Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-12-09
A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS-.
Relations Of Friendship Toward All
Other Nations Constantly
Maintained.
A Revision of the Tariff Laws and the
Suspension of Compulsory Coin
age Of Silver Urged.
Methods for the Civilization of the In
dians-Other Suggestions and
Recommendations.
TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

following a well established precedent in
the executive Office, I herwith transmit to
tine congress at its reassembling, certain
information concerning the state of the
Union together with such recommends
tions for legislative consideration, as ap-
pear necessary and expedient. Our gov
eminent has consistently maintained its
relations of
FRIENDSHIP TOWARDS ALL OTHER POWERS
and of neighborly interest toward those
whose possessions are contiguous to our
own. Few questions have arisen during
the past year with other governments,
and none of those are beyond the reach
of settlement in friendly council We
are yet without provision for the settle
ment of claims of citizens of the United
States against Chilli for injuries during
the late war with Peru and Rolivia. The
mixed commission organized, under the
claims convention concluded by the
Chilli government with certain European
states have developed an amount of fric-
ton which we trust can be avoided in the
convention which Our representative at
Santiago is authorized to negotiate.
THE CRUEL TREATMENT OF 1NoFFENsIvE
CHINESE
has, [ regret to say, been repeated in
some of the far western states and ter
ritories acts of violence against these
people, beyond the power of the local
constituted authorities to prevent, and
difficult to punish, are reported even in
distant Alaska. Much of this violence
can be traced to race prejudice and com
petition of labor which cannot, however.
Justify the oppression of strangers whose
safety is guaranteed by our treaty with
China equally with the most favored ma
tiOns. In opening our vast domain to
alien elements the purpose of our law
givers was to invite assimilation ana not
to provide an arena for endless antago
nisms. The paramount duty Of main
tanning public order and defending the
interests of our own people may require
the adoption of measures of restriction,
but they should not tolerate the Oppres-
sion of individuals of a special race.
am not without assurance that the gov
eminent of China, whose friendly dispo-
sitiOn towards US, 1 am most happy to
recognize, will meet US half way in devils
ing comprehensive plan by which an
effective limitation of Chinese emigra-
ton Joined to protection of those Chinese
subjects who remain in this country may
ecute the provisions of our Chinese con-
vention of 1880, touching the opium
traffic.
While the good will of the
COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT
towards our country manifest the situa-
tion of American interests on the 18TH
mus of Panama, has at times elected con-
Germ, and invited friendly action looking
to the performance of the engagements
of the two nations concerning the terri
tory embraced in the inter-oceanic tran
sit with the subsistence of the 18TH
milan disturbances and the erection of
the state of Panama into federal dis
trict, under the direct government of the
constitutional administration at Bogala,
a new order of things has been Inaugural
ted, which, although as yet somewhat ex-
perimental, and affording scope for arbi-
trary exercise of power by the delegates
of the national authority promises much
improvements.
The sympathy between the people
of the United States and
FRANCE,
born during our colonial struggle for in
dependence and continuing to-day, has
received fresh impulse in the successful
completion and dedication of the colossal
statue of "Liberty Enlightening the
World" in New York Harbor, the gift of
Frenchmen to Americans. A convention
beteween the United States aud certain
other powers, for the protection of
SUBMARINE CABLES,
was signed in Paris, March IA, 1884, and
has been duly ratified and proclaimed by
this government. By an agreement be-
tween the high contracting parties this
convention is to go into effect the first of
January next, but the legislation required
for its execution in the United States has
not yet been adopted. I earnestly recon-
mend its enactment.
Cases have continued to arise in Ger
many giving rise to much correspond
ence in regard to the privilege of soiourn
of Our
NATURALIzED CITIZENS OF GERMAN ORIGIN
revisiting the land of their birth, yet
am happy to state that our relations
with that country have lost none of their
accustomed cordiality. The claims for
interest upon the amount of tonnage
dues illegally exacted from certain Ger
man steamship lines were favorably re-
ported in both houses OF congress at its
last session, and 1 trust will secure fin;
and favorable action at an early Ga
The recommendation contained IL ny
last annual message in relation to mode
of settlement of the
FISHERY RIGHTS
in the waters of British North America
SO long subject of anxious difference
between the United States and Great
Britain was met by an adverse vote OF
the senate April 18th last, and thereupon
negotiations were instituted to obtain an
agreement with her Britanic Majesty's
government for the PRONUNCIATION of such
Joint Interpretation and definition of the
article of the convention of 1915
relating to the territorial waters and in
shore fisheries of the British provinces as
should secure the Canadian rights from
encroachment by United States fisher
men ,and at the same time insure the en-.
joyment by the latter of the privileges