The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


assembling 10 clouded by q senee Of pub
lie bereavement caused oy the recent and
sudden death CT Tnos. A. Hendricks
vice president of the u. b. His dIs-
tlnguished public services; has com
plete integrity and devotion TO every
duty and his personal virtues will hnd
honorable reward In his country's mis-.
tory. Ample and repeated proofs Of the
confidence Ia which he was held by his
countrymen were manifested by his
election 20 an Office CT the most important
trust and highest dignity, and at length,
tull OF years and honors, he has been
laid at rest amid universal sorrow and
benedIction.
The constitution, which requires those
chosen to legislSte TOR the people to an.
nuslly meet In the discharge OF their
solemn trust. also requires the president
TO give to congress information OF the
state OF the Union, and recommend to
their consideration such measures as he
shall deem necessary and expedient.
At the threshold of q compliance with
these constitutional directions II Is we'll
for US 10 bear in mind that our useful
hess TO the peoples interests will
be promoted by constant
appreciation Of the scope and
character of our respective duties, as
they relate to federal Legislation, while
the executive may recommend
such measures as he shall deem expedi.
ent. The responsibility for legislative
action must and should rest upon those
selected by the people to make their
laws.
A contemplation Of the grave and res
pOnsible functions assigned 10 the execu-
tive branch OF the government under
the constitution vii disclose the patti
lions Of power between our respective
Departments and their necessary indie
pendence, and also the need for the eX.
ercIse of all the power entrusted
TO each In that spirit of
comfy and CO operation which is essen
tlaI 10 the proper iuliillment of the pa.
triotlc obligations which rest upon as as
faithful servants Of the people. The
Jealous wAtchfuloees Of our constituency,
as great and small, supplements their
8ufrages, and before the tribunal they
establish every public servant should be
judged.
II is gratifying to announce that the
relation of tue u. y. with all foreign
powers continue 20 be friendly. Our
position after nearly q century Of sue
csssful constitutional government and
maintenance OF good faith IN all our en-
gagemenls. the avoidance of conficIions
with other nations and the consistent at
titude toward the strong and weak alike.
furnish proof of q political disposition
which renders profession of good will
unnecessary. There are NO questions of
difficulty pending with any foreign gov
ernmenI.
The Argentine government has revIv-
ed the long dOrmsnt question of the
Falkland Islands by claiming from the
United States indemnity for their loss
attributed TO the action OF the command
Or Of the sloop Lexington In breaking up
q practical colony on those islands in
1881, and their subsequent occu patton
by Great Britain. In view of the ample
Justification for the act of the Lexington
and the diTelIct condition of the islands
before and after their alleged occupation
by Argentine colonis,s, this government
considers the claim as wholly ground
less.
The question has arisen with the goY-
ernment of Austro- Hungary, touching
the representation of the United States
at Vienna. H=ving under constitutional
prerogative appointed an estImable cltI-
IN CT unimpeached probity and compe.
tsncy as minister at that court the gov
eminent of Hungary INVITED
thIs government to the cogniZ Ince of a
certain exception based upon allegations
against the personal acceptAbIlIly of Dir.
Kelley, the appointed envoy, asking that
IN view thereof the appointment should
be withdrawn.
The reasons advanced were such rs
could not be AoqnIesced without violation
OF my oath OF Office and the precepts of
the constitution. since they necessarily
Involve Limitation in favor of foreign
government upon the right of selection
by the executive and required
such an application OF a
for office under the United States as
would nave resulted in the practical dis
franchiSsment of large class OF our
citizens aud the abandonment of vital
principle in our government. The
Austr~ Hungarian government finally
decided not to receive MIR. Kelley as the
convoy of the Uuitsd States, and that
gentleman has since resigned his CON-
mission, leaving the post vacant.
have made no new nomination. and
the Interests of this government at Vi
emma are now in the care Of the secre-
tAry of the legation, who Is acting AS
charge d'affaiTs adj anterim.
Early In March, last. q war broke out
In Central America, caused by the at
tempt OF Guatemala to consolidate the
several states into a single government.
10 these contests between our nelghbor.
Ing states the United States forebore to
interfere actively, but lent the aid of
their friendly offices In depreciation of
war to promote peace and concord
among the belllgerents, and by such
counsel contributed Importantly TO the
preservation of tranquility in that local
Ity.
Emergencies growing out of civil
war In the United States of Colombia
demanded of the government at the be-
ginning of this Standardization the en-
ployment OF an armed force To fultil its
guarantees under the 35th article OF the
treaty of 1S40. in order TO keep the tran
cit open across the Isthmus OF Panama.
DESTROYS of exercising only the pow
era expressly reserved to US by the treaty
and mindful of the rights of Colombia,
the forces sent to the Isthmus were In
Btructed to conflne their action TO (pOsi
lively and eff1caciously) preventing the
transit aud its accessories from being To-
corrupted or embarrassed.
The execution of this delicate and re-
aponsible task necessarily involved po-
lice control when the local authority
was temporarily powerless, but always
In aid OF the sovereignty OF Colombia.
The prompt and successful fuldllment Of
JUS uuLy oy tuiS SONeLhhAehe "oS nikuy
appreciated by the government of Co
lombia and has been followed by the
expression of its satisfaction. High praise
~ due to the officers end men engaged In
this service, the restoration OF peace on
the Isthmus by the reestablisbment nf
the constitutional government, and the
aid thus accomplished. the forces ct the
u. 8 were withdrawn.
Pending these occurrences, q question
Of much Importance was presented by
the DEGREES Of the Colombian govern
ment proclaiming the closure of certain
ports then in the hands of insurgents,
and declaring vessels held by the revo-
lutlonisis to be piratical and liable 70
capture by any power. To neither OF
these could the United States assent.
An effective closure of ports not in the
Doaaesston of the government. hut held