The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-12-10
THE DOCUMENG.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States:

The DOCUMENT.
To the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States:
An appalling calamity has befalleu the Ameri
can people since their representatives last met in
the halls where you are now assembled We
might also recall with unalloyed content the
rare prosperity with which throughout the year
the Nation has been blessed, It's harvests been
plenteous its various industries have thryen, the
health of its people been preserved aud IL has
maintained with Foreign Governments undis-
turbed relations of anlity 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 mysterious exercise
of will which has taken from us the loved aud
illustrous 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
be treasured forever as 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 rs signal tokens of the kinshlp of Ma
tons and the federation OF mankind.
Foreign Relations.
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 this
pleasing fact directed, on the occasion OF the
late centennial celebration at Yorktown, that a
salute be given TO the British flag. Save for the
correspondence 10 which | shall refer hereafter,
relative TO the proposed canal across the lstlmus
OF Panama, little has occurred worthy of mention
in the diplomatic relations Of the countries.
Early in the year the Fortune Bay claims were
satisfactorily settled by the British Government
paying In full the sum of fl5O00, most of which
mas already been distributed. AS the terms OF
the settlement included compensation for in
juries suffered by our fishermen at Ashee Bay,
there has been retained from the gross award a
sum which Is deemed adequate for those claims.
The participation of Americans ia the Exhibit
ton at Melbourne and Sidney will &c approyingly
mentione, in reports of the TWO exhibitions soon
to be presented TO Congress. They will disclose
the readiness of our eountrymen to make success
full competition in distant fields of enterprise.
Negotiations for al International Copyright Con-
vention are in hopeful progress.
The surrender of Sitting Bull and his force upon
the Canadian frontier has allayed all apprehen.
sion although bodies of British Indians sill cross
the border in quest of sustenance. Upon this sub
ject a correspondence has been opened which
promises an adequate understanding Our troops
have orders to avoid mea. while, all collisions
with alien Indians.
The presence at the Yorktown celebration OF
represen atives OF republicanism, descendants OF
Lafayette and of his gallant combatants who were
allies in The Revolution, has served u
strengthen the spirit of good will which has
always existed between the two Nations.
THE BIMErALLIC CONGRESS.
You will be furnished with the proceedings
Of the Bimetallic Conference held during the
summer at the city of Paris. No accord was
reached. but valuable interchange Of views
was held, and the Conference will next year be
renewed. At the Electrical Exhibition and
Congress- also held at Paris this country
was creditably represented by eminent special
lists who, In the absence of an appropriation, gen.
erousy lent their efficient aid at the instance OF
the State Department, while all exhibition in this
almost stinctively American field OF achieve
ment has won several valuable awards / recon-
mend that Congress provide for the payment OF
the personal expenses incurred In the public IN
terest by the honorary Commissioner and dele
gates.
No new questions respecting the status OF our
naturalized citizens in Germany has arisen dur
ing the year, and causes of complaint, especially
I'm, hay
Through the 81 eral action OF the Imperial Gov
ernment In accepting our often expressed views
ON the subject, the application OF the treaty oi
1868 to the lately acquired Rhensh provinces has
received very earnest attention. definite and
lasting agreement on this point is confidently ex
pected The partcioa Of the descendants OF
baron Won Steuben in the Yorktown festivities
and their subsequent reception by their Amerf
can kinsmen, strikingly evinced the ties of good
will which unite the German people ana our
wn.
sPANIsH-AMERICAN CLAIMS COMMISSION.
Our intercourse with Spain has been friendly.
An agreement, cyncluded i'll February last fixes
a term for the labors for the Spanish and Ameri
eau Claims Commission. The Spanish Govern
ment has been requested To pay the late awards
of the Commission, and will, it Is believed,
accede to the request as promptly and cur
lation Onerous fines have been imposed upon
American shipping in Spanish and colonial
ports, for slight irregularities in the manifest
mention. The bark Masonic" bound for
Japan, entered Manila in distress, and is there
sought to be confiscated under the Spanish rev.
enue laws for an alleged shortage in ner trans
shipped cargo. Though all efforts for her relief
nave thus far proved unavailing il is expected
that the whole will be adjusted in a friendly
spirit.
The Senate resolutions of coincidence on the
assassination of the Car Alexander the Second
were appropriately communicated to The Russian
Government, which in turn has expressed lis
sympathy In our late National bereavement 1t
is desirable that cordial relations with Rus
STA should be strengthened by proper engage
ments assuring to peaceabe Americans who Wis
4 the Empire the consideration which is due to
them As citizens OF frit ndy State. This is es-
pecially needful with respect TO American Is
raeites, whose classification with the native He
brews has evoked energetic remonstrances from
this Government.
Consular agreement with Italy has been sanction
ed and proclaimed which puts at rest conflicts of
Jurisdiction in case of crimes sbipboard. Con-
ferences have been held in Italy during the year.
At the Geographical Congress OF Venice the, Bon
flee Congress of Milan and the Nice Congress of
Turin this country was represented by delegates
from branches OF the public service and by private
citizens. duly accredited 1t honorary capacity. 1t
il hoped that Congress will give 1t such promi-
neDce as it may seem to deserve.
The abolition of all discriminating duties
against Dutch colonial productions OF the Dutch
East Indies. or imported hfther from Holland,
has been already considered by Congress. trust
that at the p esent session the matter may be
favorably concluded:
parts of Turkey has given rise TO correspondence
with the parts looking particularly to the better
protection of American missionaries IN the EN-
pire The condemned murderer of the eminent
missionary, DIR Justin w. Parsons, has not yet
been executed, although this Government has re-
peatedly demanded that exemplary justice NAV
be done again.
SOLICITING PROTECTION.
The Swiss Government has solicited the Gov
err ment officers of our diplomatic and consular
agents for the protection of its citizens liz
countries where IL is not itself represe sted This
request has within proper limits been granted
Our agents in Switzerland have been instructed
to protest against the conduct of the authorities
OF certain communes in permitting the emf
grafton to this county OF criminals and other OBJ
jectionable persons. Several such persons.
through the co operation of the Commissioners of
Emigration at New York. have been sent back by
the steamers which brought them. contin-
uance OF this course may prove more efficient
remedy than diplomatic remonstrance.
Treaties of commerce and navigation and for
the regulation of consular privileges have been
concluded with Roumania aud Servia since their
admission into the family of European States
As is natural with contiguous states he wing
like institutions, and like aims OF Advancement
and development The friendship of the United
States and Mexico has been constantly main
tanned. The Government has lost no occasion OF