The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-12-09
A Recommendation That the Pre-
emption and Timber Culture
Acts Be Repealed.
The Great Problem of Capital and
its Relations to Labor Slightly
Commented Upon.
A Claim that Civil Service Reform Is
Greatly Misunderstood by
the People.
Lengthy Dissertation Upon the In
dian Question-The Homestead
Law and Other Matters.


WASHINGTON, December 6.-Follow-
ing is the annual message of President
Cleveland read to Congress to-day
To the Congress of the United States:-
In discharge of a constitutional duty and
following well established precedent in
the Executive office, herewith transmit to
the Congress at its reassembling, certain
information concerning the state Of the
Union, together with such recommendations
for legislative consideration as appear nee
essary and expedient. Our government has
consistently maintained its relations of
friendship toward all other powers, and Of
neighborly interest toward those whose pos
essions 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 counsel. We are as
yet without provision for the settlement of
claims of citizens of the United States
against Chilli for injuries during the late war
with Peru and Bolivia. The mixed commits
sions organized under claims conventions
concluded by the Chilian Government with
certain European states, have developed an
amount of friction which we trust can be
avoided in the convention which our repre-
sentative at Santiago is authorized to nego-
tiatc. The cruel treatment of inoffensive
Chinese has, regret to say, been repeated
in some of the far Western States
and Territories, and acts of
violence against those people beyond the
Al -.
to prevent aud difficult to punish are re.
ported even in distant Alaska. Much OF
this violence can be traced to race prejudice
and competition of labor, which cannot,
however, justify the oppression of strangers
where safety is guaranteed by our treaty
/ with China equally with the most favored
nation.
In opening our vast domain to alien ele
ments the purpose of our law-giyers was Il
invite assimilation and not to provide
An Arena for Endless Antagonisms.
The paramount duty of maintaining pub
lie order and defending the interest
of our own people may require tn
adoption of measures of restriction, but they
should not tolerate the oppression of indi
viduals OF special race. am not without
assurance that the government of China
whose friendly disposition towards us an
most happy to recognize, will meet us hal
way in ,devising a comprehensive remedy
by which an effective limitation of Chimes
emigration, joined to the protection of thos
Chinese subjects who remain in this cour
try, may be secured. Legislation is needle
to execute the provisions of our Chimes
convention of 1850, touching the opiul
traffic.
While the good will of the Colombia
Government toward our country is manifes
the situation of American interests ON th
Isthmus of Panama has at times excite
concern and invited friendly action look
ing to the reference of the engagements o
the two nations concerning the territory en-
braced in the interoceanic transit. Wit
the subsidence of the Isthmian disturbance
! and the erection of the State of Panama int
federal district, under the direct goverr
meut of the constitutional administration a
Bogota, new order of things has been il
augurated, which, although as yet somewh,
experimental and affording scope for arb
trary exercise of power by the delegates
the national authority, promises much in
provement.
The sympathy between the people of
The United States and France,
born during our colonial struggle for ind
pendence and continuing to-day, has L
ceiyed a fresh impulse in the successful cor
pletion and dedication of the colossal statl
of Liberty Enlightening the World"
New York harbor, the gift of Frenchmen
Americans.
A convention between the United Stat
and certain other powers for the protectit
of submarine cables was signed at Paris
March IA. 1854, and has been duly ratih,
and proclaimed by this government. 1
agreement between the high contractil
parties this convention is to go into effe
the LIST of January next, but the legislati
required for its execution in the Unit
States has not yet been adopted. 1 earnest
recommend its enactment.
Cases have continued to occur in German
giving rise TO much correspondence in rel
tion to the privilege of sojOurn of our nS
uralized citizens of German origin revisiti
the land OF their birth, yet | am happy
state that our relations with that count
have lost none of their accustomed cOrdia
ty. The claims for interest upon the amou
OF tonnage dues illegally exacted from e'
tain German steamship lines were favorab
reported in both houses of Congress at
last session, and trust will receive final al
favorable action at an early day.
The recommendation contained in my L
annual message in relation TO a mode of 8
tlement of
The Fishery Rights
In the waters of British North America,
long a subject of anxious difference betwe
the United States and Great Britain, Vi
met by an adverse vote of the Senate
April l3, last, and thereupon negotiate
were instituted to obtain an agreement w
her Britannia Majesty's government for
PRONUNCIATION of such joint interpretati
* and definition of the article of the conv'
, tion of 1918 relating to the territor
waters and inshore fisheries of the Brit
provinces as should secure the Canadi
rights from encroachment by United Sta
fishermen. and at the same time insure
enjoyment by the latter of the priVilel
guaranteed to them by such conv
tion. The questions involved are
long standing, of grave consequent
and from time to time for nea
three-quarters of a century have given +
to earnest international discussions not
accompanied by irritation. Temporary
rsngemeEts BIZ treaties have served to al