Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-12-03
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Following is
the full text of President Arthur's mes
sage. as delivered to Congress- to-day.


the close of your last session, the American peo-
pie in the exercise of their highest right of suf-
trage have chosen their chief magistrate for the
four years ensuing. When it is remembered that
at no period In the countrys history has the long
political contest which customarily precedes the
day of the national elecuoIP been waged with
greater teryor and intensity, is subject of con-
graduation that after the controversy at the polls
was over and while the slight preponderance by
which the issue had been determined was as yet
unaScerta1ned. the public peace suffered no dis
turbance. but the people everywhere patiently
ana quietly awaited the result. Nothing could
more strikingly illustrate the temper OF the
American citizen, his love of order and his 10y
atty to law. Nothing could more signally DEM
onstrate the strength and wisdom of our polit-
1cal institutions.
Eight years have passed since controversy
concerning the result of a national election
sharply called the attention of Congress to the
necessity of providing more precise and definite
regulations for counting the electoral vote. 1t is
of the gravest importance that this question be
solved before conflicting claims to the presidency
shall again distract the country and am per
suaded that by the people at large any OF the
measures of relief thus far proposed would be
preferred to continued inacton
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Our relations with all foreign powers continue
TO be amicable.
With Belgium a convention has been signed
whereby the scope OF present treaties has been
so enlarged as to secure to citizens of either coun
try within the jurisdiction of the other equal
rights in the acquisition and alienation of prop
eTty. A trademark treaty has also been con-
Cluded.
The war between Chilli and Peru is at an end.
For the arbitration of the claims of American
citizens who during its continuance suffered
through the acts of the Gillian authorities a
convention will soon be negotiated.
The state of hostilities between France and
China continues to be an embarrassing feature of
our Eastern relations. The Chinese government
has promptly adjusted and paid the claims of
American citizens whose property was destroyed
in the recent 1iats at Canton. l renew the rec
ommendation of my last annual message that
the Canton indemnity fund be returned to China.
The true Interpretation of the recent treaty with
that country permitting, restriction Of Chinese
immigration Is likely to be again the subject of
your deliberations. 1t may be seriously queS-
toned whether the statute passed at the last Ses-
sion does not violate the treaty rights of certain
Chinese who left this country with return cerifi-
Gates, valid under the old law, and now seem to
be debarred from landing from lack of certif-
Gates required by the new. The recent pur-
ChaseS by the United States of a large trading
fleet heretofore under the Chinese flag has con-
Siderably enhanced our commercial importance
in the East In view of the large number
of vessels built or purchased by American citi-
ZenS i'll other countries and exclusively employed
IN legitimate traffic between foreign ports under
the recognized protection of our flag, it might
be well to provide uniform rate for their regis
tratiOn and Recommendation, so that the bona fde
property rights of our citizens therein shall be
duly evinced and properly guarded.
Pursuant to the advice of the Senate at the last
session, recognized the flag of the International
Association of the Congo as that of friendly
government. avoiding in so doing any pre-iudg-
ment of conflict of international claims in that
region. Subsequently in the execution of the
expressed wish of the congress, l appointed a
commercial agent for the Congo basin. The i'm
portance of the rich prospective trade of the Con-
go valley has led to general conviction that it
should be open to all nations upon equal terms.
The International conference for the consdera-
ton of this subject was called by the Emperor of
Germany and is now in session at Berlin. Dele
gates are in attendance on behalf of the United
States. OF the results of the conference you will
be duly advised
The government of Corea has generously aided
the efforts of the United States minister to secure
suitable premises for the use of the legation AS
the conditions of diplomatic intercourse with
Eastern nations demand that the legation prem
Uses be owned by the represented power, advise
that an appropriation be made for the acQuisi-
ton of this property by the government The
United States already possesses valuable premises
at Tangier as gift from the Sultan of Morocco.
AS is stated hereafter they have lately received
similar gift from the Siamese government. The
government of Japan stands ready to present to
us extensive grounds at Toxic, whereon to erect a
suitable building for the legation, COURT house
and Jail; and similar privileges can probably be
secured in China and Persia. The owning OF
such premises would not only effect large say
ing of present rentals but would permit of the
due assertion of territorial rights in those
countries, and would the better serve to maintain
the dignity of the United States.
The failure of Congress to make appropriation
for our representation at the autonomous court
OF the Khedive has forced a serious embarrass-
ment in our intercourse with Egypt; and in view
of the necessity of the intimacy of diplomatic
relationship due to the participation of this gov.
eminent one of the treaty powers in all matters
of administration there affecting the rights OF
foreigners l advise the restoration of the agency
and consulate general at Cairo on its former basis
do not conceive it to be the wish of Congress
that the United States should withdraw alto
gether from the honorable position they have
hitherto held with respect to the Khedive, Oh
that citizens of this republic residing sojourn
ing in Egypt should hereafter be without the aid
and protection of a competent representative.
With France the traditional cordial relation.
ship continues The Bartholdi statue of Liberty
,1TfrIetD ovid
people of France, Is expected to reach New York
in May next. suggest that congressional action
be taken in relation to the spirit which has
prompted this gift, and in aid of the timely com.
pletion OF the pedestal on which it is to be
placed.
Our relations with Germany, country which
contributes some of the best elements of our
citizenship, continue to be cordial The United
States have eXtTaditon treaties with several of the
German states, but by reason of the confederation
of these states under the imperial rule The appli-
cation otsuch treaties is as uniform and COM
prehenSive as the interests Of The two countries
require. l propose, therefore, to open negotia-
lions for a convention of eXtradItion TO embrace
all the territory OF the empire.
1t affords me pleasure to say that our inter-
course with Great Britain continues to be of a
most friendly character.
The government of Hawaii has indicated IFS
willingness TO continue for seven years the pro-
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
government has terminated. While it was in
progress it became necessary to enforce our neu-
trality laws by inStitutlng proceedings against
individuals and vessels charged with their in
fringement These proceedings were in all cases
successful.
Much anxiety has lately been displayed by
various European governments, and especially by
the government OF Italy, for the abolition of our
import duties upon works of art. 1t is well to
consider whether the present discrimination in
favor of the American artists abroad is not likely
10 result, as they themselves seem very generally
TO believe it may, IN the practical excusi N of
our painters and sculptoIs from the rich fields for
observation, study and labor which they have
hitherto enjoyed.
There is prospect that the long pending revision
of the foreign treaties of Japan may be concluded
at a new conference to be held at Toxic and
while this government fully recognizes the equal
and independent station of Japan in the COM
munity of nations, 1t would not oppose the gen.
eral adoption of such terms of compromise as
Japan may be disposed to offer in furtherance of
a uniform policy of intercourse with Western ma
tons.
During the past year the increasing good will
between our own government and that of Mexico
has been variousy manifested. The treaty of
commercial reciprocity concluded January 90,
1855. has been ratified and awaits the necessary
tariff legislation of Congress to become effective.
The legislation will, doubt not, be among the
ar f11l