, 1886-12-07
THE MESSAGE.
President Cleveland to the
Forty-Ninth Congress.
Our Friendly Relations With
Other Powers.
The Chinese and the Fisheries
Question.
Attention Called to the Protec-
ton of Public Lands.
The Relations of Labor to
Capital.

ASlilNtIDN,tDec DO me tOHIfc
of the Enited .States:-ln discharge of a
constitutional duty, and following a well
established precedent in the executive of
flee, i herewith transmit to the congress
at its reassembling certain information
concerning the state of the Union, to-
gether with such recommendations for
legislative consideration as appear ncces-
sary and expedient.
Our Friendly Relations.
Our government has consistently main
tanned its relations of friendship toward
all other lowers and of nelghborly interest
toward those whose possessions are CON
tiguous to our own. Few questions have
arisen during the past year with other
governments, and none of those are be-
yond the reach Of settlement in friendly
counsel.
Tie sympathy between the people
OF the United States and France, born
during our colonial struggle for indepen-
dence, and continuing to-day, has received
a fresh impulse in the successful compile
ton and dedication of the colossal statue
of Liberty Enlightening the World,
in New York harbor, the gift of French
men to Americans.
Gases have continued to occur in Ger
many giving rise to much correspondence
in relation 10 the privilege of s%ojourn of
our naturalizcd citizens of German origin
revlslting the land of their birth, yet |
am happy TO state that our relations with
that country have lost none Of their ac-
customed cordially.
The Chinese.
The cruel treatment of inoifeusive Chi
nose has. | regret to say, been repeated in
some Of the far Western states and terri
tories, and acts OF violence against those
people, beyond the power Of the local con
stituted authorities to prevent and diff
cult to punish, are reported even in dis
tant Alaska. Much ef tins violence can
be traced to race prejudice and competi-
ton of labor, which cannot, however, Just
iiy the oppression Of strangers whose
safety is guaranteed by our treaty with
China equally with the most favored ma
tons. In opening our vast domain to
alien elements the purpose Of our law
givers was to invite assimilation and not
to provide an arena of endless antagonism.
The paramount duty of maintaining pub
lie order and defending the interests of
our own people may require the adoption
of measures OF restriction, but they should
not tolerate the oppression of individuals
Of Il special race. | am not without as
suranee that the government Of China.
whose friendly disposition towards us |
am most happy to recognize, will meet us
half way in devising a comprehensive
remedy, by which an effective legislation
of Chinese emigration. Joined to protec-
ton of those Chinese subjects who remain
in this country. may be secured. Iegis
lation is needed to execute the provisions
of our Chinese convention of 1850 touch
ing the opium traffic.
Tine FISHERIES Question.
The terms and conditions of Intercourse
and commerce between the United States
and their %neighbors along a frontier of
over q, 800 miles continue amicable. This
propinqulty community of language and
occupation. and similarity Of political and
social Institutions, indicate the practical
bility and obvions wisdom of maintaining
mutually beneiieially and friendly rela-
tons. Whilst | am u%n,eignedly DESTROYS
that such relations should exist between
us and the inhabitants of Canada, yet the
action of their o%ficills during the past sea-
son toward our fishermen has been such
As to seriously threaten their continuance,
sNlliNNutu hlNh NIhllltNl III NY tlllltH u 81
cure n satisfactory settlement of The fish
cry question, negotiations are still pen
ding with reasonable hope that before the
close OF the present session eft congress ad-
yanccment may be made that an arcepta
BILE conclusion has been reached.
Tho Public Lands.
The recommendations of the secretary
of the interior and the commissioner of
the general land office, looking 10 the bet
ter protection of the public lands and OF
the public surveys, preservation OF the
national forests, the adjudication Of grants
to states and corporations and private
land claims, and the increased efficiency
of public land service, are commended Ia
the attention of congress, to secure the
widest distribution of public lands in linn
itcd quantities among settlers. Of residence
and cultivation, and thus make the great
est numbers of individual homes, was the
primary object of the public land legisla.
ton in early days Of the republic. Thi,
system was a simple one. 1t commenced
with an admirable scheme of public sur
veys, by which the humbIcst citizen could
identity the tract upon which lie wished
to establish his home. The price of land
was placed within the reach OF all the en-
terprising. Industrious and honest pionoeI
citizens OF the country. 1t was soon
however, found that the object of tn,
laws, was perverted under the system o
cash sales from a distribution of lane
among the people to an accumulation 0
land capital by wealthy and speculative
persons. To check this tendency a prefer
cnce right Of purchase was given to settler
on the land, i plan which eliminated II
the general presumption act of 1871. TIL
foundation of this system was actual res
idence and cultivation. Twenty year
later the homestead laws were devised t
more surely place actual homes in tn
possession of actual cultivators of the soil
The land wa given without price, tn
sole conditions being residence, improve
mcnt and cultivation Other laws haS.
followed, each designed to encourage tn
requirement and use Of land in limited in
dividual quantities. But in later year
!, these laws, through vicious administers
tive methods and under changed condi
lions of communication and transports
ton, have been so cvadcd and violate
that their beneficient purpose
7 threatened with entire defeat. TIL
methods of such evasions and violation
are set forth in detail in the reports Of til
secretary of the interior and commissioner