, 1884-12-02

THE cOUNTRY'S VEAL.
President Arthur Presents His
Last Annual Message.
The Ground of Government
Policy Completely Covered.
Live Matters of Public Concern
Brilliantly Treated.

To the Congress OF the United States
Since the close Of your last session the
American people in the exercise of the
highest right Of suffrage have chosen their
Chief Magistrate for the four years ensu-
ing. When it is remembered that in no
period in the country's history has the
long political contest which customarily
precedes the day Of the national election
been waged with greater feryor and in
t%ensity, it is a subject of co~ngratulation
that after the controversy at the polls was
over, and while the slight preponderance
with which the issue had been determined
was as yet unascertained, the public peace
suffered no disturbance. but the people
every where patiently and quietly awaited
the result. Nothing could more strik-
ingly illustrate the temper of the Ameri-
can citizen. his love Of order, and his 10y
atty to the law. Nothing could more sig
nally demonstrate the strength and wis
dom Of our political institutions. Eight
years have passed since a controversy con-
corning the result of a national election
sharply called the attention Of Congress
to the necessity OF providing more pre-
else and definite regulations for counting
the electoral vote. 1t is of the greatest
Importance that this question be solved
before conflicting claims to the Presi-
dency shall again disturb the country and
l Am persuaded that by the people at
large any of the measures Of relief
thus far proposed would be preferred to
continued inaction.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS.
Our relations with all foreign powers
continue to be amicable. With Belgium
a convention has been assigned whereby
the scope of present treaties has been so
enlarged as to secure to citizens Of either
country within the jurisdiction Of other
equal rights and privileges.
The war between Chill and Peru is at
an end. For the arbitration Of the claims
Of American citizens who, during its con-
~tinuance, suffered through the acts of the
Chilian authorities a convention will soon
be negotiated.
The state of hostilities between France
and China continues to be an embarrass-
ing feature of our Eastern relation. The
Chinese government has promptly adj
iusted and paid the claims of American
citizens, whose property was destroyed in
the recent riots at Canton. | renew the
recommendation of my last annual mess
age that the Canton indemnity fund be
returned to China. The true i~nterpreta-
ton of the recent treaty with that GUN
try, permitting the restriction Of Chinese
immigration, is likely to be again a sub
ject of your deliberations. 1t may be
seriously questioned whether the statute,
passed at the last session, does not violate
the treaty rights Of certain Chinese, who
left this country with return certificates,
valid under the old law and now seem to
be debarred from landing from lack of
certificates required by the new.
The recent purchases by the United
States of a large trading feet, heretofore
under the Chinese flag, has considerably
enhanced u commercial Importance in
the East, in view of the large number of
vessels built or purchased by American
citizens in other countries and exclusively
employed in legitimate traffic between
foreign ports under the recognized pro-
lection of our flag.
In execution of the expressed wish Of
Congress, l appointed a commercial agent
for the Congo basin. The importance Of
the rich prospective trade of the Congo
valley has led to a general conviction that
it should be open to all nations upon equal
terms.
The government of Corea has gener'
ously aided the efforts of the United
States minister to secure suitable premis
es for the use of the legation.
The President advises that an effort b
made to secure similar possession Of lie
CATION property in all nations with which
we have intercourse.
With France the traditional cordial re
lationship continues. The Barthold
statute Of Liberty Enlightening thu
World, the generous gift of the people 0
France, is expected to reach New York ii
May next. 1 suggest that Congressiona
action be taken in relation to the spin
which has prompted this gift.
--...k