The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-09

obtain for our fishermen for the remainder
of that season the enjoyment of the full
privileges accorded by the terminated
treaty. The Joint High Commission, by
whom the treaty had been negotiated,
although invested with plenary power
to make permanent settlement,
were content with u temporary arrangement,
after the termination of which the question
was relegated to the stipulations of the
treaty of 1918, as to the first article of which
no construction satisfactory to both coun-
tries has ever been agreed upon. The pro-
gress of civilization and growth Of popula-
tion in the British provinces to which the
fisheries in question are contiguous, aud the
expansion of commercial Intercourse be-
tween them and the United States, present
to-day condition of affairs scarcely reaiiza-
BILE ut the date of the negotiation OF 1878.
New and vast interests have been
brought into existence. Modes of
intercourse between the respective
countries have been invented and multiplied,
| the methods of conducting the fisheries have
been wholly changed: and all this is neces-
sarily entitled to candid and careful eonsid-
| Grafton in the adjustment of tue terms and
conditions of intercourse and commerce be-
tween the United States and their neighbors
along a frontierot over !, 900 miles. This pro-
pinquity and community of.language and oc
eupation and similarity of political and
social institutions, indicate the practicable
! ity and obvious wisdom of maintaining mu-
tually beneficial and friendly relations.
Whilst am unfeignedly desirous
| that such relations should exist be-
| tween us and the inhabitants of
| Canada, yet the action of their officials dur
ing the past season towards our fishermen
| has been such as 10 seriously threaten their
continuance. Although disappointed III my
| efforts to secure satisfactory settlement of
the fishery question, negotiations are still
pending with reasonable hope that before
| the close of the present session of Congress
announcement may be made that an aceepta-
BILE conclusion has been reached, at an
| early day there may be laid before Congress
| the correspondence of the Department of
! State i'll relation to this important subject,
SO that the history of the past fishing season
may be fully disclosed and the action and
the attitude of the administration clearly
| comprehended. More extended reference is
not deemed necessary in this communication.
The recommendation, submitted last year,
that provision be made for preliminary
reconnaissance of
| The Conventional Boundary Line
between Alaska and British Columbia is re-
newed. | express my unhesitating eonvic-
tion that the intimacy of our relations with
Hawail should be emphasized. As Il result
of the reciprocity treaty of 1879, those
islands, on the highway of Oriental and
Australian traffic, are virtually an outpost of
| American commerce, and a stepplng-stone
Polyneslan Island groups have been so alb
sorbed by other and more powerful govern
ments, that the Hawaiian Islands are left
almost alone in the enjoyment of
their autonomy, which it is inn
portant for us should be preserved.
Our treaty is now terminable on one year S
notice, but propositions to abrogate it won
he, in my Judgment, most ill advised. The
paramount influence we have there acq uired
| once relinouished, could only with difficulty
be regained, and valuable ground of van
tage for ourselves might be converted into q
stronghold for our commercial competitors $
| earnestly recommend that the existing
treaty stipulations be extended for further
term of seven years. A recently signed
treaty to this end is now before the Senate
The Importance of telegraphic communica
tion between those islands and the UniteG
States should not be overlooked.
The question of general revision of th'
| treaties of Japan is again under discussion
at Toxic. AS the first to open relation,
with that empire, and as the nation is il
most direct commercial relation with Japan
the United States have lost no opportunit,
to testify their consistent friendship by sup
, porting the just claims of Japan to auton
omy and independence among nations.
treaty of extraditlon between the United
; States aud Japan, the first concluded b,
I that empire, has been lately proclaimed.
9 The weakness of Liberia and the difficult,
: of maintaining effective sovereignt,
over its outlying districts, hav'
exposed that republic to encroach
I ment. 1t cannot be forgotten that this dis
, tant community is an offshoot of our owl
system, owing its origin to the associate
5 benevolence of American citizens, who's
= praiseworthy efforts to create u nucleus G
, civilization in the dark continent have CON
L manded respect and sympathy everywhere
especially in this country. Although fol
! 70 iS
n our traditional policy, the moral right an
duty of the United States to assist in a
proper ways in the maintenance of its IL
tegrity is obvious, and has been consistent
= announced during nearly half a century.
IS recommend that in
"A The Reorganization OF Our Navy,
: a small vessel no longer found adequate
our needs be presented to Liberia to be en-
L ployed by it in the protection of its coas
t wise revenues.
/, The encouraging development of benefci
~ and intimate relations between the Unite
,s States and Mexico, which has been so marke
within the past few years, is at once the o.
7, casion of congratulation and of friendly S
,e licitude. / urgently renew my former repr
,e sentation of the need of speedy legislatiC
n by Congress to carry into effect the recipr
:, city commercial convention of Janual
- ~ 20, 1888. Our commercial treaty of Is
&c with Mexico was terminated according
Ill its provisions in 1881, upon notifcatic
given by Mexico In pursuance of her a
u :! nounced policy of recasting all her CONNIE
y, cial treaties. Mexico has since conclud,
~ AZ with several foreign governments ne
:" treaties of commerce and navigation defnil
e alien rights of trade, property, and re'
y - dence treatment of shipping, consular priv
u u leges, and the like, Our yet unexecut
III reciprocity convention of 1888 covers no
=, of these points, the settlement of which
~ " SO necessary to good relationship. l pt
u !. pose to initiate with Mexico negotiatio
~ for new and enlarged trea
~ ~ of commerce and navigation
az compliance with resolution
d.. the Senate. l communicated to that bo,
VI . on August last, and also to the House
IL Representatives, the correspondence in t
case of 4. *. Cutting, an American citize
the commission of penal offense in Tex
le- of which Mexican citizen was the obie
re- After demand had been made for his relies
M the charge against him was amended so as
ue include violation of the Mexican l;
IN within Mexican territory. This joinG
to OF alleged offenses-one within a
the other exterior to Mexico-induced me
es order special investigation of
on case, pending which Mr.. Cutting was
on leased. The incident has, however, d
ed closed a claim of jurisdiction by Mexi
oy novel in our history, whereby any often
hg committed by a foreigner, penal in the pli
eet of its commission, and of which a MexiC
ed in Mexico. he there tried and punished
tiy conformity with Mexican laws. This jul
diction was sustained by the courts of Me
ny co i'll the Cutting case, and approved by
Ia executive branch of that gvernment uI
at the authority of a Mexican statute. The apI
ng late court in releasing Mr. Cutting deci(
TO that the abandonment of the complaint