The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-12-16
The Presidents Message.

The great and unnecessary length of
President Cleveland's first annual mes
sage precludes its publication in full by
most newspapers, and the majority of
people have no time or inclination to
read it, except in the form of an alb
stract. 1t is comprehensive paper,
conservative in most of its recommen-
dations, and presenting some decided
views. His opinions upon some pub
lie questions are satisfactory to the best
sentiment of the country, irrespective
of partisan considerations.
After abiding to the death of Vice
president Hendricks, the President an
nounces that the United States con-
tinues on friendly terms with all foreign
nations. Austria having objected to
Mr.. Kelley for reasons the President
could not recognize, the mission to that
country remains vacant. The Nicaragua
canal treaty is withheld from resub-
mission to the senate, but some other
plan for isthmian transit, free from en-
tangling alliances, is urged. The sane
ton of the senate to the Congo conven-
ton is not desired. Hopes are ex-
pressed of forming fuller extradition
treaty with Great Britain. Legislation
to make effective the commercial treaty
with Mexico is asked for. Revision of
laws relating to naturalization and citi-
zenship, and the establishment of
central bureau of record, are recon-
mended. Increased appropriations for
the diplomatic and consular service are
earnestly urged. Abolition of the tariff
on works of art is advised. The 18TH
milan transit projects are discussed at
considerable length. Maintaining, as
he does, the tenor of the line of prece-
dents from Washington's time, which
prescribe entangling alliances with
foreign states, he deprecates a policy
of acquisition of new and distant terri
tory or the incorporation of remote in
terests with our own. He favors a
canal or ship railway, but suggests that
any scheme to that end should be free
from the features alluded to. He thinks
the most practicable scheme so far
suggested is the Tehuantepec route for
ship railway, and says whatever high
way may be constructed across the bar
rier dividing the two greatest oceans of
the world, must be for the worlds
benefit in trust for mankind, to be re-
moved from the chance of domination
by any single power, nor become a
point of invitation for hostilities or a
prize for warlike ambition. The adj
ministration, he says, will favor the
scheme which seems most favorable for
accomplishing a trans-isthmian route
with the best interests of all concerned
protected.
The President next refers to the Chi
nese question and the recent outbreak
in Wyoming Territory, and says that
the power of this government should
be eXerted to maintain the amplest
good faith toward China in the treat
ment of these men, and an infexible
sternness ofthe law in bringing wrong
doors to justice should be insisted upon.
The whole fishery question between
Great Britain and the United States is
proposed for submission to an inter-
national commission. The laws relat-
ing to citizenship and naturalization
are regarded as inadequate, and recon-
mendations are made. International
copyright legislation is advocated. He
opposes the Spanish commercial treaty,
as Offering inadequate considerations to
the United States. In relation to the
public finances, the President says:
"The fact that our revenues are in excess
of the actual needs of an economical admin
stration of the government justifies re-
duction in the amount exacted from the