The Portland daily press., 1882-12-05
THE MESSAGE.
An Able and Brilliant Paper.
President Arthur's Opinions About
the Civil Service, the Tariff,
the Internal Revenue and
the Currency.

1 OUuSI6SS lulUrnablOU OF tu6 SIdb0 OF the Union
and recommend to their consideration such
measures as he shall judge necessary and expe-
dent. In reviewing the events of the year
which has elapsed since the commencement of
your sessions. l first call your attention to the
gratifying condition of our foreign affairs.
IRISH AMERICANS.
Our intercourse with other powers has con-
tinued to be of the most peaceable character
Such slight differences as have arisen dur
ing the year have been already
settled or are likely to reach an early adjust
ment. The arrest of citizens of the United
States in Ireland under recent laws which owe
| their origin to the disturbed condition of that
country, has led to somewhat extended COR
respondence with the government of Great
Britain disposition to respect our rights
has been practically manifested by the release
| of the arrested parties.
INTER. OCEANIC CANAL.
The claim of this nation in regard to the su-
| pervision and control of any inteT-oceanic canal
| across the American isthmus continues to be
! the subject OF conference. 1t is likely that
time will be more powerful than discussion in
1 removing the divergence between the two ma
| tions whose friendship is SO closely cemente6
| by the intimacy of their relations and the COM
| munity of their interests.
THE RUSSIAN HEBREWS.
| Our long established friendliness with Rus
| sia has remained unbroken. 1t has prompted
| me to protfer the earnest councils of the gov
1
| ing the prescription which the Hebrew race in
| that country has lately suffered 1t has not
| transpired that any American citizen has been
| subjected to arrest or injury, but our courteous
remonstrance has nevertheless been courteous
| ~ received. There is reason te believe that
| the time is not far distant when Russia will be
| able to secure liberation to all faiths within
| her borders.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.
| At an international convention held at Paris
| in 1880, and attended by representatives of the
United States, an agreement was reached in
| respect TO the protection of trade marks, pa
| tented articles and the rights of manufacturing
| firms and corporations. The formulating into
treaties of recommendations thus adopted is
receiving the attention which it merits.
The protection of submarine cables is a SUBJ
| iect under consideration by an international
| conference at Paris. Believing that it clearly
| is the true policy OF this government to favor
| the naturalization of this means of intercourses
| requested our Minister to France to attend
| the conference as delegate. also designated
| two of our eminent scientists to attend as our
representatives at the meeting of an interna-
| tional committee at Paris for considering it's
adoption. In view of the frequent occurrence
| of conferences for the consideration of impor-
/ tant matters of common interest to civilized
| nations, respectfully suggest that the Execu
| tive be invested by Congress with discretionary
/ power to send delegates to such convention,
| and that provision be made to defray tie ex-
1
| DIFFERENCES WITH SPAIN.
| The difference between the United States
| and Spain, as to the effect of Judgment and
| certificate of naturalization, has not yet been
| adjusted, but it is hoped and belle yed that
| negotiations now in progress will result in the
| establishment Of the position which seems to
| this government SO reasonable and lust /
have already called the attention of Congress
| to the fact that in parts of Spain and its
| colonies onerous fines have lately been imposed
| upon vessels oil the United States for trivial
technical offences against local regulations.
| Efforts for the abate ment of these exactions
| have thus far proved unsuccessful. I regret to
| inform you also that the fees demanded by
| Spanish consuls in American ports are in some
| cases SO large, when compared with the value
OF the cargo, as to amount in effect to a con-
| siderable export duty, and that our remon-
| strances in this regard have not as yet received
| the attention which they seem to deserve
INTERNATIONAL CATTLE EXHIBIT.
The German government has invited the
United States to participate in an international
exhlbltlon OF domestic cattle, to be held at
| Hamburg in July, 1883 If this country is to
be represented, it is important hat in the early
| days of this session Congress should make
suitable appropriation for that purpose
RELATIONS WITH ITALY.
| The death of Mr.. Marsh, our late Minister
to Italy, has evoked from that government ex-
| pressioDs of profound respect for his exalted
| CudldCtCI anu lOT HIS uODOTdDl0 career IN tl0
| diplomatic service of his country. The italian
| government has raised question as to the
| propriety OF recognizing in his dual capacity
the representative of this country recently
accredited both as Secretary of Legation and
| as Consul General at Rome. He has been re-
| ceved as Secretary, but his exequatur as Con-
| sul-General has thus far been withheld.
ExTRADITIoN WITH BELGIUM.
The extradition convention with Belgium,
| which has been in operation since 1874, has
been lately supplanted by another. The Sem
| ate has slgn1fied its approval and ratfications
| have been duly exchanged between the con-
tracing countries. To the list of extraditable
| crimes has been added hat of the assassination
| or attempted assassination of the Chief of the
| State.
| STANDARDIZATION TREATY WITH SWITZERLAND.
| Negotiations have been opened with Swilzer-
| land looking to a settlement by treaty of the
| question whether its citizens can renounce
| their allegiance and become citizens of the
| United States without obtaining the consent of
| the Swiss government. l am glad to inform
| you that the immigration of paupers and GRIM
| inals from certain of the cantons of Switzer-
| land has substantially ceased and is no longer
sanctioned by the authorities.
| FOREIGN CoNvICTs
| The consideration of this subject prompts
| the suggestion that the act of August 3D. 1882
| which has for its object the return of foreign
| convicts to their own country, should be so
| modified as not to be oren to the Interpretation
| that it affects the extradition of criminals on
| preferred charges of crime.
The Ottomon Porte has not yet assented to
| the Interpretation which this gov vernment has
| put upo the treaty of August, $780, relative
| to its jurisdictional rights in Turkey 1t NAV
well be, however, that this difference will be
| adjusted by general revision of the system of
| jurisdiction of the United States in the coun-
tries of the East, subject to which your atten-
| tion has been already called by the Secretary
| of State.
| THE JAPANESE INDEMNITY FUND.
In the interest of justice towards China an
| Japan, trust tnat the question of the return
| of the indemnity fund to the governments of
| those countries will reach at the present ses-
/ sion the satisfactory solution which have
already recommended, and which has recently
been foreshadowed by Congressional discuss
ion. The treaty lately concluded with Corea
| awaits the action of the Senate.
During the late disturbance in Egypt the
timely presence of American vessels served as
a protection to the persons and property of
many of our own citizens and of citizens of
other countries whose governments have ex-
pressed their thanks for this assistance.
THE CHINESE QUESTION
The recent legislation restricting immigra-
tion of laborers from China has given rise to
the question whether Chinese proceeding to or
from another country may lawfully pass
| through our own. Constituting the act of Nav
9th, 1882, in connection with the treaty of No
vember 18th, 1880, the restriction would seem
to be limited to Chinese immigration coming
to the United States as laborers, and would not
forbid mans transit across territory and
ask the attention of Congress to the subject for
such action, if any. as may be deemed advis-
able
| LIBERIA.
This government has recently had occasion
to mediate in the Republic of Liberia by seek
ing to aid the amicable settlement of the
boundary dispute now pending between that
republic and the British possession of Sierra
Leone.
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.
The reciprocity treaty with Hawai- will be-
come terminable after September 9th, 1883, on
twelve months notice by either party. While
certain provisions of that compact may have
proved onerous its existence has fostered COM
mercial relations which it is important TO pre-
serve. suggest, therefore, that early consid-
Grafton be given to such notifications of the
treaty as seem to be demanded by the interests
of our people
| HAYTI AND SAN DOMINGO.
In view of our increasing trade with both
Hayti and San Domingo, | advise that pro-
vision be made for diplomatic intercourse with
the latter by enlargng the scope of the mission
at Port au Prince. regret that certain claims