The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-02
HAIL AND FAREW ELL
ARTHUR'S FINAL GREETING TO TIE
NATIONAL CONGRESS.
An Exhaustive Review of Matters Of
Interest to the American
People.
The Country Congratulated on the
Peaceful Result OF the Late
Presidential Election.
Foreign Relations-Fxtcusion of Foreign
Commerce. Discussion o: Financial
and Revenue observation-disclosures,
Silver Dollar, aud Ma
iion.l Banks.

WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. The following
is the text % tho president Message as real
before the two houses OF Congress ON Mon
day, Dec. l, ISS4;
To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Since Tue close of your Ia55 session, the
American people, III tho exercise Of their
highest IgAt of suffrage, have chosen the
chief MAJ l,trat5 for tie fJUr years ensuing.
When IL Is remembered that at no period
in the cuuntrys history has the long
political contest which cus,omarily pre-
cedes tine day of the national election been
wags ID with greater feryor and intensity, it
Is II subject ot congratulatiOu that, after the
controycrslty ut the polls was over, and
While the slight preponderance by which the
issue had been determined, was as yet unas-
certained, the public peace suffered no dis
turbance, but the people everywhere pa
tiently and quietly awaited the result Moth
ing could more strikungiy illustrate the
temper OF the American citizen, his love Of
order and his loyalty to law. Nothing
could more signally demonstrate the strength
and wisdom of our political institutions
THE PRESIDENTIAL. COUNT.
Eight years have passed since contro-
versy concerning the result of national
election sharply called the attention of the
congress to the necessity of providing more
precise and definite regulations for counting
the electoral vote. 1t is of the gravest i'm
portance that this question be solved before
conflicting claims to the presidency shall
again distract the country, and l am per
suaded that by the pc pie at large any Of
the measures OF relief thus far proposed
would be preferred to continued inaction.
RELATIONS WITH EOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Our relations with all foreign powers con-
tinue to be amicable. With Belgium a CON
ventiOn has been signed whereby the scope
OF present treaties has been so enlarged Us to
secure to citizens of either country within
the jurisdiction Of the other equal rights and
privileges, In the acquisition and aliena-
ton OF property, a trademark 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 contiuu-
ance, suffered through the acts of the Gillian
authorities, q convention will soon be nego-
tiated.
The state of hostilities between France
and China continues to be an embarrassing
feature of cur eastern relations. The Chinese
government has promptly adjusted and paid
the claims of American citizens whose
property was destroyed in the recent riots at
Canton. | renew the accommodation of
my ldSJ diluutll message, GfdC U09 canton
indemnity fund be returned to China.
The true Interpretation OF the recent
treaty with that country permitting
the restriction OF Chinese immigration
Is likely to be again the subject of you de-
alterations. 1t may be seriously questioned
whether the statute passed at the last session
does not violate the treaty rights OF certain
Chinese, who left this country with return
certificates required by the new. The recent
81,
trading fleet heretofore under the Chinese
flag has considerably enhanced our CONNER
cial Importance in the east.
In view of the large number of vessels
built or purchased by American citizens il
other countries, and exclusively employed in
legitimate traffic between foreign parts IN.
der the recognized protection OF our flag, it
might be well to provide a uniform rat Tor
their registration and Recommendation 50 tint
the bona fde property rights of our citizens
therein shall be duly evidenced and properly
guarded.
Pursuant to the advice of the senate at the
last session | have recognized the flag of the
international Association of the Congo as
that of a friendly government, avoiding in
so doing any pre- Judgment of conflict in the
territorial claims in that region. Subse
quently, i'll execution Of the expressed Wisl
of the congress, l appointed a comnlerca
agent tor the Congo basin. The importance
of the rich prospective trade of the Congo
valley has led to the general conviction thai
it should be open to all nations upon equa
terms. The international conference for tins
consideration of this subject, called by the
emperor of Germ any, is now in session al
berlin, and delegates are now in attendance
on behalf of the United States. OF the re
suits of the conference you will be duly ad
yiSed
The government of Corea has generously
aided the efforts of toe United States minis
tiers to secure suitable premises for the use
the legation. The conditions of diplomatic
intercourse with eastern nations demand
that the legation premises be owned by thu
represented power. | advise that an apprO
priation be made for the acquisition of thi
property by the government TIN
United States already possesses valua
bic promises at Tnngiers as q elf
from the sultan of Morocco. As
stated hereafter, they have lately received
similar gift from the Siamese government
The govern nent of Japan stands ready t,
cede 80 Us extensive grounds at TOki
wherein to erect suitable building for TN
legation, court house and jail, and simla
privileges Can probably be secured in Chin
and Persia. The owning of such premise
would not effect large saving of TIE pres
ent rentals but would permit of the due as
sertiOn OF extra territorial rights in thos
countries, and would the better serve t
maintain the dignity Of the United States
The failure of congress to make an apprc
priation for our representation at the au
tonomOus court Of the khedive has proved
serious embarrassment in our intercOurS
with Egypt, and. in view of the necessity O
the intimacy of our diplomatic RELATIONSHIP
due to the participation of this govcrnmen
with the treaty powers in all matters of nd
ministration there affecting the rights @
foreigners, advise the restoration of tn
agency and consulate general at Cairo o
its former basis. l do not conceiv
it to be tho wish of congres
that the United States Shout
withdraw altogether from the honorable PC
sitlon they have hitherto held with respeC
to the khedive, or that citizens of this TC
public residing or sojourning in Egypt shout
hereafter be without the aid AMI protection
OF competent representative
With France the traditional cordial rela
tionship continues The Bartholdi statue o
Liberty Enlightening the World, the ger
erous gift of the people of France, is expecte
to reach New York in May next. / sugges
that congressional action be taken in rela
ton to the spirit which has prompted thi
gift, aud In aid of the timely completion q
the pedestal upon which it is to be placed.
Our relations with Germany, a countrr
winch contributes to our own some of tn
best elements of citizenship, continue to b
cordial. The United States have extraditio
treaties with several of the German states
but, by reason of the confederation of thes
states under the imperial rule, the applica
ton OF such treaties is not as uniform an
comprehensive as the interests of the tw
countries require Therefore, negotiation
should be opened for single convention t
embrace all the territory OF the empire.
1t affords me pleasure to say that our in
ercourse with Great Britain continues to h.
VI most friendly character.
The government of Hawaii has indicated
is willingness to continue for seveu year
ihe provisions of the existing reciprocit,
Teaty Such continuance, in view of the re
ations of that country to the American sys
EN- of states, should, in my Judgment b
favored
The revolution of Hayti against the estab
ished government has terminated Will
t was In progress it became necessary to en-
.orce our neutrality laws by instituting pro