The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-08

tnert Of che Colombian proposition did not how
ever, imply the submission OF u beiiserent status
OH the part Of the insurgents. The Colombian
Government has Expressed its Willingness To
negotiate a convention for the adjustment. by
Arbitration, OF tbs claims OF foreign citizens
arising out of the destruction Of the city OF As
piIwa AL by the insurrectionary foroes.
THE 1sTHMus CANAL.
The interest of the United States in prac-
ticable transit for ships across the strip 81 LAND
separating the Atlantic from the Pactfic has
been repeatedly manifested during the last half
century, NJ immediate predecessors caused to
be negotiated with Nicaragua treaty for tho
construction, by and n the sole cost ID tbs
Unitsd States, Of q canal through Nioaragaan
territory and laid before the Senate. Pending
the action of that body thereon, withdrew the
treaty for REORGANIZATION Attentive considern-
ton Of Ts provisions leads me to Withhold it
from resubInissiSa to the Senate.
Maintaining | do the policy OF the Presi-
dents from WashiBgton's day. which proscrt0s
enlnlglng entaaghng alliances with foreign
states, l do not favor policy OF acquisition OF
now and distant territory or the incorporation
of remote intsrests with our own The laws OF
progress vital and organic, and we must be
conscious of that Irresistible tide Of commercial
expansion which, as tho concolnitant OF our
active civilization day by day is being urged on
ward by those increasing facilities OF production,
transportation, and communication TO which
steam and electricity have given birth
But duty IN the present tnstructs US to
address ourselves mainly to the development
of the vast resources Of the great area con-.
united to our charge and to the cultivation Of
the arts OF peace within our borders, tADnBl
iealously alert IN preventing the American
Hemisphere from being involved IL the politi-
cal problems and complications Of distant gov
ernments. Therefore :! an unable TO recon-
mend propositions involving paramount prfyi-
leges Of ownership or rights outside Of our own
territory when coupled with absolute and un-
limited engagements TO defend territorial in
tegrity OF the state where such interests lie.
SHIP RAILWAY.
While the general project Of connecting the
two oceans by means Of canal ia to DO encour.
aged am of opinion that any scheme to that
end, to be considered with favor shall be free
from the features alluded to. The Tehuantepeo
route is declared by engtnsers of the highest re-
pute and by competent scientists 30 afford
entirely practical transit for vessels and car
goes by means of ship railway from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. The obvious advantages
of such route, If feasible over others more
remote from the estial lines of traffic -etween
Europe and the Pacific and particularly be-
tween the valley of the mississippi and the
western coast of North aud 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 ben
eft--a trust for mankind, to be removed from
the chance Of domination by any single power,
nor become point OF invitation OF hostiiittes or
Il prize for warlike ambition. An engagement
com bining the construction, ownershp and oper-
alton of sucl work by this Government. with an
offensive and defensive alliance for its protection
with che foreign states whose responsibilities
and rights we would share, il. in my judgment,
inconsistent with such dedication to universal
and neutral use, und would. moreover, ontail
measures for its realization beyond this
scope of our national policy or present means.
The lapse Of years has abundantly aurifirined
the wisdom and foresight of those earlier nd
ministrations which, long before the conditions
of mari time Intercourse We're changed and en-
larged by the progress of the age. proclaimed
tho vital need of inter oceanic traffic across the
commercial isthmus and oonsocrated it in id
vance to the common use OF mankind by their
positive declaration and through the formal
litigation of tsade. Toward such realization
the efforts Of my administration will be applied,
ever bearing in mind the principles on which II
certain tones by Mr. Cass, who, while Secretary
Of State in 1855 announced that what the
United States want i'll Central America, next to
the happiness of the people, is the security and
neutrality Of the inter oceanic routes which
may be laid through it,"
TRANscoNrISENrAL RAILWAYS
The construction Of three transcontnental lines
of railway, all in successful operation, wholly
within territory ana uniting the Atlantic
by results of most interesting and impressive
nature, and has created new conditions, not in
the routes of commerce only, but in political
geography, which powerfully aiiectour relations
toward and necessarily increase interests
in, any transishthmian route which may he
opened and employed fer the ends of peace md
traffic, in other contingencies, for uses irrIn
ical to both.
Transportation is factor in the cost of com
modites scarcely second to that of their produc-
ton, and weighs RS heavily upon the consumer.
Our existence already has proven the great i'm
portance of having the competition between
land carriage and water carriage fully devel-
oped each acting as II protection to the public
against the tendencies Of monopoly, which lis in
herent in the consolidation of wealth and power
in the hands of vast corporations. These sug-
gestons may serve to emphasize what have
already said on tue .sUo"a of the necessity of
this can only bee accomplished by making the
uses of the routt' open to all nations and sub
iect to tho ambitions and warlike necessities of
none
The drawings aud report ot recent survey of
the Nicaragua Cana! route, made by Chief En-
gneer Menocal, viii be communicated for your
Information.
CHILL. Peru AND BOLIVIA.
The claims of citizens of the United States for
losses by reason of the late military operations
of Chill In Peru and BolivB1 are the subject of
providing for their Submission to arbitration.
CHINA AND THE CHINESE QUESTION;
The harmony of our relations with China ia
fully sustained in the application of the acts
lately passed TO execute the treaty of 1850
into the United States, Individual cases of hard
ship huve occurred beyond the power of the En-
ecutive to remedy, and calling for Judicial de-
termination.
The condition Of the Chinese question in the
Western States and Territories lis, despite this
restrictive legislation, far from being satisfan-
tory The recent outbreak in Wyoming Terri
torv where numbers of unotlending Chnhlnen,
undisputably within the protection of the trea-
the still more recent threatened outbreak Of the
same character in Washington Territory,
still fresh in tho minds of ail, and There is ap-
prahension lest the hitterr nrs of feeling against
the Monaghan race on the Pacific slope may
find vent To similar lawless demonstration.
All the powe of this Government should be
erted to maintain the nuplest good faith toward
Ching in the treatment of these men and the in
flexible sternuess Of tine law in bringing the
wrong -doers TO Justice should be insisted upon.
Every effort has been made by this Government
to prevent these violent outbreaks and to aid the
representatives of China in their Investigation of
these outragcs and it is but Just to say that they
are traceHblp to the lawlsssness Of men not citi-
zens of the United States engaged in competi-
ton with Chinese laborers
Race prejudice is the chief factor in uriginst-
ing these disturbances. and it exists in larcN
the good relationship we try to maintain with
China. The admitted rights of Government
TO prevent the influx OF elements hostile to its
internal peace and security may not he Ques-
toned, even where there is treaty stipuia-
ton on the subject That the exclusion OF
Chinese labor is demanded in other countries
where like conditions prevail, is strongly
Chinese immigration Is regulated by
laws more exclusive than own.
II existing laws are Inadequate to compass the
end in view shall be prepared to give earnest
consideration to any further remedial measures
within the treaty lirnits which the wisdom OF
Congress may devise.
THE CONGO STATE.
The Independent state Of the Congo has been
organized as government under the
ereignty of his Majesty the King of the Relgians,
who assumes its chief ulagistracy in his per
soua1 character only, without making the new
state dependency on Belgium. 1t is for
tunnte that benighted region, owing all il has
of quickening civilization to the beneficence OF
the philanthropic spirit Of this monarch. should
have the advantages and security Of his benevo-
lent supervision.
~ Co.,