National Republican., 1885-12-09

ii'ihlNN ~ llt NtUUlt lOF ratification.
. Under section 1859 of the Revised Sto
| utcs, all funds held In trust by tho Unit,
, states and the annual interest nccrtiln
lhcfeun, when not otherwise required Il
treaty, are to he invested in stocks OF "A
: ulNttd statcs bearing n rate OF interest No
,tss ilan per ccntum per annum. Thei
iting now no procurOble stocks paving :
high rate OF Interest, the letter Of I'll
| statute Is nt present inapplicnble. In
It's spirit issubservc6 by continuing 10 mai;
: Investments of this nature In current stock
bearing the highest interest now paid. nh
statute, Eowevcr, makes no provision fo
the disposal OF such accretions. IL bpiu
contrary to the general rule Of this govern
meht to allow interest on claims | rec
commend the repeal Of the provision 1
question. and the disposition, under uni
foim rule, OF the present accumulation
from Investment OF trust funds.
CITIZENSHIP AND NATURALIZATION.
The inadequacy of existing Legislation
touching citizenship and naturalization de
mGnds your consideration.
Nhilc recognizing the right Of expatri
ation no statutory provision exists provid
lIg means for renounoing citizenship by az
American citizen, native born or natural
iIed' nor Tor terminating and vacatng an
improper acquisition of citizenship. Even
q fraudulent decree Of naturalization can.
not now be cancelled. The privilege and
franchise of American citizenship should be
granted with care, and extended to those
only who intend in good faith 10 assume rs
| uuties and responsibilities when attainlnu
US privileges and benefits; II should bo with
! htld from those who merely go througl,
Tie forms of naturalization with the intent
q escaping the duties of their original allie.
glance without taking upon themselves
those Of their new status, or who may nc.
quire the rights of American citizenship for
no other than hostile purpose toward
ihtir original governments. These eylls
E6ye bad many lIngraut illustrations.
lieg0rd with favor the suggestion put
icith BY one Of my predecessors, that pro.
| vision Ie made for q central bureau OF
rccoid OF the DEGREES Of naturalization
| granted by the various courts throunhout
the United States now invested with that
| power.
., he rights which spring from domicile In
| The United States, especially wien couplod
| with u declaration of intention TO become a
| citizen, orc worthy of definition by statute.
The stranger coming hithcr with iuttnt to
remain, establishing his residence In our
MIDST, contributing to the general welfare,
! ana, by his voluntary act, declaring his
| purpose to assume the responsibilities of
| citizenship, thereby gains an inchoate
| statuS which legislation may properly define,
| lhc laws OF certain states and territories
| admit domicied alien to the local fran
| chise, conicning ON him the rights of cit
| iTcnsbip toa degree which places him IN
tic il'mGlous position of being n citizen
OF stalc ana yet not Of the United States
WITHIN the purview Of federal and interna-
tiOnGl law.
II is important within tho scope of ma
uonal legislation to define this right of alien
uclnlcilc Us distinguished from Federal nat
UralHation.
The commercial relations of the Untel
Stntes with their immediate neighbors and
with important areas Of traffic near our
shores suggest especially liberal intercourse
between them and us.
Following the treaty of 1888 with Mexico.
which rested on the basis Of reciprocal rX-
tmrtiOn from customs duties, other similar
treaties were initiated by my predecessor.
Recognizing the need Of less obstructel
trailic with Cuba and Porto Rico, and met
ny The desire Of Spain to succor langushinr
interests In the Antilles, steps were taken
10 attain those ends by treaty OF com
molcc. similar treaty was afterwarl
signed h% the Dominican republic. Subso.
Vuchliy oVcrturcs were made by her Britain
nc U0icSty's government for a like mutu1l
extension Of commercial intercourse with
lhe GliiiSh West Indian and South Amcri-
can dependencies, but without result.
On taklng office, | withdrew for re-ex-
ana Santo Domingo, then pending before
the Senate. The result has been to satisfy
me OF The ineXpediency of entering into en-
EagcmCnts OF this character not covering
tue entire traffic.
These treaties contemplated the surrender
by Me United States of large revenues for
inadequate considerations. Upon sugar
alone duticswere surrendered to an amount
lar exceeding all the advantages offered In
exchange. Even were it intended to re-
Ieye our consumers IL was evident that.
so long us the exemption but partially Gov
ercu cur importation, such relief would be
lllusCry. To rclinquisl revenue SO essen.
tal seemed highly improvident at time
when new and large drains upon the treas.
nry We're contemplated. Moreover, en-
bnrrassing questions would have arisen
under the favored-nation clauses of treaties
with other nations
AS further objection, It Is evident that
tnitir regulation by treaty diminishes that
independent control over its own revenues
which is essential for the safety and welfare |
oil any government Emergency calling for |
an increase OF taxation may at any time |
arse, aud no engagement with n foreign |
power should exist to hamper the action Of |
the government.
By the fourteenth section of the shippinr
act, approved June ~, 1854, certain rcduc-
hons and contingent exemp tions from ton.
mage dues were made as to vessels entering
ports OF the United States from any foreign
poIt III North or Central America, the West
lndio Islands, the Bahamas and Bermudas
Mexico, and the sithmus as far AS AS,
blnwall and Panama. The governments OF
Belgium, Denmark, Germany, PORTUGAL.
ana sweden and Norway have asserted nm
ier The etavored-nation clause in their traa
ll,s with the United States. claim to like
IreaImeht m respect OF vessels coming TO
ne United States from their home ports,
] his government, however, holds that thn
privileges granted by the act are nnrelv
geographical, inuiing to any vessel or any
.orcign, power that may choose to engage In
faibc between this country and any mort
within the defined zone, and no warrant
Nlsis under the most favorcd-nation clause
or the eNtenion OF the pryilegcgs in aues.
lon TO vessels sailing TO this country from
lorts outside the Limitation of the act.
Undoubtedly the relations Of commerce
with our near neighbors, whose territories
oim go long frontier line difficult to be
su"rded, and who find in our country, and
qually 0iier to us, natural markets, de-
mana special aud considerate treatment.
I iests with Congress to consider what
egisIative action may increase facilities of
Intercourse which contlguity makes nat
ral and desirable. ''''
hfoEM IN THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR
SERVICE.
earnestly urge that Congress rccast the Z
IPIopiistion Tor the maintenance of the
iplomatc and consular service on A foot.
lg commensurate with the Importance OF !
ur national interests. At every post where
representative Is necessary the salary
loula lie so graded us to permit him to a
We with comfort. With the nss!gnncnt of /
lCquate salaries the so-callel notlrlnl /
Ntr0'oilicial fees, which our officers abroad /
re- row permitted to treat as personal per- a
nIsItcs, should he done away with Every +
u rtqurlng the certlGcatiol ami seal OF Il
le officer should he taxable nj schedule y
lics, and The fec therefor returned b Tho !
e"sulN. BY restoring these revenues 10 Il
le public use tue consular service would q
sel-supporting, even with liberal i'm. y
case 0i the present low salaries. 4
IN luIlCr urnVpptipp ,I,,,..-