyright
| convention are IN hopeful progress.
| INDIANS.
| The surrender of Sitting Bull and his force
upon the Canadian frontier has allayed all ap-
| prehenslon, although British Indians still cross
| the border IN quest Of sustenance. Upon this
| subject correspondence has been opened which
! promises an adequate understanding Our
troops have orders to avoid, meanwhile, all col
! hslons with ahen Indians.
YORKTOWN CELEBRATION
| The presence at the Yorktown celebration of
representatives of the republican descendants
| of Lafayette and of his gallant compatriots,
VINO were our allies IN the revolution, has
served to strengthen the spirit Of good will
which has always existed between the two ma
| tons.
BI-METAILIC CONGRESS.
Won rrJnI h. II I IL.