Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-09
CLEVELAND'S MESSAGE.
AN UNUSUALLY LONG AND ABLE
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.


Friendly Foreign ReIations-The Reiec-
tion of Keiley-Bismarck's Course
central American Matters-Suspension
of the Coinage OF the silver Dollar Re-
cOmmended-A Humane Indian Poll
cy-The Chicago Tariff Plank Upheld.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The full text of
President Cleveland's first annual mes
sage, which was transmitted to Congress
to-day, is as follows:
10 the Congress of the United States:
Your assembling is clouded by a sense of
public bereavement, caused by the
recent and sudden death OF
Ihomas A. Hendricks, Vice President
OF tne United States. His distinguished
| pubic services, his complete integrity
ana devotion to every duty, and his per-
! sonal virtues will find honorable record
in his country's history. Ample and re-
peated proofs Of the esteem and conf
| dence in which he was held by his fellow
| cOuntrymen were manifested by his elec-
ton to offices of the most important trust
ana highest dignity, and at length, full Of
years and honors, he has been laid at rest
amid universal sorrow and benediction.
The constitution, which requires those
CHOSEN to legislate for the people to an
nually meet IN the discharge of their SOL
emn trust, also requires the President to
give to Congress information of the state
OF the union and recommend to their con-
sideration such measures as he shall
deem necessary and expedient.
AT THE PUBLIC's TRIBUNAL.
At the threshold of compliance with
these constitutional directions it is we'll
for us to bear in mind that our usefulness
TO the peoples interests will be promoted
by constant appreciation Of the scope
| ana character OF our respective duties as
they relate to federal legislation. While
the Executive shall recommend such
measures as he may deem expedient, the
responsibility tor legislative action must
and should rest upon those selected by
| the people to make their laws.
Contemplation OF the grave and respon-
s1ble functions assigned to the respective
| branches of the government, under the
constitution, will disclose the partitions
OF power between our respective depart
ments and their necessary independence,
and, also, the need for the exercise of ali
the power entrusted to each in that spirit
OF comfy and cooperation which is es-
| sentlal to the proper fulfllment Of the
patriotic obligations which rest upon us
as faithful servants of the people. The
jealous Watchfulness of our constituent
cies, great and small, supplements their
! sutfrages, and before the tribunal they
establish every public servant should be
| judged.
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
1t is gratifying to announce that the
| relations OF the United States with all
| foreign powers continues to be friendly.
Our position after nearly a century OF
successful constitutional government,
the maintenance of good faith in all our
lpaa ,e,.,kn i.
tiOns with other nations and our con-
sistent and amicable attitude toward the
strong and weak alike, furnish proof of a
political disposition which renders pro-
tesst0ns of good will unnecessary. There
are no questions of difficulty pending
with any foreign government.
The Argentine government has revived
the long dormant question Of the Falk-
land islands by claiming from the United
States indemnity for their loss attributed
to the action of the commander of the
slOop OF war Lexington in breaking up a
piratical colony on those islands in 1881,
and their subsequent occupation by Great
Britain. In view of the ample justitlca-
tiOn for the act of the Lexington and the
derelict condition of the islands before
and after their alleged occupation by
Argentine cOlOnists this government con-
siders the claim as wholly groundless.
THE AUSTRIAN MISSION.
A question has arisen with the govern
ment Of Austria-Hungary touching the
representation of the United States at
Vienna. Having under my constitutional
prerogative appointed an estimable citi-
zen Of unimpeached probity and compet-
ence as minister at that court, the gov
ernment OF Austria-Hungary invited this
government to take cOgnizance of certain
exceptions based upon allegations
against the personal eptability OF Mr..
Kelley, the appointed envoy, asking that
| in view thereof the appointment should
be withdrawn. The reasons advanced
were such as could not be acquesced in
without violation Of my oath of
office and the precepts of
| the constitution, since they nee
essarily involved a Limitation in favor of
a foreign government upon the right OF
| selection by the executive, and required
such an application Of a religious test as
| a qualification for Office under the United
States as would have resulted in the prac-
tical disfrancbisement OF large class of
our citizens and the abandonment of vi
tai principle in our government. Tne
Austro- Hungarian government finally de-
cided not TO receive Mr.. Kelley as the en-
vOy OF the United States, and that gentle
man has since resigned his commission,
leaving the post vacant. have made no
new nomination, and the interests OF this
government at Vienna are now in the
care of the Secretary OF the Legation, act
ing as charge d. affaires ad interim.
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN WAR.
Early in March last war broke out in
Central America, caused by an attempt
OF Guatemala TO consolidate the several
States into a single government. In these
contests between our neighborlng States,
the United States forebOre to in
terfere actively, but lent tue aid of their
friendly Office in depreciation Of war and
to promote peace and concord among the
belligerents, and by such counsel con-
tributed Importantly 70 the restoration OF
tranquility in that locality.
The emergencies growing out Of the
civil war in the United states OF Colombia
demanded OF the government at the begin
ming OF this administration. the employ
ment OF an armed force TO fulfill It's
guarantees under the 3Jth article Of
the treaty OF 1916, in order
10 keep the transit open across
the Isthmus OF Panama. DESTROYS Of OK
ercising only the powers expressly re-
served TO us by the treaty, and mindful OF
the rights OF Colombia the forces sent 10
the isthmus were instructed 10 c0nhne
their action 10 positively and efiicaciOus-
lyv preventing the transit and its acces-
sories from being Uninterrupted or en-
barrassed." The execution OF this deli
cate and responsible task necessarily
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