Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-12-02
TRE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

highest fight of suffrage, have chosen
their chief magistrate for the four years
ensuing When It js remembered that at
no period IN the country's history has the
long political contest which customsrily
precedes the day Of the national election
been waRed with great fervOr and
intensity it is subject OF congratula-
tion that after the controversy at the
polls VAS over, and while the slight
prep0nderance by which the issue
had been to determine was as yet unas-
certained, the public peace suffered no
disturbance, but the people every where
patiently and quietly waited the result.
Nothing could more strikinRly illus.
trate the temper Of the American in his
love OF order and his loyalty to law;
nothing could more signaliy demon
strate tie strength and wisdom of our
political Institutions. Eight years have
passed since controversy concerning
the result Of national election sharply
called the attention Of congress to the
necessity of providing q more precise
and definite regulation for counting the
electoral votes. 7.1- ~
It is Of the gravest importance that
this question be solved before conflicting
claims to the presidency shall again dis.
tract the country and am persuaded
that by the people at large any OF the
measures Of relief thus far proposed
would be preferred to continued ipac.
tioD.
FOREIGN RRLATIols.
Our relations with all foreign
powers continue to be amicable. With
Belgium convention has been signed
whereby the scope Of present treaties has
been so enlarged as to secure to citizens
| Of either country within the jurisdiction
| of the other, equsl rights ana privileges.
The state OF hostilities between
France and China continues to be
an embarrassment OF the future Of
our eastern relations. The Chinese gov.
|ernment has promptly adjusted and paid
the claims of American citizens whose
property was destroyed IN the recent
riots at Canton, renew the recompen-
dation of my last annual message that
the Canton indemnity fund be returned
10 China. The true Interpretation oi
the recent treaty with that country
Ipermitting the restriction of Chinese
Immigration is likely to be again
the subject of your deliberations. It may
be seriously questioned whether tllt
statute passed at the last session does
not violate the treaty rights of certain
Chinese who left this country with re-
turn certificates. valid under the old Law
and now seem debarred from landing
from lack Of certificates required BY thl
new. The recent purchases by thl
United States of q large trading flee,
heretofore under the Chinese flag hal
considerably enhanced our commercial
Importance in the east. In view
of the large number ot
vessels built or purchased by American
citizens in other countries and exclusive
" employed in legitimate traffic between
foreign points under the recognized
protection Of our flag, it might be vel
to provide uniform rate for their regis
tration and Recommendation, that thl
bonatide property rights Of our citizen
therein shall be duly evidenced ant
properly guarded. Parsuant to the ad
vice of the senate at tie last session.
recognized, the flag of the internationa
association and OF the congress as that O
b friendly government avoiding in. 8,
doing any pre-iudgment Of contlic
in territorial claims in that regions. Sub
sequ. ntly, in execution Of the express
wish Of the congress, I appointed
4 SOAMAACAOA0l 0kCAI tOA VIC SOUkO O0olA
The Importance Of the rich prospectiv,
trade Of Congo valley has led to 9 gener
al conviction that il should be open i
oil nations upon equal terms. Interna
tional conference for the consideration o
this subject called by the emperor o
Germany; is nov in session at Berlin
and delegates are now in attendance oi
behalf of the United States OF the re
cults of tbe conference you will be dul,
advised. s-s s' fs >-'.lA'
The government of Corea has gsnel
ously aided the efforts of the Unite
States minister to secure ID suitaM
premises for, the use of the legation
The condition of diplomatici intercouls
with eastern pations demand the leRa
tion premises be owned BY the repre-
i seDted power. i advise that an ,eppru
priation be made for the acquisition q
| this property by the government. Th
] United States already possesses valuabl
premises at Tanzies, as . gift from th'
sultan Of Morocco. The governmen
| Of Japan stands ready to sell to tn
| United States: extensive grounds .
.rAkio, wherein to erect q substantia
building for the legation, court hons
and Jail, and similar privileges cal
probably be secured in China aud Persis
lThe owning of such premises would no
affect % large eavlnE. of the ;pfeaen
tfentals. but would permit of the do
assertion Of extra territorial rights i
those countieel and would the bette
serye to maintain the. dignity Of th
United States. al 4 "a s.. a, Il
| The failure Of copgressto make An sE
lpr0priation for our representation at th