St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-12-13
The Last General Communication
of President Arthur to
Congress.
a Review Of Our Domestic and Foreign
Relations and Of Our More
Pressing Needs.
The President Expresses His Sense.
of. Obligation to All Parties
For Their Support.
MAsntNerox. D. G., December L

WASHINGTON, D. O., December 1.
To the Congress oftte United States:
Since the close of your last session the
American people in the exercise OF then"
highest right OF suffrage have chosen tneLf
Chief Magistrate for the four years ensuing.
When it is remembered that at no period thG
country's history has the long political con
test which customarily precedes the day OF the
National election been waged with greater
fervor and intensity, it is subject OF con,
graduation that after the controversy lit the
polls was over. and while the slight prenon-
derance by which the issue had been deter
mined was as yet unascertaineG, the pubic
peace suffered no disturbance, but fhe PEG
pie everywhere patiently and quietly await
ed the result. Nothing could more striking
ly illustrate the temper OF the American citi-
zen, his love of order, and his loyalty to law.
Nothing could more signally denpnStrat@
the strength and wisdom OF our political in
stitutiOnS.
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
Eight years have passed since con-
EroyerSy concerning the result of q NATIONAL
election sharply called the attention OF con
gress to the necessity OF providing more
definite regulations for the counting OF the
electoral vote.
1t is of the gravest importance that this
question be solved before conflicting claims
to the Presidency shall again distress the
country and | am persuaded that by the
people at large any OF the measures OF feIlef
thus far proposed would be preferred to con-
tinued inactiOn.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with all foreign powers con-
Einue to be amicable. With Belgium con-
Wention has been signed whereby the scope
of the present treaties has been SO enlarged
as to secure to the citizens of either country
within the jurisdiction of the othei equa4
rights and privileges. In the acquisition ana
alienation of property trade marx trea1y
Chill and Peru is at an end. For tine af0ltra-
ton of the claims of American citizens, VINO,
during it's continuance, suffered through the
acts Of the CHILEAN authorities, a convention
will soon be negotiated.
CHINA.
The state of hostiIities between France and
China continues to be an embarrassing
feature of our Eastern relations. The I aintSe
Government has promptly adjusted ana pald
the claims of American citizens, whose prop.
erty was destroyed in the recent TiotS Nv
Canton. I renew the recommendation OF my
| last annual message, that the lanLon n
demnity fund be returned TO emma. ing
| true Interpretation of the recent treaty with
| that country, permitting the restriction OF
| Chinese immigration, is likely to be again
| the subject of.your dellberatlons, II NAY ~
| seriously questioned whether the statute
| passed at the last session does NOT Floitt6
| the treaty rights of certain chinese VINO lGlG
this country with return certlhcates Ea il'
/ under the old law and now seem to pc dc
| barred from landing from lack OF ceftilca1eS
I rec uired by the new. The recent purchase
by the United States OF large traqin& nee dEe1
| siderably enhanced our commercial I'M
/ portance in the East. In view OF
the tn nnr 1eFge h bV american Citizens in
| other countries and exclusively employed III.
| legitimate traffic between foreign ports IN
der the recognized pro5ection 81 our Tor ",
! their registration and Recommendation, 50 tlitb
/ the bona tide property rights OF our cltlzeLs
| therein shall be duly evidenced and properly
THE CONGO COUNTRY.
Pursuant to the advice of the Senate at $he
last session, I recognized the nag OF Ghe m
ternational Association of the Congo as thaG
4 nj a friendly Government, avoiding in so do
ing any prejudgment of conf1lct IL I.st tG I
rforiaf claims in that region subsequently
| in execution of the expressed WISH Oh Ton
| press I Amounted o commercial agent ior
| the Congo basin. The Importance OF the ftcls
/ prospective trade of the Congo valley mas led
4 to n general conviction that IL shoulo 20
i omen to all nations upon equal terms. IN
| International Conference Tor Inc coAs!oSL1
i ton of this subject was called by the ELhl!eL-
lin. Delegates are in attendance on Dehalt
of the United States. OF the results OF inc
conference, you will be duly advised.
LEGATION PREMISES IN THE EAST
The Government of Corea mas generously
aided the efforts of the United states btihlss
ter to secure suitable premises Tor me , u$e o.
the legation. Aslthe CONDITIONS o. elle titg!4
ern nations demand THAT the LEGATION
, premises be owned by the repre- re-,
sented power, I advise that an approp to,l
be made for the acquisition of TINS property
| nv the Government. The United States al
ready possesses valuable premises ab ran /
giers as gift from the sultan o. mo1oCEV ' "a
F. stated hereafter, they have lately received
q similar Gift from the Siamesc Government
The Government of Japan STANDS TCHls W
sell to us extensive grounqS al Lot!2 VIZ ~ ~
i IN To erect a suitable building for the lega-
fion Court house and Jail and similar pfiN,,
ileges can probably be secured IN IiIii5t a.iI
{ Persia The owning OF such premises s 1919
NOT only affect q large SAVING o. L'itstn'
rentals but would permit Oh the que tsseE-
tion of extra territorial rights in these c9un,
!; tries and would the better serve TO nlallatail
T.. 4t,c q
EGYPT.
tgbe failure of Congress to make an 3ppro'
nriation for our representative at Ihe -h'st}ll,
omous Court of the hhedlVe mas n i,,{5r, .
!. With E9yDt; and in view of the necessary IN
+ tiTnacy OF the diplomatic relationship aGe u
the participation OF thlS ~ ynin
| istrafion there affecting the rights OF LOT
9 eigners advise the restoration 81 ttle a4ellc5
and Consul General at Gt 70 h on th I.a Viz y
e onSress that the United States shopid win
: draw altogether from the honorable posieiol
they have hitherto heia o of this Repubie re
siding or sojourning in Egypt should hereai
4 ter be without the aid ana protecLAoA u
: competent representative
0 THE RARTHoLDI STATUE.
a wien France the traditional cordial rela
n tionship continues The Bartholdl statue .
liberty enlightening the world. the seae[,ott
> odft Of the people of France, IS expected q
K ssaach New York in May next. suggest una
C COM action be taken il relation t
$ the spirit which has prompted tn ~ az gliC, an
s in aid of the timely completion OF the pSUeS
Is tai r., IN npon which it is to be placed.
q GERMANY.
Our relations with Germany, one COUNT - Il
Il VIII clements of citizenship, continues t
II b he cordial The United States have ex
tradition treaties with several Of the el
fadnration of these States under the In
d reriai rule, the application OF such trea
u ties is not as uniform and l, eomprehtg,t
- Tanu,re propose, therefore, to open nt
> aotiations for single convention OF e. e.
e fradition to embrace all the territory OF II