Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-12-06

Visions OF the existing reciprocity treaty.
Such continuance. in view of the relations of
that country to the American system of
States should in my judgment be favored
The revolution in Hayti against the estab-
lshed Government has terminated Whileit
was in progress it became necessary to en-
force our neutrality laws by instituting pro-
ceedings against individuals and vessels
charged with their infringement
Those prosecutions were in all cases sue
cessful. Much anxiety has lately been dis
played by various European Governments,
and especially by the Government of Italy,
Tor the alb 1litlon of our import duties upon
works of art 1t is well to consider whether
the present discrimination in favor Of pro-
auctions of American artists abroad is not
likely to result, as they themselves seem very
generally to believe it may, in the practical
exclusion OF our painters and sculptors from
the rich fields for observation, study and
labor which they have hitherto enjoyed
There is prospect that the long pending re-
vision OF the foreign treaties in Japan may
be concluded at new conference to be held
at Toxic.
While this Government fully recognizes the
equal and Independent station of japan in the
community of nations would not oppose the
general adoption of such terms of compro-
mise as japan may be disposed to offer in
furtherance of a uniform policy of intercourse
with Western Nations During the past year
the increasing good will between our own
Government and that OF Mexico has been va
rously manifested The treaty of CONNER.
cial reciprocity concluded January 20, 1888,
has been ratified, and awaits the necessary
tariff legislation of Congress to become effect
i've. The legislation will, l doubt not, be
among the first measures to claim your atten-
ton. A full treaty of
COMMERCE, NAVIGATION AND CONSULAR
RIGHTS
Is much to be desired, and such a treaty |
have reason to believe tuat the Mexican TOW
eminent stan1s ready to conclude. Some
embarrassment has been occasiuned by the
failure of Congress at Its last session to pro-
vide means for the due execution of the
treaty OF July %, 1882, for the resurvey of
the Mexican boundary ami the relocation of
boundary monuments With the Republic
of Nicaragua, treaty has been concluded
which authorizes The construction by the
United States of a canal, railway and tele-
graph line across the Nlcaraguan territory.
by the terms of this treaty sixty miles OF the
River San Juan, as wei like Nicaragua,
an inland sea forty miles in width, are to
constitute part vi the projected enterprise
This covers for actual canal construction
seventeen miles on the Pacific side AMI thirty
six miles on the Atlantic. 10 the United
States, whose rich territory on the Pacific is,
for the ordinary purpose of commerce, prac-
tically cut off from communication by water
with the Atlantic ports, the political and
scarcely be even estimated.
1t Is believed that when the treaty is laid
before you the Justice and liberaity of its
provisions will command universal approval
at home and ABROAD. Tho death of our rep
resentative at Russia, while at his post at ST
Petersburg, afforded t. the Imperial Govern
ment Renewed opportunity to TESTIFY its
sympathy IN manner beti1tlng the lntllnate
Ir1endlineSS which has ever marked the inter
course of the two countries.
The course of this Government in raising
its representation at Bangkok to the dlplo-
matte rank has evoked from Siam evidences
OF warm friendship and augurs well for our
enlarged Intercourse. The Olamese Govern
menu has presented to the United States q
commodIous mansion and grounds for the oc-
cupancy of the legation, and | suggest that
by joint resolution Congress attest Its appre-
citation of this generous gift.
This Government has more than once been
called upon of late to take action in fulfill
inent OF its international obligation toward
spain. Agitation in the Island of Cuba hos
tue to the Spanish Crown having been fer
mented by persons abusing the sacred rights
OF hospitality which our territory affords the
officers OF The Government have been in
structed to exercise vigilance to prevent in
fractions OF our neutrality laws at Key West
and at other points near the Cuban coast l
happy to say that in the only instance
where these precautionary measures werD
successfully eluded the offenders, when found
III our territory, were subsequently tried and
convicted.
The growing need of close relationship of
Intercourse ana traffic between the Spanish
Antilles and their natural market in the
United States led to the adoption, III January
last, of a commercial agreement looking to
that end. Tnls agreement has since been
Superseded by a more carefully framed AMI
comprehensive convention, which snail sub
mt to the Senate for approval, it has been
the ami Of this negouaIon to open such
favored reciprocal exchange of productions
carried under the flag of either country, as to
make the intercourse between Cuba anu Porta
RIco and ourselves scarcely less intimate than
the commercial movement between our do
mestIc ports, and to insure removal of the
burdens on shipping in the Spanish Indies of
which III the past our ship owners and snip
masters have SO often had cause to complain.
The negotiation OF the convention has for
time postponed the prosecution of certain
claims Ut our Citizens which were declared to
be without the jurisdiction of the late Span
ish American Claims Commission and which
are therefore RENTED to diplomatic chan
nels for adjustment The speedy settlement
of the claims will now he urged by this Gov
eminent.
Negotiations for Ii treaty of commercial
reciprocity with the American Repubnc have
been successfully concluded, and the result
will shortly be laid before the Senate. Ger
tain questions between the United States and
the Ottoman Empire Sill remain unsoived.
Complaints i'll behalf OF our citizens are not
satisfactorily adjusted. The Porte has sought
to withhold from our commerce the righJ of
favored treatment to which we entitled
by existing conventional stipulations, and the
revslons of the tariffs is unaccompiisned.
SOUTH AMERICAN RELATIONS.
The final disposition of pending questions
with NenezueIa has not as yet been reached,
but have good reason to expect an early
settlement, which Will provide the means Of
re-examining the Caracas awards in con-
formity with the expressed desire of Congress
and which will recognize the justice Of GER
tam claims preferred against Venezuela. The
Central and South American Commission,
appointed by authority of thu act of July z,
,ooI, will soon proceed 10 Mexico. 1t has
been furnished with Instructions, which will
be laid before you Tney contain a statement
of the general policy OF the Government for
charging its commercial intercourse with
American States. The Commissioners have
been actively preparing for their responsible
task by holding conferences in their principal
cities with merchants AMI others interested in
Central and South American trade.
MERIDIAN CONFERENCE
The International Meridian Conference
lately convened in Washington upon the invi-
tation of the Government of the United
States, was composed OF representatives from
twenty-five nations The conference con-
ing with substantial unanimity agreed upon
the meridian of Greenwich as the starting
point, whence longitude is to be computed
through 80 degrees eastward and westward
and upon the adoption for all purposes for
which it may be found convenient, of uni
versal day which shall begin at midnight on
the initial meridian, and whose hours snail be
counted from zero up TO twenty-four. The
formal report of the transactions of this con-
ference will be hereafter transmitted to Con-
gress.
INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
This Government is in frequent receipt of
invitations from foreign States to participate
in international exhibitions, often Of great
interest ami importance Occupying as we
do, an advanced position in the worlds pro-
duction, and aiming to secure profitable
share for our industries in the general COM
petitive markets., it is a matter of serious con-
Germ that the want of means for participation
in these exhibitions should SO often exclude
cur producers from advantages enjoyei by