The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-12-13

American people to do require of those
intrusted with the making and execution
of our laws perfect devotion, above all
other things. to the public good. -
This devotion will lead us to strongly
resist all impatience of constitution limita-
tions of federal power and to persistently
check the increasing tendency to extend
the scope of federal legislation into the do
main of state and local jurisdiction upon
the plea of subscribing the public welfare.
The preservation OF the partitions De,
care and regulation is of such Importance
under the constitution, which is the law
OF our very existence, that no conSidera-
tiou of expediency or sentiment should
tempt us to enter upon doubtful ground.
We have undertaken to discover and pro-
claim the richest blessings of a free gov
ernment, with the constitution as our
guide. Let US follow the way it points
out. It will not mislead US; and surely no
one who has undertaken the solemn obli-
cation to support and preserve the consti-
tuition can find justification or solace for
disloyalty in the excuse that he wandered
and disobeyed in search of better way to
reach the public welfare than the constitu-
tion offers
What has been said is deemed not in
appropriate at time when from CEN
tury's height we view the way already
trod by the American people, and attempt
to discover their future path. The seventh
president of the United States, the soldier
and statesman and all times the firm and
brave friend of the people, in vindication
of his course as the protector of the popular
right and the champion of true Ameri-
can citizenship, declared: "The ambition
which leads me on is an anxious desire
and fixed determination to restore to the
people unimpaired the sacred trust they
have confided to my charge; to heal the
wounds of the constitution and to preserve
1t from further violation; to persuade my
countrymen, SO far as | may, that it is not
in a splendid government, supported by
powerful .monopolies and aristocrat1cal
establishments, that they find happiness,
or their liberties protected. but in a plain
system, void OF pomp-protecting all and
granting favOrS TO none - dispensing its
blessings like the dews of heaven, unseen
and unfelt save in the freshness aud beau
ty they contribute to produce. 1t is such
a government as the genius of our people
requires; such one only under which
our states m ~ remain, for ages to come,
united prosperous, and free
THE FISHERIES TROUBLE.
Since my last annual message our
foreign relations have been strengthened
and improved by performance of interna'
tional good offices and bV new anu renew
ed treaties OF amity, commerce, and re-
ciprocal extradition of criminals. Those
international questions which still await
settlement are ali reasonably within the
domain of amicab negotiation, and there
is no existing subject of dispute between
the United States and any foreign
power that is not susceptible of satisfac-
ment. The question between Great
Britain and the United States relating to
/, the rights of American fishermen un.ler
treaty and international com Ly il the
/ territorial waters of Canada AMI New
/ foundland l regret to say are not yet
Jeff fnd m tR
! were fully treated in my message to the
senate of Feb. 20, 1888, together with
j which convention concluded under my
authority with her maj .sty's government
| on Feb. 10 last, for the removal OF all
| causes Of misunderstanding, was submit
ted by me for the approval of the senate.
| This treaty having been rejected by the
| senate transmitted a message to con-
| gress on Aug. % last, reviewing the tran
! sactiou and submitting for msideration
| certain Recommendations for 'gislation
concerning the important q nestloas involv-
ed. Afterwari, Sept. IL, i'll response to a re-
/ solution OF the senata, again communicat
ed fullyall the Information in myposseSsion
as to the action of the government OF
Canada affecting the commercial rela-
tions between the dominion and the
United States. including the treatment OF
| American fishing vessels i'll the ports and
| waters of British North America. The
/ communications have all been published
| of both houses of congress, although two
| were addressed to the senate alone. Com
ment upon or repetition of their contents
would be superhuou5, and am not aware
that anything has since occurred which
| should be added to the facts therein
stated. Therefore, l merely repeat as ap.
| plicable to the present time the statement
| which will be found in my message to the
senate of Sept. IL last: That since March
s, 1887, no case has been reported TO the
ka l1tr
has been made of unfriendly or unlawful
| treatment of American vessels on the part
| of the Canadian authorities i'll which re-
| paration was not PROMPTLY and satisfac'
| tOrity obtained by the United States Con
| sul-general at Halifax
Having essayed in the discharge of my
duty to procure by negotiation the settle
ment OF long standing cause OF dispute
| aud to remove constant menac3 to the
| good relations of the two Countries, an
| continuing to be of opinion thIJ tue treaty
| of February last, which failed To receive
the approval of the senate, did supply q
satisfactory. practical, and final adjust
| ment upon basis honorable and lust tC
both parties Of the difficult and vexed
| question to which it related; and having
| subsequently and unavailingly recon.
| mended other legislation to congress
which l had hoped would suffice to
meet the exigency created by the rejection
OF the treaty, / now again invoke the
| earnest and immediate attention of con-
| gress to the condition of this important
question as iG now stands before them and
the country.
THE SACKVILLE-wEST AFFAIR.
NEAR the close of the month of October
| last an occurrence of a deeply-regretable
nature was brought to my knowledge,
which ma,ie it my painful but imperative
| duty to obtain, with as little delay as
possible, a new, personal channel Of di.
plomatic intercourse i'll this country with
the government of Great Britain.
The correspondence in relation to this
| incident will in due course be laid before
you and Will disclose the unpardonable
conduct of the official referred to in his
interference by advice and counsel with
the suffrages of American citiZsns in the
| very crisis of the presidential election, and
also in his subsequent public declarations
to Justify his action. superadding impugn
ment OF the executive and senate of the
United States, in connection with inn
portant questions now pending in contro-
versy between the two governments The
oHense thus committed WAS most grave,
involving disastrous possibilities to the
good relations of the United States and
Great Britain, constituting a gross breach
OF diplomatic privilege and invasion of
the purely domestic affairs and essential
sovereignty of the government to which
the envoy was accredited. Having first
fulfilled the just demands of international
courtesy by aff"rding full opportunity for
her majesty's government to act in relief
of the silultion, l considered prolongation
of discussion t0 be unwarranted, and
tnereupon declined to further recognize
the diplOmatc character of the person
whose continuance in such function
would destroy that mutual confidence
which is essential to the good understand
ing of the two governments, and was in
consistent with the welfare and self-re-
, spect of the government of the United
States. The usual interchange of COM
munication has since continued through
her majesty's legation in this city.
THE ALASKA BOUNDARIES.
The coastal boundary between our Alas
kan possessions and British Columbia, I
regret to say, has not received the atten-
tion demanded by its Importance, and
which on several occasions heretofore I
have had the honor to recommend to con-
gress. The admitted impracticability, if
not impossibility, of making an accurate
and precise survey and demarkation of
the boundary line, as 1t is recited in the
treaty with Russia, under which Alaska
was ceded to the United States, renders it
absolutely requisite for the prevention of
international complications that adequate
appropriation for reconnaissance and sur
vey, to obtain proper knowledge of the
locality and the geographical features of
tIo hon n Oh T.