Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-08

within the precepts of international law. what
ever 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 ofsthe Colom-
bian propositions 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 Aspinwall by the insurrectionary forces.
The interest of the United States in a practi-
cable transit for ships across the strip of land
separating the Atlantic from the Pacific has
been repeatedly manifested during the last
half century.
My immediate predecessor caused to be nego-
tiated with Nicaragua treaty for the construc-
ton, by and at the sole cost of the United
states, OF a canal through Nicaraguan territory
and laid 1T before the Senate. Pending the
action of that body thereon, / withdrew the
treaty for re-examination. Attentive consid-
GRAFTON OF Its provisions leads me to withhold
1t from resubmssion to the Senate.
Maintaining, as | do. the tenets of a line of
precedents from Wasbington's day, which pro-
scribe entangling alliances with foreign states,
do not favor policy of acquisition of new and
distant territory or the incorporation 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
day. is being urged onward by those increasing
facilities OF production, transportation, and
communication to which steam and electricity
have given birth: but our duty in the present
instructs us TO address ourselves mainly to the
development of the vast resources of the great
area committed to our charge, and to the Guilt
walton OF the arts of peace within our own
borders, though jealousy alert in preventing
the American hemisphere from being involved
distant governments. Therefore, / am unable
TO recommend propositions involving para
mount privileges of ownership right outside
OF our own territory, when coupled with abso-
lutte and unlimited engagements to defend the
territorial integrity of the state where such in
terests lie. While the general project of con-
Meeting the two oceans by means OF canal Is
to be encouraged, am of opinion that any
scheme to that end to be considered with favor
should be free from the features alluded to.
The Tehuantepec route is declared, by engi-
neers of the highest repute and by competent
scientists, to afford an entirely practicable tram
railway, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The
obvious advantages of such route, if feasible,
over others more remote from the axial lines of
particularly, between the valley of the Missis-
s1ppi and the western coast of North 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, trust for mankind, to be removed
from the chance of domination by any single
power, nor become a point of invitation for hos
tilities or prize tor warlike ambition. An
engagement Ombining the construction, own
ership, and operation OF such a work by this
Government, with an offensive and defensive
alliance for its protection, with the foreign state
whose responsibilities and rights We would
share, 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
pOity Or present means.
The lapse OF years has abundantly confirmed
the wisdom and foresight of those earlier ad-
manifestations which, long before the conditions
OF maritime intercourse were changed and en-
larged by the progress of the age, proclaimed
the vital need OF interoceanic transit across
an ed in,
advance to the common use OF mankind by
their positive declarations and through the for
NAL obligation OF treaties. Toward such realiza-
tion the efforts OF my administration will be
applied, ever bearing in mind the principles
on which it must rest, and which were de-
clared in NO uncertain tones by Mr.. Cass, who,
while Secretary Of state. in 1883, announced
that "What the United States want in Central
America next to the happiness Of its people, is
routes which lead through it,
The construction OF three transcOntinental
lines OF railway all in successful operation
wholly within our territory and uniting the At
lantic and the Pacific oceans, has been accom-
panied by results OF most interesting and
impressive nature, and has created new con-
not in the routes of commerce only,
but in political geography, which powerfully
affect our relations toward, and necessarily in
crease our interests in, any transsthmian
route which may be opened and employed for
the ends Of peace and traffic, or, in other con-
for uses inimical to both.
Transportation is a factor in the cost of
commodities scarcely second to that of their
production, and weighs as heavily upon the
Our experience already has proven the great
Importance of having the com petition between
land carriage and water carriage fully de-
veioped, each acting protection to the
public against tine tendencies to MONOPOLY
which is inherent in the consolidation of wealth
and power ia the hands of vast corporations.
These suggestions may serve to emphasize
what have already said on the score OF the
necessity of naturalization OF any interoceanic
transit; and this can only be accomplished by
n al no
tons and subject to the ambitions and warIike
necessities of none.
The drawings and report OF q recent survey of
the Nicaragua Canal route, made by Chief En-
gIneer Menocal, will be communicated for your
information.
The claims of citizens of the United States for
losses by reason of the late military operations
OF Chile in Peru and Bolivia are the subject of
negotiation FOR claims convention with Chile,
providing for their submission to arbitration.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
The harmony of our relations with China is
fully sustained.
In the application of the acts lately passed to
execute the treaty of 1880, restrictive of the
immigration OF Chinese labOreTs into the United
states, individual cases of hardship have oc-
CURED beyond the power of the Executive to
remedy, and calling tor judicial determination.
The condition OF the Chinese question in the
Western States and Territories is, despite this
restrictive legislation, far from being satisfac.
tOfy. lie TGcSnt outbreak III wyoming Terri.
tory where numbers OF unoffending Cinnamon
indisputabiy within the protection of the trea-
ties and the law, were murdered by 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 appre,
tension lest the bitterness of feeling against
the Monaghan race the Pacific slope may
find vent in similar lawless demonstrations
All the power OF this government should be en-
erted 10 maintain the ampiest good faith toward
China in the treatment of these men, and the
inf1exibe sternness OF the law in bringing the
wrong-ioers to justice should be insisted upon
Every effort has been made by this Govern
ment to prevent these violent outbreaks and
TO aic the representatives OF China in their
investigation of these Outrages; and IL is but
just TO say that they are traceable to the law
lessness OF men not citizens of the United
states engaged in competition with Chinese
labOrers.
Race prejudice is the chief factor in original
ing these disturbances, and IL exists in a large
part OF our domain. jeOpardiZine our domestic
peace and the good relationship we strive to
maintain with China.
The admitted right of government to. pre-.
vent the influx Of elements hostile to its utter
nal peace and security may not be questioned,
even where there is no treaty stipulation on the
subject. That the exclusion OF Chinese labor is
demanded In other countries where like con-
ditions prevail is strongly evidenced In the
dominion OF Canada, where Chinese imnligra-
ton Is now regulated by laws more exclusive
man our own. II existing laws are Inadequate
10 compass the end in view, shall be prepared
10 give earnest consideration to any further