The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-02

| various European governments, especially
| by the government OF Italy. for the abolition
| II our import duties on works Of art. 1t is
well to consider whether the present dis
elimination in favor of productions of Ameri-
can artists abroad is not likely to result, as
| they themselves seem very generally to be-
| iieve it may, in the practical exclusion of our
| painters and sculptors from the rich fields
| for observation, study and labor which they
| lave hitherto enjoyed.
| There is q prospect that the ong-pending
revision of the foreign treaties of Japan may
| be concluded at q new conference to be held
| at Toxic. While this government fully rec
| ognizes the equal and Independent station of
| japan in the community of nations, it would
lot oppose tho general adoption of such
! terms of compromise as Japan may be dis
| posed to offer IN futherance OF uniform
| policy of intercourse with western nations.
! During the past year the increasing good
will between our own government and that
| )f Mexico has been variOusly manifested.
! The treaty of commercial reciprocity, con-
| ,luded Jan. 20, 1885, has been ratified, and
awaits the necessary tariff legislation OF con-
greSs to become effective. This legislation
aill, l doubt not, he among the first meas
uTes to claim your attention. A full treaty
Of commerce, navigation and consular rights
| Is much to be desired, and such treaty,
! nave reason to believe, the Mexican govern
nent Stands ready to conclude. Some en-
| oarraSsIuent has been occasioned by the fail
are of congress. at its last session, to provide
nlrans for the due execution of the treaty of
! July %, 1882, for the reSurvey Of the Mexican
boundary ana the relocation of boundary
monuments.
With the republic Of Nicaragua a treaty
has been concluded which authorizes tho
construction by the United States of Il canal
| railway and telegraph line across the Near
| auguan territory BY the terms Of this
/ bro, aiN-fNr of no I iNlP n
web SIS Lake Nicaragua, an inland sea
! forty miles IN width, are to constitute IA part
! 1f the projected enterprise. This covers, for
| actual canal construction, seventeen miles on
the Pacific side and thirty-six miles ON tho
Atlantic. To the United States, whose rich
| territory on the Pacific is, for the ordinary
! purpose of commerce. practically cut of
! from communication 10y water with the
Atlantic ports, the political and commercial
advantages oiSsuch project can scarcely be
| lvercstimated.
1t is believed that when the treaty is laid
before you, the justice and liberality of its
provisions viii command universal approval
Mt home and abroad.
The death of our representative at Russia,
while at his post at ST. Petersburg, afforded
to the imperial government a renewed op-
portunity to testify its sympathy in n man
ner beftting the intimate friendliness which
has ever marked the intercourse of the two
countries.
The course of this government in raising
its representation at Bank-kok to the diplo-
matte rank has evoked from Siam evidences
Of warm friendship, and augurs well for our
enlarged intercourse. The Siamese govern
ment has presented to the United States q
commodious mansion and grounds for the
occupancy 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
ment of its international obligation toward
Spain. Agitation In the Island of Cuba, hos
lille to the Spanish crown, having been fer
mentel by persons abusing the sacred rites
I 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
am happy to say that, in the only instance
whore these precautionary measures were
successfully eluded the offenders when found
in our territory were subsequently tried and
! convicted.
The growing need of close relationship of
intercourse and traffic between the Spanish
Antilles and their natural market ~ the
United states led TO the adoption, in January
: Inst, of n commercial agreement looking to
that end. This agreement has since been
superseded by a more carefully framed and
comprehensive convention which l shall
submit to the senate for approval 1t has
been the aim Of this negotiation TO open
such a favored reciprocal exchange Of pro
auctions carried under the flag Of either
country rs to make the intercourse between
1 Cuba and Porto Rico and ourselvses scarcely
: less intimate than the commercial move
J. ments between our domestic ports, and to
L insure removal Of the burdens on shipping
u i'll the Spanish Indies of which, in the past
. our ship-owners and ship-masters have SC
/ often had cause to complain. The negotia
: ton of this convention has for a time post
u poned the prosecution OF certain
: claims of our citizens which were declared
q to be without the jurisdiction of the Span
IA ish- American claims commission, and which
II are therefore TomIjted to diplomatic chan
Il ncls for adjustment The speedy settlement
IL Of these claims will now he urged by this
q government.
o Negotiations for 4 treaty OF commercial
= reciprocity with the Dominican republic
have been successfully concluded, and thu
IS result will shortly he lail before the senate
n Certain questions between the Unitec
Il States and the Ottoman empire still rcmair
! unsolved Complaints in behalf of or citi
. 2enS are not satisfactorily adjusted. Thu
Il porte has sought to withhold from our com
u merca The right OF favored treatment t.
Is which We are entitled by existing Conven
y ti0nHl stipulation, and the revision OF TIN
tariffs is Unaccomplished.
e The final disposition of pending question
10 with Venezuela has not as yet been reached
Is but have good reason to expect an earl,
II settlement which will provide the means 0
10 re-examining the Caracas awards in con
> fOrnEty with the expressed desire Of congress
n and which will recognize the justice of Ger
n tain claims preferred against Venezuela
e The Central and South American coErnis
% sion, appointed by authority of the act o
u July Z, 1884, will soon proceed to Mexico
al has been furnished with instructions whic
ie will be laid!before you. They contain state
ie ment of the general policy Of the govern
II ment for enlarging its commercial inter
-e course with American states. The commits
G. 5oners have been actively preparing 70
u their responsible task by holding conference
in the principal cities with merchants ain
" others interested in Central and Sout
S American trade
Ie The International Meridian conference
ic lately convened in Washington upon the in
Id vitation of the government of the Unite
10 States was composed OF representative
o from twenty-five nations The conference
is concluded its labors on Nov. l. having wit
no substantial unanimity agreed upon Tia
u meridian of Greenwich as the starting poin
it whence longitude is to be computed, throag
Is 1870 degrees eastward anil westward, an
Vi upon the adoption for all purposes 70
to universal day which shall begin at midnigh
TO on the initial meridian, aud whose houl
10 shall be counted from zero up to twenty
ar four The formal report of the transaction
IA of this conference will be hereafter tran
os mitted to congress.
- INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS.
" This government is in frequent receipt
% invitations from foreign states TO partici
" pate In international exhibitions, often 0
great interest end importance. Occupyin:
% :, as we do, az R3 yanced position in the world
u production, and aiming to secure prof
II able share for our industries in the generl
So competitive markets, it is q matter
Vi serious concern that the want
lP means for participation in these e.
~ hibits should so often exclude our Or
Of ducers from advantages enjoyed by those
he other countries during the past year. II
on attention Of Congress was drawn to the TO
We NAL invitations in this regard rendered |
,sg the governments of England, Holland Be
Id GUM, Germany and Austria. The executiI
No. has in some instances appointed honoral
ct commissioners. This Is, however,, a most IL
e. satisfactory expedient for without some pr