Huntsville gazette., 1885-12-12
land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific

lana separating the Atlantic from the Pacific
has been repeatedly manifested during the
last half century. My immediate predeoes-
sor caused to be negotiated with Nicaragua
a treaty for the construction by and at the
sole cost Of the United States of canal
through the Nicaraguan territory, and laid 1t
that body thereon withdrew the treaty for
re examination. Attentive consideration OF
its provisions leads me to withhold it from
resubmission to the Senate.
TOWARD SUCH REALIZATION
the efforts of my administration will be ap-
piled, ever bearing in mind the principles
on winch 1t must rest, and which were de-
clared in no. uncertain tones by Mr. Cass,
who, while Secretary of State in 1853, an
nounced that "what the United States wants
In Central America, next to the happiness
OF Its people, Is the security and neutrality
OF the inter oceanic routes which lead
through It,"
The construction Of three transcontinental
lines OF railway. all in successful operation,
wholly within our territory and uniting the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, has been ac-
companied by results of a most interesting
and impressive nature. and has created new
conditions, not in the routes of commerce
only, but in political geo graphy which pow
erfuily affect our relations toward and nee
esSarily increase our interest In any trans
isthmian 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 a factor in the cost Of commodities scarce.
ly second to that OF their pro 1uction and
weighs as heavily upon their consumer Our
existence already has proven the great inn
portance of having the competti )u between
land carriage and water carriage fully devei
oped, each acting as protection to the public
against the tendencies OF monopoly, which
is inherent in the consolidation of wealth
and power in the hands of vast corpora
tions. These suggestions may serv. to en-
phasize what / have already said on the
score OF the necessity OF naturalization of
any inter oceanic transit, and this can only
be accomplished by making the uses Of the
route open to all nations and subject to the
ambitions and warlike necessities of none.
The drawings and report OF a recent survey
OF the Nicara qua Canal route made by Chief
Engineer Menocal will be communicated for
your in OrmatiOn.
The claims OF citizens OF the United States
for losses by reason of the late military OPP
eratons of Chill in Peru and Bolivia are the
subject OF negotiation for a claims cOuven-
tion with Chilli, providing for their submis-
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 ot the immigration OF Chi
neso laborers into the United States. Inii-
vidual cases OF hardship have occurred be-
yond the p lwer of the Executive TO remedy,
and calling for judicial determination. The
condition of
THE CHINESE QUESTION
in the Western States and Territories is, de-
spite this restrictive legislation, far from be-
ing satisfactory. The recent outbreak In
Wyoming Territory. where numbers OF un-
offending Cinnamon, in1isputabty within
the protection of the treaties 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-
hensiOn lest the bitterness OF ,eeltng against
| the MOngolian race on the Pacific slope may
| find vent Ii, similar lawless demonstration
| All the power of this Government should be
| exerted 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 on. Every effort has been
made by this Government to prevent those
| violent outbreaks anu to aid the represen nta-
| tives of China in their investigation or these
| outrages, and it is but justice to say they are
| traceable 10 the lawlesSneSS or men not citl :
| Zens of the United States engaged in com
| petition with Chinese laborers Race preiu-
| dice is the chief factor in originating these
disturbances, and it exists in a large part OF
| our domain jeopardizing our dOmes ic
peace and the good relationship we strive to
maintain with China. The admitted right OF
| Government to prevent the influx OF elements
| hostile to its internal 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 conditions pre-
| vail is strongly evidenced in the Dominion
| of Can ada, where Chinese Immigration is
now regulated bs laws more exclusive than
| our own. II existing laws are inadequate to
| compass the end in view. shall be prepared
| to give my earnest consideration TO any FUR
| ther remedial measures within the treaty
| limits which the wisdom of Congress may
| devise.
| The independent State Of the Congo has
| been organized as a government under the
| soyereignty OF Ills Maie ,ty the King of the
| Belgians who ass INES its CHER magstracy
| in his personal character only, without
| making the new State a dependency on
Belgium. 1t is unfortuna. e that beniShted
| region, owing all it has of quicke ming cIViii-
| zation to the benehcence ana pnilanthro
pic spirit of this monarch, should nave the
| advantage and security of his benevolent
! supervision. The action by this Govern
| ment last year in being the first to recog-
| njze the flag of the international ASsoci-
| ation of the Congo has been followed by
| formal rec ognition of the new nation
| ality which succeeds to ITS sovereisn REIN
| powers. conference OF delegates
| of the principal commerciai
| nations was held at Berlin last winter TO dis
| cuss methods whereby the congo Da5in
| might be kept open to the worlds trade.
| Delegates atten led on behalf OF the Uuited
| States on the understanding that their part
| should be merely deiberntiye, without I'M
| posing to the results any binding character,
| 40 far as the United States were concerned.
| This reserve was due to the indi5positlon OF
| this Government TO share in any disposal Dy
| an international congress of Juri5dictionai
| questions in remote foreign territories, Ine
| results of the conference was emoodie1 In
| formal act of the nature of an internatio nai
| convention, which laid down certain
| obligati purporting to be binding on
| the signatories, subject to ratification within
| one year Notwithstanding the reservation
| under which the delegates of the United
| States attended, their signatures were at
| tached to the general act In the same man.
| ner as those of the Plenipotentiaries OF
| other Governments, thus making the Unteu
States appear without reserve or quallnca.
| ton as signatory to q joint international
engagement imposing on the signer5 the
| conservation OF the territorial integrity OF
| distant regions where we have no e5tao-
| iished interests or control. This Gov.
ernment does not, however, regard
| it's reservation OF liberty OF action
| in the premises as at all impaired,
| and holding that an engagement co snare IA
| the obligation of enforcing neutraity IN the
| remote valley of the Congo would De an al
| lance who sc responsibilities we are not IN a
position to assume. 1 abstain from asking
| the sanction of the senate that generai
| act. The correspondence Will oe iaid before
YOU and the instructive and interesting re-
| port of the agent sent by this ,vernmeht
| TO the Congo Country and his recommenda.
| tions for the establishment OF comnercial
| agencies on the African coast are also SUD-
mitted for your consideration.
THE SOUTH AMERICAN COMMISSION.
| The commission appointed 0y my prede.
| cessor last winter to visit the Central ana
| South American countries aud report on
the methods of ensarging the commercial
relations OF the Unite otates has siotntted
reports which will be laid before you. NO
| opportunity has been omitted to testify to