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

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
want of prompt reciprocal communication, to
temporary Misunderstanding, have deemed it
judicious at the present time to send a 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, 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
state, and this government, as
the neighbor 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.
I regret that the commercial interests be-
tween the United States and Brazil from which
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 aud the Uni
ted States minister Santiago at treaty has been
concluded between the Argentine Republic and
Chill disposing of the long pending Patagoaian
boundary question. It is matter Of congratu,
the opportunity of successfully exerting it's good
influence for the prevention of disagreements
between the republics of the American CONT
nent.
WITH CHINA.
I am glad to inform you that the treaties late
" negotiated with China have been duly rati-
fed on both sides and the exchange made at
visions into effect. The prompt and friendly
manner in which the Chinese government at
the request of the United States conceded the
modification of treaties should secure careful
regard for the interests and suscepti-
bilities of that government in the enact
ment of any laws relating to Chinese
immigration. These clauses of the treaties
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 conlmendable ef-
forts of the Chinese government to put stop
to this demoralizing and destructive traffic. In
relation both to China and Japan, some changes
are desirable in our present system of consulate
lay before you 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. 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 effecting change. So remarha-
h o@> 1o<S
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
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 as regularly
shipped seaman on board an American mer.
chant vessel, Ross was subject to the laws ot
the service and to the jurisdiction of the United
States consul and authorities. renew the rec
ommendation which has been heretofore urged
by the executive upon the attention of congress
that after the reduction of such amount as may
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 tt
the governments of those countries.
SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The king of Hawaii, in the course of hi
homeward return after a journey around tn
world, has lately visited this country. Whil
our relations with that kingdom are friendly
this government has viewed with con
! Germ the efforts to seek replenishmen
of the diminishing population Of til
| island from outward sources to degree whicl
may impair the native sovereignty and inde
pendence, in which the United States was arnon
the first to testify lively interest.
VARIOUS NATIONS.
Relations of unimpaired unity have bee
maintained throughout the year with the re
| Belgium, Denmark, Hayti, Paraguay, Uraguay
Portugal, Sweden and Norway, and this ma
also be said of Greece and Ecuador. Althoug
our relations with these latter states have fo
some years been severed by the withdrawal O
| appropriations for diplomatic representatives q
Athens and Quito, it seems expedient to re
| store those missions, even on q reduced scale
and I decidedly recommend such course
especially with respect to ECUADOR, which
likely within the near future to play an impol
tant part among the nations Of the Southern
| Pacific.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
| The participation of Americans in the exhb
| ions at Melbourne and Sydney will be approx
| ingly mentioned in the reports of the two exhi
bitions soon to be presented to congress. The
will disclose the readiness of our countrymen
make successful competition in distant fields o
enterprise.
COPYRIGHTS.
Negotiations for an International copyrigh
| convention are in hopeful progress.
INDIANS.
The surrender of Sitting Bull and his fore
upon the Canadian frontier has allayed all an
prehension, although British Indians still eros
the border in quest of sustenance. Upon thi
subject o correspondence has been opened whicl
promises an adequate understanding. Gu
troops have orders to avoid, meanwhile, all col
isiOns with alien Indians.
YORKTOWN CELEBRATION.
The presence at the Yorktown celebration o
representatives of the republican descendant
| Of Lafayette and of his gallant compatriots
| who were our allies in the revolution, ha
| served to strengthen the spirit of good vii
which has always existed between the two ma
| tions.
BI-METALLIC CONGRESS-.
You will be furnished with the proceedings o
| the bi-metallic conference held during the sum
| mer at the city of Parls. No accord was reached
but q valuable interchange of views was ha
| and the conference will next year be renewed
ELECTRICAL EXHIBITION.
At the electrical exhibition and congress, ais
held at Paris, this country was creditably repre-
| sented by eminent specialists who, in the al
sence Of an appropriation generously lent thei
efficient aid at tho instance of the state dc
partment. While our exhibitions in this almos
distinctively American field of achievement
have won several awards, 1 recommand ths
congress provide for the repayment of the pei
sonal expenses incurred in the public interef
by the honorary commissioners and delegates.
| NTER-OCEANIC CANAL.
The questions growing out of the propose
inter- oceanic water way across the 1sthmus G
Panama are of grave national importance
This government has not been unmindful c
the solemn obligations imposed upon it by il
compact of 1886 with Colombia as the inde
pendent and sovereign mistress of the ter1itor
crossed by the canal, and has sought to rende
them effective by fresh engagements with til
Colombian republic looking to their practics
execution. The negotiations to this end, afte
they had reached what appeared to be a mutt
ally satisfactory solution here were me
in Colombia by disavowal of the power
which its envoy had assumed and by propos
fer negotiation on modified basis. Meal
while this government learned that Colomb
had proposed to the European powers to join