Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-12-11
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


lie bereavement caused by the recent and sud
den death Of Thomas A. Hendricks, wee
President Of the United States. His dis
tinguished public services, his complete In
tegrity and devotion 10 every duty and his
personal virtues will find honorable record in
his country's history. Ample and repeated
proofs Of the esteem and confidence in which
he was held by his fellow countrymen we're
manifested by bis election to offices OF the
most important trust and highest dignity,
and at length, full Of years aud honors, he
has been laid at rest amid universal sorrow
and benediotion.
RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN NATIONS.
1t is gratifying to announce that the rela-
tions OF the United States with all foreign
powers continue to be friendly. There are
no questions of difficulty pending with any
foreign government.
THE AUSTRIAN MISSION.
Question has arisen with the government
of Austria Hungary touching the representa-
tive of the United States at Vienna, having
under my constitutional prerogative appoint
ed an estimable citizen Of unmpeached pro.
bity and competency to administer at the
court. The government Of Austria. Hungary
invited this government to take coguizAnce
of certain exceptions based upon allegations
against the personal acceptability Of Mr. kei-
ltyt tuo hDPOluAcu tnNOlf u1hibb thhN IL VIC"
thereof the appointment should be with
drawn The reasons advanced we're such as
could not be acquiesced in without the vo-
latng Of my oath OF Office and the precepts
of the constitution, since they necessarily
invited Limitation In favor Of foreign gov
ernment upon the right Of selection by the
executive, and required such an application
of a religious test as qualification for office
under the United States az would have re-
suited in the practical Acknowledgement OF a
large class Of our citizens and the advance
ment of q vital principal In our government.
The Austro- Hungarian government finally
decided not to receive Mr. Kelley as the envoy
of the United States and that gentleman has
since resigned his commission, leaving the
post vacant l have made no new nomina-
ton aud the interests of this government at
Vienna are now in the care of the secretary
of legation, acting as charge d'affAirs, lad in
terim
IN SOUTH AMERICA.
Early in March last war broke out in Cen
tral America, caused by the attempt of Gau-
temala to consolidate the several states into
q single government. In the contest be-
tween our neighboring states the United
| States forebore to interfere actively, but lent
the aid OF their friendly Offices in deprecs-
tion of war and to promote peace and con-
cord among the belligerents and by such
counsel contributed importantly to the res.
| toraiion of tranquility in that locality.
Emergencies growing out Of civil war in
the United States of Colombia demanded of
the government at the beginning Of this ad.
ministration the employment Of armed force
to fulfil its guarantees under the 35th article
Of the treaty Of 1916 In order to keep the
transit open across the Isthmus OF Panama,
desirous Of exercising only the powers ex-
| raaarvad IN ua hv the and
mindful of the rights Of Colombia, the forces
sent to the Isthmus we're instructed to con-
fine their action TO positively and efficacious-
| ly preventing the transit and its accessories
from being interrupted or embarrassed. The
execution of this delicate and responsible
task necessarily involved police control where
the local authority was temporarily power
| less, but always in and of the sovereignty Of
Colombia. The prompt I'd successful full
flment OF its duty by this government was
/ highly appreciated by the government of
Colombia, and has been followed by express.
sions of its satisfaction. High praise is due
to the officers and men engaged in this SER
vice.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The interest of the United States in prac-
| tical transit for ships across the strip of land
separating the Atlantic from the Pacific, has
been repeatedly manifested the last half GEN.
tury. Ny immediate predecessor caused to
be negotiated with Nicaragua treaty for the
construction by and at the sole cost of the
United States OF a canal through Nicaragua
territory and laid it before the Senate. Pend
ing the action of that body thereon 1 with
drew the treaty for re-examination. Atten.
tive consideration of its provisions leads me
to withhold it from re.submission to the SEN
ate. do not favor q policy of acquisition
of new and distant territory or the incorpor-
alton of remote interests with our own.
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 re-
moved from the chance OF domination by
any single power, nor become point of in
vitation for hostilities or prize for warlike
ambition. An engagement combining the
construction and operation of such a work
by this government with an offensive and de.
fensive alliance for its protection with the
foreign state whose responsibilities and rights
we would share, is in my judgment incon
sistent with such dedication to universal and
neutral use and would moreover entail meas.
ures for its realization beyond the scope ol
our national policy or present means. The
lapse Of years has Abundantly confirmed the
wisdom and foresight of those earlier admin
isirations which long before the conditions
of maritime intercourse were changed and
enlarged by the progress of the age, pro
claimed the vital need of intercourse trans
cross the American isthmus and consecrated
it in advance TO the common use OF mankind
by their positive declaration and through the
formal obligation of treaties. Toward such
realization the efforts of my administration
will be applied, ever bearing in mind the
principles on which it must rest and which
were declared in no uncertain tones by Mr.
/ - tia ~ 2fala in 1879
announced what the United States want il
Central America, next to the happiness of it
people was the security and neutrality of the
inter-ocean routes which lead through it. ThI
| construction of three transcontinental lineI
Of railway all in successful operation, wholly
within our territory, and uniting the Atlantic
| and Pacific oceans, has been accompanied by
results of the most interesting nature and ha
created new conditions, not in routes OF com
merce only, but in political geography, which
| powerfully affect our relations toward, anC
necessarily increase our interest in, any trans
isthmian route which may be opened and
employed for the ends of peace and traffic OF
In other contingencies for uses inimical Il
both. The drawings and report of o recen
survey of the Nicaragua canal route mad'
by Chief Engineer Menooal will be oommun
icated for your information.
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
The harmony of our relations with Chin
is fully sustained. In the application of thu
acts lately passed TO execute the treaty 70
1880, restrictive OF the immigration of Chi
nese labor in the United States, cases of hard
ship have occurred beyond the power OF tn
executive to remedy, aud calling for judiea
determination. The condition Of the Chi
nese question in the Western States and Tel
ritores is, despite this restrictive legislation
far from being satisfactory. The recent out
break in Wyoming Territory, where number
Of unoffending Cinnamon, indisputabl
within the protection of the treaties and tn
law, were murdered by q mob aud the sti
more recent threatened outbreak of the sam
character in Washington Territory are fresl
in the minds OF all, and there is apprehensio
lest the bitterness of feeling against the Mon
golan race on the Pacific slope may find ven
! in similar lawless demonstrations. All tn
J powers of the government should be exerte
} to maintain the amplest good faith towar
| China In the treatment Of these men, and th
3 inAexible sternness of law in bringing th
4 wrong doers to justice should be insisted uI
. on. Every effort has been made by this gov
ernment to prevent these violent outbreak
and to aid the representatives OF China
. their investigation Of these outrages, and 1t
D but Just TO say that they are traeeable to th
: lawlessness Of men not citizens OF the Unite
Z | Gtato. o,uaoad la anmnafifiOn with (lhinaf