The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-12-18
FOREIGN

" s gratifying to announce that the relations
u the United States with all foreign rowers con-
anue to DO friendly. Our position, after nearly
century OF successful constitutional govern
ueho.Ln e maintenance of good faith in all our en-
sasements, the avoidance OF complications with
other nations and consistent and amicable atti-
suoe toward the strong and weak alike, furnish
proof or q political disposition which renders
profession of good will unnecessary.
ihere are no questions Of difficulty
pending with any foreign government.
me ARGENTINE government has revived the long
dormant question Of the Falkland islands by
claiming from the United States emn for
their loss, attributed to the action of the com
nander OF the sloop-of-war Lexington In break
ing up q practical colony Of those islands In
1851. and their subsequent occupation by Great
Britain. In view of the ample justification for
me not nj the Lexington and the dlrelecs condi-
ZION OF Inc Islands before and after their alleged
occupation by Argentine coionists, this govern
ment considers the claim as wholly groundless.
THE TILT WITH AUSTRIA.
a question has arisen with the government of
Austrio-Hungary, touching the representation of
the United States at Vienna. Having. under
my constitutional prcrogattye, appointed our
estimaple citizen of unimpeached probity, and
competence as minister at that court. tho gov.
srnnent of Austrio- Hungary invited this nov.
srnment to take cognizsnce Of certain exceptions.
based upon allegations against the per
tonai acceptability OF mr.. Kelley, the an
pointed envoy, asking that. In view there
o., the appointment should be withdrawn.
The reasons advanced were such as could not be
hcquiesced In with:ut violation Of the oath of
efftce and the rrocepts of the constitution, since
they necessarily involved a Limitation in favor Of
, foreign government upon the right of selection
by the executive, and required such an applica-
lion OF a religious test rs a qualification for office
under The United States as would have resulted
In the practical disfranchisemcnt OF a large class
of our citizens and tho Abandonment Of a vital
principle OF our government. The Austro- Hum
kartan government fl nally decided not to receive
Mr. Kelley as the envoy Of the United
States. and that gentleman has since re-
slpned his commission, leaving the post vacant.
l have made no new nomination, and the inter-
ests OF this government at Vienna are now in
the care OF tho secretary of legation, acting as
charge dd.tdires ad interim. Early In March
last war broke out in Central America, caused
by tho attempt Of Guatemala to consolidate tho |
several states into q single government. In this
contest between our neighboring states the
United States forbore to Interfere actively. but |
sent the aid of their friendly offices in dcpre.
eating OF war and to promote peace and concord
among the bellieerents, and by such counsel !
contributed impartially to the restoration of
tranquility In that locality.
THE PANAMA EPISODE.
Emergencies growing out Of civil war In the |
United States of Columbia demanded of thu COW
eminent at the beginning of this administrators
the employment of an armed force to fuIfll its
guarantees under the thirty-ffth article OF the
treaty OF lsae, in order to keep the transit open
across the 1sthmns of Panama. DESTROYS of ex-
ercising only the powers expressly reserved tn
US by the treaty, and mindful Of the rights of
Columh1a, the forces cent to the 18TH
mus were instructed to conf.ne their
action to positively and eficacious.y.
preventing the transit aud its accessories
from beng interrupted or embarrassed .
The execution Of this delicate and responsible
task necessarily involved police control where
the local authority was temporarily pow ,rless,
but always IN aid OF tho sovereignty OF Colon.
Dla. Inc prompt and successful fulhllment of
lts duty by this government YVES highly uppre-
cfated by the government of Colombia, nnd has
oeen followed by an expression of its satisfac-
lion. High praise Is due to the officers and men
in this service, the restoration of the
peace on this 1sthmus by the re-establfshment
u the constituted government. These be-
.ng thus accomplished, the forces
of the United States were withdrawn
these occurrences, q question of much
Importance was presented by DEGREES of the
.olomoian government proclaiming the closure
u certain ports, then In the hands of Insurgents.
md n declaring vessels held by the revolution
sts to be p~ira,ical and liable to capture by any
,ower. To neither of these propositions could
ne United States assent. An effective
closure OF ports, not in the possession of the
but held by hostile parti- I
ans, could not be recognized: neither could {
ne vessels OF insurgents against the legiti- {
nate sovereignty be deemed hostes humane I
'ehef2s within the precepts of international law. !
might be The definition and penalty {
their acts under the municipal law of the I
'Sate agalnst whose authority they were in re- |
'oit. The denial by this government OF the &C. t
propositions did not. however, imply s
ne admission of a bclligerent status on the part Z
me insurgents. The government
las expressed its willingness to negotiate con- 4
for the adjustment by arbitration r
y claims by foreign citizens arising out of the C
OF tho city of AspinwalI by the n
nsurrectionary forces. h
THE N1cARAGuAN cASAr.
me interest OF the United States in a practt- t
transit Tor ships across the strip Of land sep v
'tating the Aoiait1c from the Pacific has been S
epeatcdly manifested during the last half-cen- /
cry. My immediate predecessor caused to be G
t2sotlateu With Nicaragua a treaty for tho con- t
by and at the sole cost OF the limited r
'tates OF a canal through Nicaraguan territory. ii
laid before the senate, pending the action s
I that body thereon. lwithdrexg the treaty for Il
examination. Attentive consideration of @
ts provisions leads me to withhold II
! from re-snbmtssion to the senate O
asJ dc, the position of a line Of u
Eas1dents from Washington's day which pro- /,
cr1bes entangling alliances with foreign states. r,
do not favor a policy of acquisition Of new and v
istant territory or the Incorporation Of remote A
.1terests with our own. Laws of progress are ii
ltnl and organic, and we must be conscious of I
hat Irresistible tide of commercial expansion Il
,tich. as the concolnitant of our active ~civiliza- Al
ION. Gay by day is being urged onward q
= those increasing facilities Of production, Ii