Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-09
Presidents Message.
DEATH OF Mr.. HEsDRIcks.

and sudden death of Thomas A. Hendricks,
Vice President of the United States. bis
distinguished public services, bis complete in
tegrity and devotion to every duty, and bis per-
sonal 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, were manifest
ed bv his election to Offices of most important
trust and high dignity, and at length. full OF
years and honors, he has been laid at rest
amid universal sorrow and benediction. The
President calls attention to the fact that while
he may suggest measures, the responsibility
should and does rest with Congress for all
legislation. also that comfy and cooperation
are essential to the patriotic obligations
which rest upon all. He then refers to
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
by saying that il is gratifying to announce that
the relations of the United States with all for
eign powers continue to be friendly. Our posi-
tionafter nearly a century of successful consti-
tutional government, of the maintenance OF
good faith in our engagements, the avoidance
of complications with other nations, and our
consistent and amicable attitude toward the
strong and weak alike, furnish proof of our
political disposition.
THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
President Cleveland then refers to the re-
opening of the claim of the Argentine Repub-
lie for indemnify because Of the loss to it of
the Falkland Islands, through the
action of the United States sloop
of war Lexington in breaking up the piratical
colony of islands in 1881, which led to their
settlement by Great Britain. The President
considers the act of the Lexington justifable
and expresses the opinion that claim for in
demnity is groundess. He then refers to the
AUSTRIAN MISSION
as follows: Having under my con.
stitutional prerogative appointed an es-
tmable citizen of unimpeached probity and
competence as minister at the court of Vienna,
the government of Austria Hungary, invited
this government to take cogniZance of GER
tain exceptions based upon allegations against
the personal acceptabiity of Mr.. Kelley,
the appointed envoy, asking that in view
thereof the appointment should be Withdrawn.
The reasons advanced were such as could not
be acquiesced in without violation of my
oath of office and precepts of constitution,
since they necessarily involved limitation IN
favor of foreign government upon right of Sc
lection by the,executive and required such ap-
plicaton of religious test as qualification for
office under the United States as would have
resulted in practical disfranchisement of a
large class of our citizens and abandonment
of vital principle in our government
The Austro-Hungarian government finally
decided not to receive Mr.. Kelley as envoy
of the United States, and that gentleman has
since resigned his commission, leaving the
post vacant. have made no new nomina-
ton. and the interests of this government at
Vienna are now in care of the secretary of
the legation acting as charge d'affairs ad in
term.
CENTRAL AMERICAN WAR.
In regard to the war which broke out in
Central America last March, caused by the
attempt of Guatemala to consolidate several
states into a single government, the Presi-
dent says the United States forbore to in
terfere actively, but lent the did of
their friendly offices in depreciation
of war, and to prompt peace and concord
among the belligerents, and by such counsel
contributed importantly to the restoration of
tranquility in that locality. Emergencies
growing out of the civil war in the United
States of Colombia, demanded of the govern
ment at the beginning of this administration,
the employment of an armed force to fulfill its
guarantees under the 35th article Of the treaty
of 1876, in order to keep the transit open
across the Isthmus of Panama. Execution of
this delicate and responsible task necessarily
involved police control where local authority
was temporarily powerless, but always
in aid of the sovereignty of Colombia.
Reference is then made to the prompt and
successful fufiIlment of its duty BY this gov
ernment and the President says high praise
is due the officers and men engaged i'll this
service.
The NICARAGUA TREATY.
The President then refers to his withdrawal
from the senate of the treaty with Nicaragua,
sent to that BODY by President Arthur, which
provided for a ship canal to be constructed
by the United States from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, across Nicsraguan territory. Atten-
tive consideration of its provisions, he
says, leads him to withhold it from
submission to the ate, maintaining,
as he does, the tenor of the line of Presidents
from Washington's time, which prescribe en-
tangling alliances with foreign States. He
deprecates the policy of acquisition of new
and distant territory, or incorporation of re-
mote interests with our own. He favors 4
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
whatever highway may be constructed
across the barrier dividing the two greatest
oceans of the werld must be for the worlds
benefit in trust for mankind, to be removed
from chance of domination by any single
power, nor become point of invitation for
hostilities, or prize for warlike ambition.
The administration, he says. will favor that
scheme which seems most favorable for ac-
complshng trans-isthmian route with the
best interests of all concerned protected
Referring to other affairs in South America,
the President says: The claims of citizens of
the United States for losses by reason Of the
late military operations of Chilli in Peru aud
Bolivia are a subject of negotiations for a
claims convention with Chill, providing for
their submission to arbitration. The condition
of the
CHINESE QUESTION
in the Western States and Terri
is, despite restrictive Legislation,
far from being satisfactory. A recent
outbreak in Wyoming Territory. where numb
ersof unofending Cinnamon indis-
putably within the protection
of treaties and law were
murdered by a mob, and the still more recent
threatened outbreak of the same character
in Washington Territory are fresh in the
minds of all, and there is apprehension lest
the bitterness of feeling against the Mongol-
ian race on the Pacific slope NAV find vent in
similar lawless demonstrations. All the
power of this government should be exerted
to maintain the amplest good faith toward