The Portland daily press., 1881-12-07
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

loyed content the rare prosperity with Wulcn
throughout the year the nation has been
blessed. Its harvests have been plenteous; its
varied industries have thriven; the health OF
its people has been preserved; it has main
tanned with foreign governments the undls-
turbed 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 emotions To that mysterious
exercise of His will which has taken from rs
the loved and illustrious citizen who was but
lately the head of the nation, we bow in sor-
row and submission. The memory of his ex-
alted character. of his noble achievements and
of his patriotic life will be treasured forever as
a sacred possession of the whole people, The
announcement of his death drew from foreign
governments and peoples tributes OF sympathy
and sorrow which history will record as signal
tokens Of the kinship of nations and the feder-
alton of mankind.
RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN.
The feeling of good will between our own
government and that of Great Britain was
never more marked than at present. In rec
ognition of this pleasing fact directed on the
occasion of the late centennial celebration at
Yorktown that salute be given to the British
flag. Save for the correspondence to which l
shall refer hereafter, in relation to the pro-
posed canal across the Islhmus of Panama
little has occurred worthy of mention in the
diplomatic relations of the two countries.
Early in the year the Fortune Bay claims were
SATISFACTORILY SOlVeu Dy INC DritlSh RoNoru-
ment's paying in full the sum of fl5.000, most
of which has been already distributed. As
the terms of the settlement included the
compensation for injuries suffered by our
fishermen at Gaspe Bay, there has
been retained from the gross award, sum
which is deemed adequate for those claims.
The participation of Americans in the exhibi-
tions at Melbourne and Sydney will be approv-
ingly mentioned in the reports OF the two ex-
hibitons soon to be presented to Congress.
They will disclose the readiness OF our coun-
trymen to make successful competition IN dis
tant fields of enterprise.
Negotiations for an International Copyright
Convention are in hopeful progress.
The surrender of Sitting Bull and his forces
upon the Canadian frontier has allayed appre-
hension, although bodies of British Indians
still cross the border in quest of sustenance.
Upon this subject correspondence has been
opened which promises an adequate under
standing Our troops have orders TO avoid,
meanwhile, all collisions with alien Indians.
The presence at the Yorktown celebration of
Representatives of republican descendants
of Lafayette and his gallant COM
patriots who were our allies in the
Revolution, has served to strengthen the spirit
of good will which has always existed between
the two nations.
You will be furnished with the proceedings of
the b-metallic conference held during the
summer at Paris. No accord was reached, but
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 creditably rep
resented by eminent specialists, who, In the abb
sence of an appropriation, generously lent their
efficient aid at the instance OF the State De-
partment while our exhibitors in this almost
distinctively American field of achievement,
have won several valuable awards recon-
mend that Congress provide for the repayment
of their personal expenses incurred in the pub
lie interest by the honorary commissioners and
delegates.
GERMANY.
Nonew questions respecting the status of
our naturalized citizens in Germany have
arisen during the year, and causes OF COM
plaint, especially in Alsace and Lor-
raine, have practically ceased, through
the liberal action of the imperial government
in accepting our often pressed views on the
ssbject. The application of the treaty OF 1868
to the lately acquired Rhenish provinces has
received very earnest attention. A definite
and lasting agreement on this point is conf
dently expected. The participation of the de-
scenoants of Baron Won Steuben at the York.
town festivities, and their subsequent reception
by their American kinsmen, strlkingly evinced
the ties of good will which unite the German
people and our own.
SPAIN.
". An agreement concluded in February last
fixes a term for the labors of the Spanish and
American claims commission. The Spanish
government has been requested to pay the late
awards OF that commission, and will, 1t is be-
lieved, accede to the request as promptly ana
courteously as on former occasions. BY recent
legislation onerous fines have been imposed
upon American shipping IN Spanish and colo
NAL ports for slight Irregularities IN manlfests
Que case of hardship is especially worthy OF
no ha.k hound IapaD
entered Manila in distress and is there soaght
to be confiscated under Spanish revenue laws
for an alleged shortage in her transhlpped car
go Though efforts for her relief have thus far
proved uuavailing, 1t is expected that the
whole matter will be adjusted in friendly
spirit.
RUSSIA.
The Senate resolutions of coincidence on the
assassination of the Gar Alexander were
appropriately communicated to the Rus
sian government, which, in turn, has
expressed its sympathy in our late nation
al bereavement. Ii is desirable that our
cordial relations with Russia should be strength
ened by proper engagements assuring to peace
able Americans who visit the Empire the con-
sideration which is due to them as citizens of q
friendly State. This is especially needful with
respect to American Israelites, whose cassiti-
cation with the native Hebrews has evoked en-
ergetic remonstrances from this government.
ITALY.
A supplementary consular agreement with
italy has been sanctioned and proclaimed,
which puts at rest conflicts of jurisdiction in
the case of crimes on shipboard. Several i'm
portant International conferences have been
held in Italy during the year. AT the geo.
graphical Congress of Venice, the benehclent
Congress of Milan and the hyglenic Congress
of Turin, this country was represented by dele
gates from branches Of the public service or by
private citizens duly accredited in an honorary
capacity. 1t is hoped that Congress will give
such prominence to the results of their partici-
patton as they may seem to deserve.
TURKEY.
The abolition of all discriminating duties
against such colonial production of the Dutch
East Indies as are imported hither from Hol-
land has been already considered by Congress
trust that at the present session the matter
may be favorsbly concluded. The insecurity
of life and property in many parts OF Turkey
has given rise TO correspondence with the porte,
looking particularly TO the better protection OF
American missionaries in the empire. The
condemned murderer of the eminent missona-
ry, Mr. j. w. Parsons, has not yet been exc
cuted, although this government has re peated-
ly demanded that exemplary justice be DONE
The Swiss government has solicited the good
offices OF our diplomatic and consular agents
for the protection of its cilizens in countries
where it is not itself represented. The re quest
SWITZERLAND.
Our agents in Switzerland have been in
structed to protest against the conduct of the
authorities of certain Communes in permitting
the emigration to this country of criminals and
other Objectionable persons. Several such
persons through the cooperation OF the COM
missioners OF emigration at New York have
been sent back by the steamers which brought
them. A continuance Of this course may prove
a more effectuai remedy than diplomatic re-
monstrance.
Treaties of commerce and navigation and for
the regulation of consular privileges have been
concluded with ROumania and Servia since
their admission into the family of European
States.
MEXICO.
AS is natural with contiguous States having
like institutions and like aims of advancement
and development, the friendship of the United
States and Mexico has been constantly main
talned. Ibis government has lost no occasion
OF encouraging the Mexican government to a
beneficial realization of The mUtu advantage
which will result from more intimate CONNER
cial Intercourse and from the opening OF the
rich interior of Mexico 10 railway enterprise.
deem it important that means be provided TO
restrain the lawlessness unfortunately SO COM
mon on the frontier, and to suppress the forays
of the reservation Indians on either side Of the
Rio Grande.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
The neighboring States of Central America
have preserved internal peace, and their out