The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-11-27

49, - S"f' -"
To our charge lad the cultivation Of Tho arts OF
peace within our borders through jealousy alert
10 preventing the American hemisphere from
being involved In the political problems and
complications of distant governments thereon.
| am unable to recommend propositions involv-
ing paramount privileges of ownership or right
outside. of our own territory when coupled
with absolute AID unlimited engagements
to defend the territorial integrity OF
the state where such interests lie.
While tho general prospect Of connecting the
9wo oceans by means of n canal IL To be encOur-
aged. ! am Of the opinion that any scheme tn
that eud To he considered with favor should be
free from the features alluded to. The Tchuan-
tepec route IL declared by engineers OF highest
rcpute and by competent scientific men to
afford an entirely practicable transit for vessels
and cargoes by means of a ship railway from
the Atlantic To the Pacific. The obvious advau-
tages of such a route. IL feasible, over others
more remote from the axial lines of traffic be-
tween Europe and the Pacific, and par
ticularly between the valley Of the Missis-
sippi and the western coast OF Moth and
South America. are deserving of consideration.
Whatever highway may be constructed across
the barrier dividing the two greatest maritime
areas of the world must be for the worlds benefit.
a trust for mankind to be removed from tho
chano OF domination by any single power nor
become a point OF invitation for hostilitIes or q
prize for war!ike ambition. An engagement
combining the construction, ownership and
operation of such a work by this government
with an offensive and defensive alliance for its
protection with the foreign state whose respon-
sibilities and rights We would have. is, In my
judgment, inconsistent with such dedication TO
universal and neutral use, and would, moreover.
entail measures for its realization beyond the
scope Of our national policy or present means.
The lapse of years has abundantly confirmed
tho wisdom and foresight of these earlier admin
istrations which long before the conditions OF
maritime intercourse were changed and enlarged
by the progress of the age, proclaimed the vital
need of an interoceanic route across the Amer
lean isthmus and cOnsecrated in advance to the
common use OF mankind, by their positive dec
~larations and through the formal obligation OF
treaties. Toward such realization the efforts OF
my administration will be applied, ever bearing
in mind the principles on which it must rest, and
which were declared In uncertain tones by Mr..
Cass who. while secretary OF state In 1886,
announced that what the United States want
in Central America. next to the happiness of
the people is, the security and neutrality OF the
iuteroceanic routes which lead through It. ="
The construction Of three transcontinental lines
of railway, all in successful OPERATION, wholly
within our territory, aud uniting the Atlantic
and the Pacific oceans, has been accompanied by
results of a most interesting and impressive
nature; and has created new conditions. not on
the routes OF m only, but In political
geography, which powerfully affect our rela-
lions toward. and necessarily increase our
interests in anv trans-isthmia route which
may be opened and employed for the
ends of peace and traffic, or. in other
contingencies, for uses inimical to both.
Transportation is factor in the cost OF commod-
tiles scarcely second to that of their produc-
ton, and weighs as heavily upon the consumer.
Our existence already has proven the great
Importance 0f having the competition between
land carriers and water carriers fully developed,
each acting rs protection TO the public against
| the tendencies of monopoly, which is inherent in
/ the consolidation Of wealth and power In the
hands of vast corporations. Those suggestions
may serve TO emphasize what i have already said
on the score of the necessity Of a naturalization
OF any interoceanic transit, and this can only
be accomplished by making the use of the
route open to all nations and subject to tho
ambitions and warlike necessities of none.
The drawings and report of a recent survey of the
Nicaragua canal route made bv Chief Engineer
Menacal. will be communicated for your infor-
nation. The claims OF citizens Of the United
States for losses by reason Of the late military
operations of Chill, In Peru and Bolivia, are the
subject Of negotiation for a claim convention
with Chilli, providing for their submission to
arbitration
CHINA.
The harmony Of our relations with China is
fully sustained in the application of the acts
lately passed to execute the treaty of 1sS0-re-
s~trictive of the immigration of Chinese laborers
into the United States. Individual cases
of hardship have occurred beyond the
power Of the cyecutivs to remedy,
and calling for judicial determination
The condition Of the Chinese question in the
Western states and territories Is, despite this
restrictive legislation, far from being satis-
e..t.., trl,a r,.,rF ,tlra In xrpv,in Tor
ritory, where numbers of unofrending Cinnamon,
indisputably within the projections Of the treaties
and the law, were murdered by a mob, and the
still more recent threatened outbreak OF the
same character. in Washington Territory, are
fresh In the minds Of all, and there Is apprehen-
sion lest the bitterness of feeling against the
Monaghan race on the Pacific slope may
find vent I'm similar lawless demonstrations
All the power of this government should be ex-
erted to maintain the amplest good faith toward
China In the treatment of these men, and the
inflexible sternness OF the law in bringing the
wrongdoers to justice should be insisted upon
Every effort has been made by this government
to prevent these violent outbreaks, and to aid
the representatives OF China in their investiga.
ton of these outrages. and 1t is but just to say
that they arc traccable to the lawlessness Of
men, not citizens of the United States
engaged in competition with Chinese laborers
Race prejudice is the chief factor, excels In
originating these disturbances, and Is In a large
part of our domain jeopardizing our domestic
peace and the good relationship We strive to
maintain with China. The admitted right Of a
government to prevent the influx Of elements
hostile to its eternal peace and security may not
b, questioned even where there Is no treaty
stipulation on the subject. That the exclusion
of Chinese labor Is demanded In other countries
where like conditions prevail Is strongly
evinced in the dominion OF Canada,
where Chinese Immigration IL now regul
lated by laws more exclusive than oar own
IL existing laws are inadequate to compass the
end In view, l shall be prepared to give earnest
consideration to any futher remedial measures
within the treaty limits which the wisdom Of
congress may devise.
THE CONGO.
The Independent State OF Congo has been or
ganiz ID as a government, under the sovercignt,
of his majesty, the king of the Belgians. wh'
assumes it's chief magistracy In his persona
character only, without making the new state
dependency on Belgium. 1t Is fortunate that
benightcd region, owing all it has of quickenin:
civilization to the beneficience and philanthropy
spirit of this monarch, should have The advant'
age and security OF hia benevolent supervision
The actian taken by this government last year
in being the first to RECOGNIZES the flag of the In
ternatIonal Association OF til, Congo. has been
followed by forinil recognition OF the new ma
tionaiity which succeeds to its sovereign pow
ers. A conference of dsleg ltes OF the principal
commercial nations was held at Berlin last win
ter to discuss methods whereby the Congo BASH
might be kept open to the worlds trade. Dele
gates sttended on behalf of the United States oil
the understanding that their part should
be merely deliberative, without impartinp
to the results any binding character
30 far as the United States were concerned
This reserve was due to the indisposition OF Thu
government to share In any disposal by an inter
national congress OF jurisdic:ional questions In
remote foreign territories. The results OF thu
conference were embodied In a formsl act OF Tho
nature OF an International convention. which
l,iJ claim, In car.ain obliuations purpOrting h