The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-11

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tercourse q The two countries.
| The course of this Government in raisins
| Its representation at Bang Kek to the diplo
| matte rank has evoked from Siam evidence.
| of warm friendship, and augurS well for oul
| enlarged intercourse. The Siamese Govern
| ment has presented to the United States
| commodious mansion and grounds for the
occupancy of the legation, and suggest thai
| by Government resolution, Congress attest
| its appreciation of this generous gift The
Government mas more than once been called
upon of late to take action in fullfillment OF
| its international obligation towards Spain
Agitation in the island of Cuba to the Span.
ish crown having been fomented by persons
abusing the sacred rights of hospitality
which our territory affords, the officers of
the Government have been instructed TO use
vigilance to prevent attractions of our neu-
trality laws at Key West and at the other
points near the Cuban coast. 1 am happy to
say that in only one instance were these pre-
cautionary measures successfully eluded.
The offenders when found in our territory
were subsequently tried and convicted. The
growing need of a close relationship of inter
course and traffic between the Spanish An
tillas and their natural market the United
States led to the adoption in January last of
q commercial agreement looking to that end.
This agreement has since been superseded
by more carefully framed and compre hem
stve one which l shall submit to the
Senate for approval. 1t has been the aim of
this negotiation to open such a favored re-
ciprocal exchange of productions carried
under the flag Of either country as TO make
Rico and ourselves scarcely less intimate
than the commercial movement be-
tween our domestic ports, and to insure re-
mOval of the burdens on shipping in the
Spanish Indies, of which in the past our ship
owners and shipmasters have SO often had
cause to complain. The negotiations of the
convention have for time postponed the
prosecution of certain claims of our citizens
which were declared to be without the juris-
diction of the late Spanish-American Claims
Commission. and which we therefore. re-
mitted to diplomatic channels for adjust
ment. The speedy settlement of these claims
will now be urged by the Government. Ne
gotiations for a treaty of commercial reci-
procity with the Dominican Republic have
been successfully concluded, and its result
will shortly be laid before the Senate. Ger
tain questions between the United States
and the Ottoman Empire still remain I'M
solved. Complaints in behalf of our citizens
are not satisfactorily adjusted. The porte
has sought to withhold from our commerce
the right of favored treatment to which we
are entitled by existing conventional stipu-
lations, and the revision of the tariffs unac-
comp!ished. The final disposition of pend
ing questions with Venezuela has not as yet
been reached, but have good reason to ex-
pect an early settlement which will provide
the means of re-examining the Caracas
award in conformity with the expressed de-
sire of Congress and which viii recognize
the justice of certain claims preferred
against Venezuela. The Central and South
American commission appointed by author
ity of the act of July Z, 1884, will soon pro-
coed to Mexico. 1t has been furnished with
instructions which will be laid before you.
They contain a statement of the general pol
icy of the Government Tor charging its
commercial intercourse with American
States. The commissioners have been actually
preparing for their responsible tasks by
holding conferences in the principal cities
with merchants in the Central and South
American trade. The international meridian
conference, lately held in Washington upon
the invitation of the Government of the
United States, was composed of representa-
tiveS from twenty-five nations. The confer
ence concluded its laborS on the LIST of No
vcmber, having with substantial unanimity
agreed upon the meridian of Greenwich as
the starting point whence longitude is to be
computed through lSO degrees eastward and
westward, and on the adoption for all pur-
poses for which it may DC found convenient
of universal day which shall begin at mid
night on the initial meridian, and whose
hours shall be counted from zero up to
twenty-four. The formal report of the trans
actions of this conference will be hereafter
to Congress. This Government
is in frequent receipt of invitations from for
eign states TO participate in international eX-
often of great interest and import
ance. Occupying, as we do, an ad-
vanced position on the worlds pro-
duction, and aiming to secure profit
general competitive markets, it is Il matter
of serious concern that the want of means
for participation in these exhibits should so
often exclude our products from the adVant-
ages enjoyed by those other countries. Dur
ing the past year the attention of Congress
was drawn to the formal invitations in this
regard by the Governments of England, Hol-
land, Belgium, Germany and Austria. The
Executive has in some instances appointed
honorary commissioners. This is, however,
q most unsatisfactory eXpedient, for without
some provision to meet the necessary work
ing expenses of a commissioner, it can effect
little or nothing in behalf of exhibitors. An
Inventors Exhibition is to be
held in London next May. This will cover Il
field SDRclAl importance. which
holds foremost rank; but the EX-
ecutive is at present pOwerleSS to organize IL
proper representation of our vast National
interests in this direction. | have in several
previous messages related to this subject.
1t seems to me that statute giving to the
Executive general discretionary authority to
accept such invitations, and to appoint hon.
Gray commissioners, withou: salary, and
placing at the disposal of the Secretary of
State a small fund defr9ying their real
expenses would be of great public
utility.
This Government has received official no
tice that the revised international regua-
lions for preventing collisions at sea have
been adopted by all the leading marine
powers except the United States, and came
into force on the first of September last.
For the due protection of our shipping Ia
tereSt, provisions of our statutes should at
once be brought into conformity with these
The question of securing to
composers and artists copyright
privileges in this country in return for re-
justly challenge your attention. 1t is true
that convention will be necessary for fully
this result; but Congress
shall by statue fix the extent to which for
eign holders of copyright shall be here privi-
legged. 1t has been deemed advisable to nego-
tiate such conventions. For this reason the
United States were not represented at the
recent conference at Berne.
AFTER THE DYNAMITERS.
recommend that the scope of the neutral
ity laws of the United States be so enlarged
as to cover all patent acts of hostilities COM
mitted in our territory, and aimed against
the peace of a friendly nation. Existing
statutes prohibit the fitting out of armed eX-
petitions and restrict the shipment of ex-
plosives, though the enactment in the latter
respect were not framed with regard to in
obligations, but simply for the
protection of passenger travel. All those
statutes were intended to meet special emer-
gencies that had already arisen. Other
emergencies have arisen since, and modern
ingenuity supplies means for the organiZa-
ton of hostilities without open resort to
armed vessels or Alibustering parties. see
country for the commission of criminal acts,
such as are here under consideration, should
not be alike punishable, whether such acts
are intended TO be committed in our own
we are at peace. The prompt and thorough
treatment of this question is one which nat
urally concerns the National honor.
Our existing naturalization laws also need
1nOS6 SCCGlOnS rcl1IIIg 10 persons
within the limits of the United States
in 1875 and IT'S have now only an historical
interest. Section 2,7l2, recognizing the citi-
Zenship of the children of naturalZed par
ents, is ambiguous in its terms, and partly
obsolete. There are special provisions of
law fayoring the naturalization of those who
served in the Army or in merchant vessels,
while no similar privileges are granted those
who serve in the Navy or Marine corps. An
uniform rule of naturalization, such as the
constitution contemplates should, among
other things clearly define the status of per
sons born within the United States subject
to a foreign power Sec. 1892 and of minor
children of fathers who have declared their
intention of becoming citizens but failed TO
perfect their naturalization. 1t might be
wise to provide for central bureau registry
wherein should be tiled authenticated tran
scripts of every naturalization in the several
Federal and State Courts and to make provi-