The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-12-06

he laid before Congress "a n :. -
The legislation OF France against the importa-
ton of prepared swine products from the United
States has been repealed. Thatresu1t is due no
less TO the friendly representations OF this gov
eminent than to a growing CONVICTION In France
that the restriction was not demanded by an Y
real danger to health. Germany still prohibits
the introduction of all swine products from
America. | extended to the Imperial goyern-
lnent a friendly Invitation to send experts to
the United States to inquire whether the use OF
those products was dangerous to health. This
invitation was declined. have believed it OF
such importance, however, that the exact facts
should be ascertained and promulgated that i
have appointed a competent commission to
make thorough Investigation of the subject.
Its members have shown their public spirit by
accepting their trust without pledge of compen-
saton. but l trust that Congress will see in the
national and international bearing of the mat
ter sufficient motive for providing at least for
reimbursement of such expenses as they may
necessarily incur.
At no time in our national history has There
been more manifest need OF close and lasting
relations with neighboring State than now ex,
our capital and enterprise into that country
shows by what has already been Accommodates
the vast reciprocal advantages which must at
tend the progress of Its internal deyelopment
The treaty of commerce and navigation of 1S1S
has been terminated by the Mexican govern
mem, and in the absence of conventional engages
ments, the rights of our citizens in Mexico now
depend upon the domestic statutes of that re-
public. There have been instances of harsh
enforcement of the laws against our vessels and
citizens in Mexico and of denial OF the dinlo-
matte resort for their protection. The Initial
step toward q better understanding has been
taken in the negotiation by the commission All
thorized by Congress of q treaty which is still
before the Senate awaiting its approval The
provisions for the reciprocal crossing of the
frontier by the troops i'll pursuit of hostile IN
dians have been prolonged for another wear
The operations of the forces of both govern
ments against these savages have been success
ful, and several of their most dangerous bands
have been captured or dispersed by the skill and
valor of. United states and Mexican soldiers
fighting in a common cause.
The convention for the resuryey of the
boundary from the Rio Grande to the Pacific
having been ratified and exchanged, the pre-
lminary reconnaissance therein stipulated has
been effected. 1t now rests with Congress to
make provision for completing the survey and
relocating the boundary monuments. The con.
test between Bolivia, Chilli and Peru has pass ed
from the stage of strategic hostlities to that q
negotiation, in which the consuls of this govern.
ment have been exercised. The demands O.
Chilli for absolute cessiOn of territory have beer
maintained and accepted by the party of Gen
Iglesias to the extent OF concluding treaty O.
peace with the government of Chill, In genera
conformity with the terms of the protocol Signed
in May last between the CHILEAN Commander
and General Iglesias. AS result of the conclu
formerly recognized by Chilli as President O
Peru, and his government installed at Lima
which hi n, has been evacuated by the Chilians. A
call has been issued by General Iglesias for
representative assembly to be elected on the 18Th
OF January. and to meet at Lima on the LIST O
March next. Meanwhile the provincial govern
ment of General IglesiaS has applied for recog
milton to the principal powers Of America and
Europe. When the will OF the Peruvian people
shall be manifested shall not hesitate to recog
iiZe the government approved by them Ii
plomatic and naval representatives of this gov.
celebration of the birth of the illustrious Boil
var. At the same time the Inauguration of the
statue Of Washington in the Venezuelan CAPT.
tai testified to the veneration in which his
memory is there held.
Questions have arisen touching the rights O.
American and other foreign manufacturers in
n fpaa los oh
permit aliens to exercise their industries in thai
country. On this specific point our own treaty
is silent. but under the operation of the most fa
yored nation clause we have like privileges
with those of other powers. While it is the
duty OF the government to see that our citizens
have the fnll enjoyment of every benefit Sc
cured by treaty. doubt the expediency OF lead
ing in a movement TO conStrain China to admit
an Interpretation which we have only an in.
direct treaty right to exact The transference
to China of American capital for the employ.
| ment there of Chinese labor would in effect in
augurate q competition for the control of mar.
kets now supplied by our home industries
There is good reason TO believe that the law
restricting the immigration of Chinese has beer
violated, Intentionally or otherwise, by the OF.
ficials OF China, upon whom is deyolved the
duty of certifying that the Immigrants belong
to the excepted classes, Measures have beer
taken to ascertain the facts incident to this sun
posed nfraction and it is believed that the gov.
eminent OF China will cooperate with the
vance of the law.
The question of the general revision of the
foreign treaties OF Japan has been considered In
| an International conference held at Tokia, bul
without definite result as yet. This govern.
ment is disposed to concede the requests of ia
pan to determine its own tariff duties to pro
vide such proper judicial tribunals as may com.
mend themselves to the Western powers for the
trial OF causes to which foreign powers are
parties, and to assimiate the terms and dura.
tion of its treaties to those of other civilized
States. Through our ministers at London ano
at MonrOyia this government has endeavOred t6
aid Liberia in it's differences with Great Britain
touching the northwestern boundary of that re-
public. There is prospect of adjustment of the
dispute by the adoption of the Mannah river as
the line. This Arrangement is a compromise O
the conflicting territorial claims, and takes
from Liberia no country over which it has main
ulous valley of the Congo, is being opened tt
commerce by society called the Internationa
Belgians is the president and a citizen of the
United States the chief executive officer Large
tracts of territory have been coded to the associ
alton by native chiefs, roadslhave been opened
steamboats, placed ON the river and the nuclei O
States established at twenty-five stations under
one flag. which offers freedom to commerce an6
prohibits the slave trade. The objects of the
society are philanthropic. 1t does not aim al
permanent political control, but seeks the neu
trality of the valley. The United States cannot
be Indifferent to this work nor to the interests
of their citizens involved i'll it. 1t may become
advisable for us to cooperate with other com
mercial powers in promoting the rights of trade
and residence in the Congo valley free from the
interference or political control of any one ma
ton. In view of the frequency of invitations
from foreign governments to participate in so.
cial and scientific congresses for discussion o.
important matters of general concern, re.
peat the suggestion of my last message that
provision be made for the exercise of discre-
tionary power by the executive in appointin
delegates to such conversations; Able special
such capacity without personal profit or other
compensation than the defrayment ofexpenses
actually incurred, and this a comparatively
small annual appropriation would suffice to
meet.
l have alluded in my previous messages to the
n hx
our trade in the Spanish West Indies. Brazil
whose natural outlet for its great national sta
pie, coffee, is in and through the United States
imposes heavy export duty upon that pro-
duct: like narrow policy is pursued in other
South American countries. Our petroleum ex-
ports are hampered in Turkey and in other Eas-
tern ports by restrictions as to storage and by
onorous taxation, and the free outward move
ment OF our great food products is in some quar-
tiers clogged With like impediments. For these
lnischieis adequate reliefis not always afforded
by reciprocity treaties like that with Hawaii or
awaiting the action of the Senate. Is it not adj
yisable to provide some measure of equitable
retaliation in our relations with governments
which discriminate against our own If, for
example, the executive were empowered to APP
ply to Spanish vessels land cargoes from Cuba
and Porto Rico the same rules of treatment and
scale of penalties for technical faults, which
applied TO our vessels and cargoes in the Antil-
les, resort to that course might not be barren
of good results. A discretionary authority to
forbid the Importation of articles of .cOnsump-
ton injurious to health might be advantageous
ly exercised in our dealings with such countries
as inequitably discriminate against our food
products.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury
gives full and interesting exhibit of the finan-
cial condition of the country. " 4.
If the revenue for the fiscal year, which will
end on June 30th, 1889, be estimated upon the
basis of existing laws, the Secretary Is of the
opinion that for that year the receipts will ex-
coed $50 900 the ordinary expenditures, in
Gliding the amount devoted to the sinking
fund.- Hitherto the surplus as rapidly as it has
accumulated, has been devoted to the reduction
OF the national debt. AS a result the only bonds
now outstanding which are redeemable at the
pleasure ofthe government, are the per cents
amounting to about S30j, 100000. 49,. 5.s.s l,..
The per cents, amounting to $3.50, 900, 000, and
the $739,0 OOO per cents are not payable until
hereafter be as large as the treasury estimates
now indicate, the 3 per cent bonds may all be
redeemed at least four years before any of the
AZ per cents can be called in. The latter, at
be paid at maturity, and the moneys requisite
for the redemption of the per cents will be in
the treasury many years before these Obliga-
tiOns become payable.
national Indebtedness should not be thus rap
idly extinguiShed. Chief among them is the
fact that only by excessive taxation is such rap
1dlty attainable. In a communication to the
Congress at its last session recommended that
all excise tax laws be abolished, except those
relating to distilled Spirits and that substantial
reductions be also made in the revenues from
customs. A statute has since been enacted by
eminent have been cut down to the extent of
at least fifty OF sixty millions of dollars. While
have no doubt that still further reductions may
be wisely made, do not advise the adoption at
ton of the national revenues. The results of
the Legislation of the last sessions of the Con-
gress have not as yet become sufficiently appa-
rent to Justify any radical revision or sweep
ing notifications of existing law In the n tar.