The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
LEGISLATION THAT IS
RECOMMENDED.
At Peace with All Natons-Foreign
Commerce = Dynamiters Should
Be Liable to Exradition-The
Silver Question--Indian Af-
fairs-.Land Grants.
Railroads.

! The following is the text Of
President Arthur's message, deliver
ed to Congress on Monday. Decem-
Der 1st.
/ Totte Congress ofthe Uaited STATES
Since the close OF your last session
the American people, III the exercise
of their highest right OF suffrage,
have chosen their chief magistrate
for the four years ensuing. When
II is remembered that at no period
II the country's history has the long
political contest which customarily
preeedes the day OF the national
election been wased with greater
fervor and intensity. it Is a subject
OF general congratulation that after
the controversy at the polls was
over, and while the slight prepon-
derance By which the issue had been
determined was as yet unascertained
the public peace suffered no dis
turbance, but the people everywhere
patiently and quietly awaited the
result
Nothing could more strikingly L.
lustrate the temper of the American
citizen, his love of order and his loy-
atty TO law-nothing could more
signally demonstrate the strength
and wisdom of our political institu-
tons. Eigh. years have passed
since a controversy concerning the
result of q national election sharply
called the attention of the Congress
to the necessity Of providing more
precise and definite regulations
for the counting OF the electoral
vote.
1t IS of the greatest importance
tha. this question be solved before
conflicting claims TO the presidency
shall again distract the country, and
| am persuaded that by the people
at large any Of the measures Of relief
thus far proposed would be pre-
ierred 10 continued inaction.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with ali foreign
powers continGe to be amicabie
With Belgium convention has
been signed whereby the scope OF
present treaties has been so enlarged
as to secure to citizens of either eoun-
try. within the jurisdiction of the
other. equal rights and privileges in
the acquisition and holding of prop
erty. 4 trademarks treaty has also
been concluded.
The war between Chill and Peru
is at an end. For the arbitration of
the claims of American citizens. who
during its continuance suffered
through the acts of Chilian authori-
ties, convention viii soon be nego-
tiated.
The state of hostilities between
France and China continues to be
an embarrassing feature of eur East
ern relations. The Chinese Govern
merit has promptly adjusted and
paid the claims Of American citizens
whose property was destroyed in the
recent riots at Canton. / renew the
recommendation of my last annual
message, that the Canton indemnity
fund be returned 10 China.
The true Interpretation Of the re-
cent treaty with that country, per-
mitting the restriction Of Chinese
immigration, is likely TO be again
the subject of our deliberations. 1t
may be seriously questioned wheth-
er the statute passed at the last ses
sion does not violate the treaty
rights of certain Chinese who left
this country with return certificates,
valid usder the old law, and who
now seem to be debarred from re-
landing for lack of the certificates
required by the new. The recent
purchase by citizens of the United
States of large trading feet hereto
fore under the Chinese flag has con-
siierabiy enhanced our commercial
importance in the East