Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

the United States:
An appalling calamity has befa1len the Ameri-
can people since their chosen representatives last
met In the halls where you are now assembled.
We might else recall with unalloyed content the
rare prosperity with which throughout the year
the nat on has been blessed. Its harvests have
been plenteous its varied industries have thriven
the health OF its people has been preserved; 1t has
maintained with foreign governments the undis-
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 tcvot,on.
To that mysterious exercise OF His will which
has taken from us the loved and llusriOus 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 achievements, and of his patriotic life will
De treasured forever as sacred possession OF the
whole people.
The announcement OF his death drew from for
eign governments and peoples tributes of spmpa-
thy ana sorrow which history will record as signal
tokens OF the kinShp OF nations and the fedora
tiOn of mankind.
The feeling OF goodwill between our own govern
ment and that of Great Britain was never more
marked than at present In recognition of this
pleasing fact, directed. on the OCCASION OF the
late centennial celebration at Yorktown, that a
salute be given to the British flag.
save Tor the correspondence to which shall
re1er hereafter in relation to the proposed canal
worthy OF mention in the diplomatic relations OF
the two countries.
Early in the year the Fortune Bay claims were
satisfactorily settled by the British Government
paying in fun the sum OF G15OOO most of which
mas been already distributed. As the terms OF the
settlement Included compensation for injuries
suffered Dy our fishermen at ASpee Bay. there has
Deen retained from the gross award a sum which
is Geemed adequate for those claims.
The participation OF Americans in the exbibi-
lions at Melbourne and Sydney will be- approyipgly
mentioned In the reports of the two exhibitions
s9on , " oe presented 70 Congress. They viii dis
close lne readiness OF our cOuntrymen to make
successful competition ii distant fields OF enter
prise.
Negotiations for an International Copyripht
convention are in hopeful progress.
The surrender of Sitting Bull and his forces lIpon
the canadian frontier has alayed apprehension,
although bodies of British Indians still cross the
border in quest OF sustenance. Upon this subject
correspondence has been opened which promises
an adequlte understanding. Our troops have
orders to avoid meanwhile all collisions With alien
Indians ~ 0
The presence at the Yorktown celebration of rep
reSentatlyeS OF the French Republic and descend
ants of Lafayette and of his gallant cOmpatriOfs
who were our allies In the revolution has served
a9 10 s.rength the spirit of goodwill which has
Always existed between the two nations.
You Will be furnished with the proceedings of
tne @ Bl-metaliie Conference held during the sum
put valuable interchange Of views was had. and
the conference viii next year be renewed
AT n tne EIectrical Exhibition and Congress also
neld at Paris, this country was creditably repre-
sected by eminent specialists who, In the absence
OF an appropriation, generously lent their efcienf
aid at the instance OF the State Department.
While our exhibitors in this almost dstinctiyeIv
american Held OF achievement have won several
x,,uaoie ;i awards, recommend that Congress pro-
vlue lor tne repayment OF the personal expenses
incurred, in the public interest, by the honorary
commissioners and delegates.
NO new questions respecting the status OF our
ndtuidiiAtu citlZehS In Germany have arisen dur
ing the year, and the causes of complaint esne
claly I'D Alsaee and Lorraine, have practically
ceased through the liberal action of the ImneTial
-cn1
Views on the subject The application of tho
treaty OF 1865 to the lately acquired Rhenish prov
InCeS mas received very earnest attention and
oenalte ana lasting agreement on this point is
Sonn1ently expected. The participation OF the
town festivities, and their subsequent reeenton nv
their american kinsmen, strikfngly evfIced the
and our own. p0opio
Our intercourse with Spain has been friendly
An agIeenent concluded in February last fixes a
cns Conmsson iSgo OF Tb rne spanish and American
mas been requested to pay the late awards of that
commission, and viii, it is believed accede to the
OCCASIONS ~ " i0iAA0i
=, BY recent legislation onerous fines have been
rojcn,aI ndrt upu eri9an shipping in Spanish and
tsts one case OF hardship is specially worthy OF
a1,enIi9n; a The bark Masonic, bound for Japan,
De confscated under Spanish revenue laws for an
as aatiescd shortage In her trans-shipped cargo.
Thosh efforts Tor her relief have TINS Tar nrnJad
Inavailing. IL is expected that the whole matter
VIII De adjusted in friendly spirit
Inc senate resolutions OF coincidence on the as
SdsSihatlon OF the Car Alexander H. were annrO
prlateiy communicated to the Russian government
Nhlch,ln turn has expressed its SyInDlthv in onrr
.e h,,tLon Il bereavement 1t is desirable that our
corlai relations With Russia should be Strengthen
ed oy proper engagements, assuring to peaceabIe
Americans who visit the Empire the consideration
Mhcn is Que 10 them citizens OF q friendly state
1hls is especially needful with respect to Aheri.
can israeliteS, whose classification with the native
this government. Aoi1i
supplementary consular agreement with Ita,v
mas Deen sanctioned and proclaimed, which Dufs
Oh ShipbOard. - AN'
Several important International conferences
Ha nav Deeh heid In Italy during the year. At the
geographical Congress OF Venice. the Beneficence
1OhgresS OF Milan, and the Hygienic Congress or
i urih; TINS country was represented by delegates
iioi oidhches OF The public service or by priVate
cltHens duly credited In an honorary cap3eity n
Is hoped that Congress viii give such promine,ce
a 70 .ne issuis of their participation as they NAV
The abolition OF all discriminating duties against
sucn c0Iohtal productions OF the Dutch East indies
as are imported h1ther from Holland has been al
ready considered by Congress. trust that at the
cluded. ~ ~ "oi1 eon-
The insecurity OF life and property IN manv
parts OF Turkey has given rise to CORRESPONDENTS
VIII the Porte, looking particularly to the better
k,oeeCuon OI American missionaries I'm the emDire
ihe Sondefnned murderer OF the eminent mission
ary Dr Justin w. Parsons has not VET been eye
demanded tSsf ta,s government has repeatedly
IIe SWlsS Government has again sOltcfta6 tho
Eoo0 oHeeS OF our diplomatic and cOnsuIar anont0
ior the projection OF its citizens in Countries bnr
Is not Itself represented. This renueSt hns
WITHIN ni1n proper limits, been granted. mas
OuI agents In switzerland have been instructed
paotest against the conduct OF the AUTHORITIES of
esi.n si coHmunes In permitting the emigration 70
tnis country OF criminals and other obfectionahio
Relsons. Rs several such persons, through the cn
VVpeIa1on oi the Commissioners OF EmfGration -,
~ ioIs, nave Deen sent back by the taarnore ~
when Drought them continuance or th'S cnn
May prove more efIectu.l remedy than az se
matte remOnstrance 'nan upiO-
IreateS or commerce and navigation ana Orr,
the Ieg uiau0n OF consular privileges have ha lUn
cohciUied with houmanil and SeFyia sjnca taI
aoniSslOh INTO the family OF European states ''o"
AS IS natural with contiguous States havtnr ,,,,
INSTITUTIONS aud like aims OF advancement, I'M I'm,
oeveiOpMent, tue friendship OF the United Statnu
ana Mexico has been constantly msintafnot
IhlS government has lost nc occasion on cncnnr
aging the Mexican Government TO a hepeficiaI
IeanZatlon or the mutual advantages which viii
IeSult from more intimate commercial inter
c2erse, ana from the opening OF the rich interior
vi MeNico 10 railway enterprise. I deem IL i'm
Por,ant mat means be provided TO restrain the
Iawlessness unfortunately so common on the
HUntler, ana 10 suppress the forayS or the resar
yatlon Indians ON either side Of tho Dc
Grande. " 'ie A1o
The neighboring states Of Central America have
1estIst0 ihttfnai peace, and their outward re-
Iatons towards us have been those OF intirnata
friendship. There are encouraging stons or dho;r
rfFsr. .l-Ee2