Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-12-15
Presidents Message.

! To the Senate and House Of Representatives. of
| the United States:
An appalling calamity has befallen the Ameri-
can people since their chosen representatives last
met in the halls where you are now assembled.
4 We might else recall with unaltered content the
rare prosperity with which throughout the year
the nation has been blessed. Its harvests have
been plenteous. Its various industries have thriv
| en-. The health of its people has been preserved
/ 1t has maintained with foreign governments
! the undisturbed 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 devOtions to that mysteri-
Gus exercise of will which has taken from US
the beloved and iustrious citizen, who
was but lately the head of this
nation We bow in ssrrow-submission. The
memory of his exalted character, of his achieve
ments, and of his patriotic life, will be treasured
forever a sacred possession of the whole people
The announcement of his death drew from for
eign governments and peoples tributes of sympa-
thy and sorrow which history will record as signal
tokens of the kinship of nations and the fedora
tiOn of mankind.
GOOD WILL PREVAILS.
The feeling of good will between our own gov
. ernment and that of Great Britain was never more
marked than at present. In recognition of the
pleasing fact, [ directed, on the occasion of the
late centennial celebration at Yorktown that n
salute be given to the British flag.
OUR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS.
Save for the correspondence, to which 1 shall
refer hereafter, in relation to the proposed canal
across the isthmuS of Panama, little has occurred
worthy Of mention in the diplomatic relations Of
the country. Early in the year the Fortune Bay
claims were salts actorily settled by the British
| government paying in full the sum of $4,000,
most of which has already been distributed, as
the terms of the settlement, which included com
pensaton for injuries suffered by fishermen at
Ashee Bay. There has been retained from the
lo1,
these claims.
CONFERENCE.
The participation of Americans in the exhi-
| bitiOns at Melbourne and Sydney will be ap-
provingly mentioned in the reports of the
two exhibitions soon to be presented to con-
| gress. They will disclose the readiness of our
! countrymen to make a successful competition IN
distant fields of enterprise. Negotiations for an
international copyright treaty are in hopeful
sIsTING BULL.
progress. The surrender of Sitting Bull and his
force upon the Canadian frontier has allayed all
| apprehension, although bodies of British Indians
still cross the border in quest of sustenance. Up
| IN this subject correspondence has been opened
| which promises an adequate understanding. Our
troops have orders to avoid in the meanwhile, all
| collisions with alien Indians.
YORKTOWN,
! The presence at the Yorktown celebration OF
|
| tayette and OF his gallant compatriots, who were
our allies in the revolution has served to strength
en- the spirit of good will which has always exist
! ed between the two nations.
| BIIETALLIc.
You will be furnished with the proceedings oi tho
! ulmetallc conference, held during the summer a.
| 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 al
Paris, this country was eredibly represented by
| eminent specialists who, in the absence of an ap
preparation, generously lent their efficient aid at
the instance of the state department; while our
| exhibition in this almost distinctively American
Held OF achievement has won several awards. l
recommend that congress provide for the re-
payment OF the personal expenses incurred
IN the public interest by the honorary commits
sioners and delegates.
| STATUS OF GERMAN CITIZENS,
| No lew question respecting the status of our
| aatufalized citizens in Germany have arisen dur
| my the past year and the causes of complaint
| especially in Alsace and Lorraine have practically
ceased through the liberal action of the lmperia
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 ami
| definite and lasting agreement on this point is
confidently expected. The participation of the
| descendants Of Baron Won Steuben in the York
| by their American kinsmen, strikingly comedies
with the good will which unites the German people
| with our own.
Our intercourse with Spain has been frien lly
| AID the agreement concluded in February last
! fixes q term for the IabOrS for the Spanish ann
| American claims commission. The Spanish gov
ernment has been requested to pay the late awards
! of the commission and will it is believed accede
! to the request as promptly and cOurteOusly as Oh
former occasions. By recent legislation r0us, a
fine has been imposed upon American shipping in
Spanish and colonial ports, for slight rregulari
/ ties.
| One case of hardship is specially worthy of
mention. The bark Masonca, bound for Japan
| entered Manila in distress and is
THERE SOUGHT TO BE CONFIsCATED
under the Spanish revenue LAYS for an alleged
| shortage in her transhipped cargo. Though eff
forts for her relief has thus far proved unavaing
it is expected that the whole will be adjusted in a
| friendly spirit.
! RUSSIA,
The senate resolutions of coincidence on the
| assassination of the Gar Alexander IL.
were appropriately communicated to the Russian
government, which in turn has expressed its sym
pathy in our late national bereavement. 1t is
desirable that cordial relations with Russia
should be strengthened by proper engagements
assuring to peaceful Americans who visit that
| empire the consideration which is due to them
citizens of friendly state. This is especially
needTul with respect to American Isreaites
whose classification with the native Hebrews has
evoked energetic remOnstrances from this govern
ment.
| ITALY.
Our consular agreement with Italy has been
sanctioned and proclaimed in the case of crimes
| on Shipboard. Several important international
congresses have been held in Italy during the
year. At the geographical congress of Venice,
the art congress of Milan and the peace
congress of Turin this country was represented by
delegates from branches Of the public service or
by private citizens duly accredited in an honorary
capacity. 1t is hoped that congress win We
such prominence to the results of their par
| ticipatlOn as they may seem TO deserve.
HOLLAND.
The abolition of all discriminating duties
| against Dutch colonial productions 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 favorably concluded.
TURKEY
The insecurity of life and property in MANY
parts OF Turkey has given rise to correspondence
with the porte, looking particularly to the bet
ter protection of American missionaries in the
empire.
The condemned murderer of the eminent mis-
| sionary DR.. J. stin W. Parsons has not vet been
executed, although this government has repeated
| ly demanded that exemplary justice be done.
SWITZERLAND.
The Swiss government has solicited the good
offices OF our diplomatic and consular agents for
the protection of its citizens in countries where it
is not itself represented. This request has within
proper limits. been granted. Our agents in Switz-
erland have been instructed to protest against the
conduc; of the authorities of certain communes in
permitting the emigration TO this country of Grim
inals and other Objectionable persons. Several
such persons, through the cooperation of the
| commissioners of emigration at New York. have
been sent back by the steamer which brought