The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-08-19
THE MESSAGE.
President Cleveland Lays Before
Congress the Needs of tho
Nation.
Strong Ground Taken on Civil Service and
the Mormon Question-Our Coast Must
be Pr~otected-No more Silver Dollsrs
-Nesded-Othcr Topics Discussed.

Presidents Message was sent to Congress
q few minutes after the two Houses had as
sembled and was read. It is in substance
as follows:
To THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
Your assembly is clouded by a sense of pub
lie bereavement, caused by the recent and
sudden death of Thomas A. Hendricks, Woe
President. of the United States. His distin-
guished public services, his complete integ-
riry and devotion to every duty, and his 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 nis fellow-couutrymen were
manifested by his election to offices of the
most important trust and highest dignity,
and at length fun of years and honors he has
been laid ut rest amid universal sorrow and
The Constitution, which requires those
chosen TO legislate for tho people to annually
meet in the discharge of their solemn trust,
also requires the President to give to Con-
gress of the state of tho Union
aud recommend to their consideration such
m 'asur s as he shall deem necessary and ex-
pedieut. AT the threshold of a compliance
with these constitutional directions it Is well
for ms to bearin mind that our usefulness to
the peoples interest will be promoted by a
constant appreciatio, of the scope and char
acter of orr respective duties as they relate
to Fedcrsl legislation. While the Executive
may recommend such measures as be shall
deem expcdient, the responsibility for legis-
lative action must and should rest upon
those selected by the people to make their
Contemplation of the grave and RESPONSE
BILE functions assigned to the executive
stitution will disclose the partitions of power
between our respective departments and
their nece ssary independence, and also the
need for the exercise of all the power en-
trusted to each in that spirit of CONT and CO.
operation which is ssential to the proper
fulhllment of the patriotic obligations which
rest unOn us as faith lIl SarvQpfS IF tho nan.
pie. The Jealous watchfuiness of our con-
stitncncies, great and small, supplements
establish every public servant should be
Judged.
It is gratifying to that the rela-
lions of the United States with all
FOREIGN POWERS
continue to be friendly. Our position. after
nearly a century of successful constitutions
government, maintenance of good faith in all
our engagements. the avoidance of complica.
lions with other nations and consistent and
amicable attitude toward the strong and
weak alike, furnishes proof of a political
.1 W;,t onneoe which renders Tnne professions pr OF good %
ment.
The Argentine Government has revived the
long dormant question of the Falkland Is
lands by claiming from the United States in
demnity for their loss, attributed to the ac-
ton of the commander of the sloop-of-war
Lexington. in breaking up q piratical colony
on those islands in 1881. and their subsequent
occupation by Great Britain. In view of the
ample justification for the act of the Lexing-
ton and the derehct condition of the islands
before and after their alleged occupation by
siders the claim as wholly eroundless.
Question has arisen with the Government
of AustrSa-Hungary touching the represent
ing, undek my constitutional p~rerogative. ap-
PORTED aA stimable citizen of nnimpeached
probity and competence as minister at that
court, the Government of Austria Hungary
invited this Government to cognizauce Of
certain exceptions, based upon allegations
against the personal acceptability Of Mr..
Kelley the appointed Envoy, asking that, in
view thereof, the appointment hould be
withdrawn.
not be acquiesced in without violation of my
oath of office and the precept of tn Consti-
tuition, since they necessarily involved a
upon the right Of selection by the Execu-
tive, and required such an application
Of . religious test as 9 analiacation for
resulted IN the practical di franchise ment
on a large class of our citizens and the alb an
of a vital principle of our govern
ment. The Austro-Hungarian government
finally decided not to receive Mr.. Kelley as
the Envoy of the United States, and that
gentleman has since resigned his commits
sion. leaving the post vacant L have made
no new nomination, and the interests of this
government at Vienna are now in the care of
the Secretary of Legation, acting as Charge
l'Affaires ad interim.
Early in March last war broke out in Cen
trial America, caused by the attempt of Qua
temala 10 consolidate the several States into
aisingle government. In these contests be-
tween our n~eighbOring States the United
States forbore to interfere actively, but lent
ton of war and to promote peace and con-
cord among the belligerants. and by such
counsel contributed Importantly to the res
toration of tranquility in that locality.
Emergencies growing out of civil war in the
United States of Colombia, demanded of the
government at the beginning of this adminis-
FRO finn tho nmnlnvm ant of a ~, od fnrno fn fpl.
fill its guarantees under the thirty-bfth arti-
Gle of the treaty of 1916 In order to keep the
DESTROYS of exercising only the powers ex-
pressly reserved to us b y the treaty and
m'Idful of the rights of Colombia. the forces
sent to the Isthmus we're instructed to con-
fine their action to positively and eficaci-
Ously" preventing the transit and its Access
series nom being interrupted or embaras-
Sed."
The execution of this delicate and respon-
sible task necessarily involved D lice control
where tn local authority was temporarily
powerless, but always IN aid of the sovereign
ty Of Colombia. The prompt and successful
fnlfillment of its duty by this Government
OF Colombia, and has been followed cy ex-
preston of its satisfaction. High praise IS
due to the officers and men engaged in this
service.
The restoration of peace on the Isthmus by
the re-establisnment of the constituted govern
ment there being thus accomplished. the
forces OF the United States were withdrawn.
Pending these occurrences, a question of
mneh i'm 1ortshee was presented by DEGREES of
the Co'oIlbIan Government, p~roclaiming the
closure of certain ports then in the
hands OF insurgents, and declaring YES
sells held by the revolutionists to be
power. To neither of these propositions
could the United States assent. An effective
closure of ports not in the possession of the
Government, but held by hostiles and par
tisans could not be recognized, neither could
the vessels of insurgents against the legiti-
mate sovereignty be deemed hostes humani
generis within the preceptS of international
law, whatever might be the definition and
penalty of their acts under the municipal
law of the State against whose authority
they were in revolt. The denial by this Gov
eminent of the Colon bian propositions did
not. however, imply the admission of a bel
ligerant status on the part of the insurgents.
L Colombian Government has expressed
its willing ess o negotiate conventions for
the adjustment by arbitration of claims by
foreign citizens arising out of the destruc-
ton o the city of Aspinwall by the insur-
rectIonary forces.
TRANSI ACROSS THE STHMUS.
The interest of the United States in a prac-
ticable transit for ships across the strip of
land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific
has been repeatedly manifested during the
last half century.
My Immediate predecessor caused to be ne
gotiated with Nicaragua a treaty for the
construction, by and at the sole cost of the
United States, of a canal through Nicaraguan
territory. and laid it before the Senate.
Pending the action of that body thereon 1
withdrew the treaty for reorganization. At