Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-10
THE PRESIDENTS NJ ESSAGE
HIS accommodations TO CON-
GRESS.
we Are at Peace with all Mankind
The Fisheries OUestiou-A Reduction
OF the Tarin Recommended -
The Cutting Case,

The cutting case,
WASHINGTON, Dec q. President Cleve
land in his message to the 49th Con
gress states that the government has con
sistently maintained its relations of friend
ship with other powers and of neighborly
interest toward those whose possessions
are contiguous to our own. Few ques
tions have arisen during the past wear
with other governments and none of these
beyond the reach of S ettlement in
friendly counsel Some friction has Oc-
cured in the matter Of the claims against
Chill. but the neLotiltlOns are proceeding.
The president regrets to say the cruel
treatment-of the Chinese in certain parts
of the country has been repeated: race
prejudice and labor competition can not
Justify the oppression of the strangers {;
the purpose of our law givers is to invite
assimilation of alien elements and not to
provide an arena for endless autagonism.
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 should not
tolerate the oppression of individuals of Il
special race; the government of China
will meet us half way in dcvsng IA com
prehensive remedy by which effective linn
its to Chinese emigration, IOined to the pro
lection of those Chinese subjects who re
mau in this country may be secured.
Legislation j. needed to execute the pro
visions of our Chicago convention of 1850
touching he opium traffic.
The Bartholdi statue is alluded to as an
other bond of friendship between this GOV
eminent and France. The president earn.
estly recommends the enactment of
legislation for the ratification of the con
~..s. 1
certain other powers for the protection
Of the ocean cables. Though there has
been considerable correspondence with
relation TO the privileges of naturallzed
citizens of the United States visiting their
native land, our friendly relations with
that country have not been disturbed.
TIE FISHERIES QUESTION.
OF the fisheries dispute the president
says The recommendation contained in
my last message in relation to the mode
of settlement of the fishery rights III
British North America, so long subject
of various differences between the United
states and Crest Britain. was met by the
adverse vote of the Senate of April -
last and recent negotiations were institute
I'd go obtain an agreement with her
l3ritiauic m2ies'Y's government for the
PRONUNCIATION of such a joint interpreta-
ton and definition OF the article OF con
yentiDn Of ISIS relating to the territorial
water aud in shore fisheries of the British
provinces as should secure Canadian
RIGHTS from eucrOachmeut by United
States fishermen aud AT the same time
insure the enjoyment by the latter of
the privileges guaranteed them 10y such
convention. The questions involved are
Of long standing, Of grave consequence,
and from time 10 time for nearly -
wears have given rise to earnest nterna-
liouai discussion, hot unaccompanied by
irritation. Temp rary arrangements by
treaties have served to ailay the friction
which, however, has revived as each
treaty was terminated. The last arrange
uCnt under the treaty of 1871 was abro-
Gated after due notice by the United
states on June 30, lSS5, but | was enabled
20 obtain for our fishermen for the re-
maluuer of that season the enjoyment of
the tuli privileges accorded by the ter
ninat Oh Of the treaty.
The Joint high commission by whom the
treaty hal been negotiated although in
vested with plenary power to make a per
manent settlement were content with the
temporary arrangement, on the termlna-
tion of which the question was RELOCATED
to the StipulatiOnS of the treaty of ISIS
as to the first article of which no con.
structOu satisfactory to both countries
has ever been agreed upon.
Tho progress of civilization and the
growth If population in the British prov
inces to which the fisheries in question
are contiguous and the expansion of com
merciaI Intercourse between them and the
United States, present to-day a condition
OF affairs scarcely reHliZable at the date OF
the NEGOTIATIONS in ISIS. New and vast
interests have been brought into existence
and the methods of conducting the fisher
les have been wholly changed aud all tins
is entitled to candid consideration anC
Judgment III adjusting the conditions o.
interc urse and commerce between tn,
United states and their neighbors along
frontier of over $500 miles. The propn
1uity. community Of language and occu
patton and similarity of political and so
cial institutions indicate the praCticabilt,
and obvious wisdom of maintainn!
mutually beneficial and friendly rela
lions
While am DESTROYS that such relation
should exist, yet the action of the Cana
dian officials during the past season
toward our fishermen has been such as Il
seriously disturb their continuance Al
though disappointed in my efforts t.
secure a satisfactory settlement of tn
fishery question, negotiations are still
pending with reasonable hope that be
fore the close of the present session q
congress he announcement may be mad
.hat an acceptable conclusion has bee
reached and that at an early day may b
laid before Congress the CORES Ondeuc
Of the department in relation to this in
pOrtant subject 80 that the history of tn
past fishing season may be fully disclose
and the action and attitude of the admin
istratOn clearly cOmprehended. a NOR
extended reference is not deemed nece,
sary in this matter.
OTHER FOREIGN MATTERS.
The importance of maintaining our con
mercial treaty with the Hawaiian island
is strongly emphasized. 1t is recommends
hat IN view of the weakness of the colon