The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-10


territory, when coupled with absolute and unlim-
tied engagements to defend the territorial integrity
of the state where such interests exist.
While the general project of connecting the two
oceans by means of canal has been encoIIraged. I
am of the opinion that any scheme to that end to
be considered with favor should he free from the
feature alluded to- The Tchuantepec route is de-
cared by engineers of the highest repute, and by
competent scientists to afford an entirely practical
transit FOR vessels and cargo, and by means of a
ship railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific the
obvious advantages of such route, if feasible
over others more remote from the axial lines of
traffic between Europe and the Pacific and partic
ulary between the valley of the Nississippi and the
western coast of North and South America, are de-
serving of consideration.
INTERoCEANIC TRANSIT.
Whatever highway n ay be constructed across the
barrier dividing the two greatest maritime areas of
the world must be for the worlds benefit, a trust
for mankind tO be removed from the chances of
domination by any single power, nor become a
point of invitation for hostilities, a prize for
warlike ambition. An engagement combining the
construction, ownership and operation of such a
work by the government with an offensive and de-
fensive alliance for its protection with the foreighn
state, those responsibilities and rights would
hrve is In my judgment inconsistent with such a
dedication to universal and neutral uie, and would,
morever entail measures for its realization beyond
the scope of our national politics present means
The lapse of years has abundantly confirmed the
wisdom and foresight of those earlier administra-
tions which, long before the conditions of mari
time intercourse were changed and enlarged by the
progress of the age, proclaimed the vital need of
lnter-oceanic transit across the American isthmus
and consecrates it in advance to the common of
mankind by positive declarations and through
the formal obligations of treaties Toward such a
realization the efforts of my administration will be
applied, ever bearing in mind the principles on
which 1t must rest and which declared in no
uncertain way by Mr. Cass, who, while secretary of
state in 1888, announced that ''what the United
States want in Central America, next to the happ-
ness of its people, is the security and neutrality of
the inter oceanic routes which lead through it,
The construction of three trans continental lines
of railway are in successful operation wholly
within our territory, and uniting the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans, has been accompanied by results of
most interesting and impressive nature and has
created new condition, not in the route of com
merce only, but in political geography which power
fully affects our relations toward and necessarily
increases our interests In any translsthmlan route
which which may be opened and employed for the
ends OF peace and traffic or other contingencies for
uses inimical to both.
Transportation is faction in the cost of COM
modities scarcely second to that of their prOXima
ton and weighs as heavily upon the consumer.
Our experience already has proven the great i'm
portance of having the competition between land
carriage and watercarriage fully developed. EX-
cepting as protection to the public against the
tendencies of monopoly which is inherent in the
| consolidation of wealth and power in the hands of
vast corporations. The suggestions may serve to
emphasize what have already said on the score of
naturalization OF any lnter-oceanlc transit, and
this can only be accomplished by making the
of the route open to all nations and subject to the
ambitions and warlike necessities of none.
The drawings and report of recent survey of the
Nicaragua canal, made by chief engineer Menscal,
will be communicated for your information.
losses by of the late military disturbances
of Chilli in Peru and Bolivia as the subject of ne
gotiation for claim in connection with Chilli pro-
viding for their submission to arbitration.
The harmony of our relations with China is fully
sustained in the application of the acts lately pass
ed to execute the treaty of $780, restrictive of the
emigration of Chinese laborers into the United
States. Individual cases of hardship have occurred
beyond the power of the executive to remedy and
calling for judicial determination.
| The condition of the Chinese question in the
western states and territories is, despite the re-
strictive legislation, far from being satisfactory
With the recent outbreak in Wyoming territory,
where numbers of unoffending Cinnamon, indispu-
putably within the protection of the treaties and
the law, were murdered by a mob and the still
ferther threatened outbreak of the same character
in Washington territory are fresh in the minds of
all and there is an apprehension lest the bitterness
of feeling against the MOngOlian the Pacific
lope may find vent in similar lawless demonstra-
| tionS.
| All the power of this government should be ex-
erted to maintain the amplest good faith toward
| China in the treatment of these men, and the in
flexible sternness of the law in bringing the wrong
doors to justice should be insisted Every eft
fort has been made by this government to prevent
these violent outbreaks and to aid the, representa-
tves of China in their Investigation of these out
rages and it is but just 70 say that they are tracea
bIeto the lawlessness OF men not citizens of the
United States engaged in competition with Chinese
laborers.
Race prejudice is the chief feature in originating
these disturbances, and it exists in large part of
our domain, jeorardizing our domestic peace and
the good relationship we strive to maintain with
| a
prevent the influx of elements hostile to its inter
nal peace and security, may not be questioned
even where there is no treaty stipulation on the
| subject. That the expulsion of Chinese labor is
demanded in other countries where like customs
prevail, is strongly evinced in the dominion of
| Canada, where Chinese immigration is regu-
| lated by laws more exclusive than our own.
If existing laws are inadequate to compass the
end in view, shall be prepared to give codsidera
| ton to any further remedial measures witein the
| treaty limits which the wisdom of congress- may
desire. The independent state of the Congo has
| been organized ss government under the soVer-
eighty of his majesty the king OF the Belgcns who
assumes its chief magistracy in his personal char
acter only, without making the new state depend
ency on Belgium. 1t is fortunaty that benighted
region owing all it has of quickenng civilization to
| the beneicence and philanthropic spirit of this
monarch, should have the advantage and security
| of his benevolent supervision.
/ The action by the government last year in being
the first to recognize the flag of the International
Association of the Congo, has been followed by a
| formal recognition of the nationality which
| succeeded to its sovereign powers. A conference
of the delegates of the principal commercial ma
tions was held at Berlin last winter to discuss
| methods whereby the Congo basin might be kept
open to the worlds trade. Delegates attended on
behalf of the United States, on the understanding
their part should be merely deliberative, without
imparting to the result any binding character SC
far as the United States were concerned.
Thus making che United States appear without
reserve qualifications as signatories to joint
| international engagement imposing upon the
sgnors the construction of the territorial integrity
! of distant regions, where we have no established
This government does not however, regard its
reservation of liberty of action in the premises is
at all impaired and holding that an engagement tc
share in the obligation of enforcing neutrality IL
the remote valley of the Congo, would be an ALI
auce whose responsibilities not in posi-
ton to assume. l abstain from asking the sactioI
of the senate to that general act
| regard with favor the application made by the
Corean government to be allowed to employ Amer
can officers as military instructors, to which the
assent of congress becomes necessary, and l an
happy to say this request has the concurrent sane
ton of China and Japan.
The arrest and Imprisonment of Jules r. Santos
citizen of the United States by the authorieies O
; Ecuador, gave rise to contention with that gov
ernment, in which his right to be released, or t.
have speedy and impartial trial or announced
charges, and with all guarantees of the defense
stipulated by treaty, was insisted upon by tn
| United States.
After an elaborate correspondence and repeater
and earnest representations our part, Mr. Santo
was granted alleged trial and convicted, eventu
ally included in general decree of amesty and par
doned by the Ecuador executive and released, IeaN
ing the question of his American citizenship denie
by the Ecuadorian government but insisted upo
a by our own.
The amount adiudged by the late French an
American claimants account of injuries sutfere
! by them during the war of secession, having bee
! appropriated by the last congress, has been dul
! ! paid the French government.
: The act of February 25. 1885, provides for pre-