Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-12-17
CleYeland'S Message.
To the Congress of the United States:

~ TIE congress 81 uIe C1lIteU OtUJeS'
Your assembly is clouded by a sense Of public
bereavement, caused by the recent and sudden
death of Thomas A. Hendricks, vice president of
the United States His distinguished puplic ser
vices, his complete Integrity and devotion TO
every duty, and his personal virtues will find an
honorable record in his country's history. Ample
and respected proofs of the esteem and confidence
in which he was held by his fellow countrymen
were menifes ted by his election an Office Of the
most important trust and highest dignity, and at
length, full of years and hohOrs he has been laid
at rest amid universal sorrow and bereavement
The constitution which requires those chosen
70 legslate for the people 70 annually meet in the
discharge OF their solemn trust also requires the
president TO give to congress information Of the
state or the universe and recommend to their con-
sderation such measures as he shall deem neceS-
Sary and eXpedlent AT the threshold Of COM
plIance with their constitutional directions 1t is
well for us TO bear in mind that our usefulness to
the peoples interests will he promoted by a con-
slant appreciation of the scope and character of
our respective duties they relate to federal
legislation While the executive may recommend
such measures as he shall deem expedient the
responsibility for legislative action must and
should rest upon those elected by the people to
make these laws.
Contemplation of the grave and responsible
functions assigned TO the executive branches of
the government under the constitution, will dis
close the partition of power between the re-
specttVe departments and their necessary indie
DendeDce, and also the need for the exercise of
all the power intrustad to each in that spirit of
comfy and cooperation which is essential to the
proper fufnent of the patriotic obligations
which rest upon us as faithful servants Of the
people. Inc Jealous WaCclfuI06SS OF our consult
uencics, great and small, supplements their suffer-
ages and before the tribunal they establish,
every public servant should be- judged.
1t IS gratifying to announce that the relations
OF the United States with all foreign powers CON
time to be friendly. Our position after nearly
q century of successful constitutional govern
menG maintenance of good faith in all our
gagements, the avoidance Of complications with
other nations, and consistent and amicabe atti-
tude toward the strong and weak alike, furnish
proof Of political disposition which renders pro-
LESSONS OF good will unnecessary. There are no
questions OF difficulty pending with any foreign
government.
ARGENTINE REPUBLIC
The Argentine government has revived the long
dormant condition Of the Falkland islands by
claiming from the United States indemnity for
their loss attributed to the action of the
commander of the slOop Of Lexington,
in breaking up piratical colony on those
islands in 1881, and their subsequent
occupation by Great Britain. In view of the
ample justification for the act Of the Lexington
and the direlict condition OF the islands before
and after their alleged occupation by Argentine
colonies This government considers the claim
as wholly groundless.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
Early In March last, war broke out in Central
America caused by the attempt of Qua
taTaaa to consolidate the several states into a
single Government. In the contest between our
nelghboring states. The United States forebore to
Interfere actively, but sent the aid Of their friend
" ofnces IN depreciating war, and to promote
peace and concord among the belIigerents And
by such counsel contributed impartially to the
restoration OF tranquility in that locality,
EXTRAORDINARY.
The question has arisen with the government
of AustrO- Hungary. touching the representa-
ton of the United States at Vienna. Having
under my constitutional prerogative appointed
an eStlmable citizen of unimpeachable probity
and competency as minister at that court, the
government of Austro-Hungary invited this gov
eminent to take cogniZance of certain exceptions
based upon allegations AGAINST the personal ac1
pRptabitV Mr KplaV the anDOiOtnd
asking that in view thereof the appointment
should be withdrawn"
The reasons advanced were such as could not
be acquiesced in without violation of my oath of
Office and the precepts of the constitution, since
they necessarily involved a limitation in favor of
a foreign government upon the right of selection
by the executive and required such applica-
ton of religious test a qualification for Office
under the United States as would have resulted
in the practical Acknowledgement of a large class
of cur citizens and the abandonment of vital
principle of our government. The AustrO-Hun
garian government finally decided not to receive
Mr. Kelley as the envoy of the United States, and
that gentleman has since resigned his commits
sion, leaving the post vacant / have made no
new nomination and the interests of this govern
ment at Vienna are now in the care of the secre-
tary OF the legation acting as charge d. aHaires
ad interim.
PANAMA. WAR.
The emery encies growing out of civil war in the
United States of Colombia, demanded Of the
Government at the beginning Of this admnistra-
ton, the employment of an armed forced to full
treaty of 1916, in order to keep the transit open
across the Isthmus Of Panama. DESTROYS OF
exercising only the powers expressly reserved to
US by the treaty, and mindful OF the rights OF
Colombia, the forces sent to the Isthmus were
instructed te contne their actions so as to posi-
lively and efficaciOusly prevent the transit and
its accessories from being interrupted or embar-
The execution OF this delicate ana responsible
task necessarily involved police control where
the local authority was temporarily powerless
but always in aid of the sovereignty of Colon
ba. The prompt and successful fulf1llment of
its duty by this government was highly appre-
ciated by the government Of Colombia and
has been followed by expression OF its satisfac,,
ton. High praise IS due to the officers and
men engaged in this service. The restoration
of peace on the Isthmus by the re-estabLsh-
ment of the constituted government there, being
thus accomplished, the forces Of the United
States were withdrawn.
Pending these occurrences a question of much
Importance vas presented by DEGREES of the
Colombian government-proclaiming the closure
of certain ports then in the hands OF the inSur-
gents and declaring vessels held by the revoIu-
zionist to be piratiCal and liable to capture by
any power. To neither of these propositions
could the United States assent. An effective
closure of the ports not in the possession Of the
government, but held by hostile partiSans could
not be recognized.
Neither could the vessels of insurgents against
the legitimate sovereignty be deemed hosts
hIImGnt genGriS within the preCeptS Of interna-
tional law, whatever might be the definition and
penalty of their acts under the municipal law of
the state against whose authority they were in
revolt. The denial by this government of the
Colombian DEGREES did not, however, imply the
admission of belligerent status on the part of
the insurgents. The Colombian government has
expressed its willingness to negotiate conventions
for the adjustment by arbitration of claims by
foreign citizens arising out of the destruction OF
the city of Aspiawal by the insurrectionary
forces.
THE NICARAGU4N TREATY.
The interest of the United States in practica.
BILE transit for ships across the strip of land sep
arating the Atlantic from the Pacific has been
repeatedly manifested during the last half cen
fury. My immediate predecessor caused TO be
negotiated with Nicaragua treaty for the con-
SCruction by and at the sole cost of the United
States, of a canal through Nicaraguan territory,
and laid it before the senate, pending the action
of that body thereon. | withdrew the treaty for
re-examination. Attentive consideration of its
provisions leads me to withhold it from Iesub-
mission to the senate, maintaining. as do, the
tone of line OF presidents from WaShington's
day, which prescribe entangling alliances with
foreign states. l do not favor policy of acqui-
sition Of new and distant territory, or the ncor-
poraton of remote interests with our own. The
laws of progress are vital and organic, and we
must be conscious of that irresistible tide OF
commercial expansion, which, as the con-com
Militant of our active civilization day by day, is
.,..~ ,rrHN T.THNN Tc