Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-12-07

"fair and conservative toward existing IN
dustries, but which will reduce the COST TO
consumers OF the necessaries OF life, while
il provides for our manufacturers the id
vantage Of freer raw materials and permits
no injury to the interests Of American Ia
bor.n
Dealing with tho state Of the union, the
president SAYS foreign relations have been
strengthened The International questions
which still await settlement are all reason
ably within the domain OF a capable nego-
tiation, and there is no existing subject or
dispute between the United States and any
foreign power that is not susceptible VI
satisfactory adjustment by frank diplo-
matte treatment
"The questions between Great Britain
and the United States relating TO the rights
of American fishermen under treaty and
international comfy in the territorial
waters OF Canada and Newfoundland,
regret to say, are not satisfactorily adj
iusted."
He recites the diplomatic history Of these
disputes. He then goes on and says:
"Having essayed in the discharge OF my
duty TO procure by negotiation the settle
ment OF "a long standing cause OF dispute
and 10 remove a constant menace to the
good relations of the two countries. and
continuing to be of the opinion that the
treaty of February last, which failed To
receive the approval of the senate, did sup
ply IA satisfactory, practical and final adj
TO both parties of the difficult and vexed
question TO which it related and having
subsequently and unavailingly recommend
ed other legislation TO congress, which
l hoped would suffice TO meet the
exigency created by the rejection
of the treaty, now again invoke the earn
est and immediate attention OF the congress
| TO the condition of this important question
as it now stands before them and the coun-
| try, and for the settlement OF which 1 am
| deeply solicitious. Near the close OF the
| month of October last, occurrences OF a
| deeply regretable nature were brought to
| my Knowledge which made IT my painful
| but imperative duty to obtain with as little
! delay as possible, a new personal channel
| Of diplomatic intercourse in this country
with the government Of Great Britain.
1.-THE correspondence In relation to this
! incident will, in due course, be laid before
| you, and will disclose the objectionable
conduct of the Official referred TO, in his in
| reference by advice and counsel with
| the suffrages of American citizens in the
| very crisis Of the presidential election near
| at hand, and also in his subsequent public
| declarations to justify his action, superadd-
| ing impugnment of the executive and SEN
ate Of the United States, in connection with
| important questions now pending in contro-
versy between the two governments
1.-THE otfense thus committed was most
| grave, involving disastrous possibilities TO
| Tue HOOu relation OF tUt CHltcu DbdJeS anu
Great Britain, constituting gross breach
| of diplomatic privilege and an invasion of
] the purely domestic affairs and essential
sovereignty of the government TO which the
i envoy was accredited. Having first fulfill
ed the just demand ofinternational comfy,
| by affordng full opportunity for her maies
| tvs government to act in relief OF the situa-
ton, considered prolongation of the dis
cussion to be unwarranted, and thereupon
| declined to further recognize the diplomatic
! character of the person whose continuance
in such function would destroy the mutual
| confidence which il essential TO the good
understanding of the two governments, and
was inconsistent with the welfare and self
respect of the government of the United
| States"
A survey of the Alaskan boundary is
! recommended.
An arrangement with Great Britain
! looking to the removal of obstacles to the
! humane relief of shpwrecked sailors on
| the great lakes is suggested.
The relations with France on the i'm
| pressing of American citizens into its mill
| tary service. and the relations with Samoa
and China on the restriction act, are retold
The convention with Japan is still in prog
| ress A consular court IN CorCa is recon.
mended. Our representative in Hayti has
! been instructed TO abstain from interior
ence in the revolution now on there, while
due precautions for the observance OF
neutrality laws have been taken. Sub.
marine telegraph connection with Honolu
Ia is recommended. precise location OF
the Mexican boundary line is urged 70
avoid future complications. Claims OF
! American citizens against the foreign gov
ernments have been amicably settled.
The president then takes up the question
! of naturalization, dealing with il thus
| with the rapid in rease of immigration tC
our shores and the facilities of modern
travel, abuses of the generous privileges
afforded by our naturalization laws call for
| their careful revision. The easy and ur.
| guar Led manner in which certificates OF
American citizenship can be obtained has
| induced "a class, unfortunately large, 70
! avail themselves of the opportunity TO be
come absolved from allegiance to their
native land, and yet by foreign residence
escape any just duty and contribution OF
service TO the country of their proposed
adoption. Thus, while evading the duties
of citizenship TO the United States, they
| may make prompt claim Tor its national
| protection, and demand its intervention in
| their behalf. International complications
| OF serious nature arise and the CORES
| p0ndence Of the state department disclosee
| the great number and eomplexity of the
| questions which have been RAJ sed. Our
laws regulating the issue Of passports
should be carefully revised, and the ipsti-
tut on OF central bureau OF registration
at the capital Is again strongly recommend
ed. BY this means full particulars of
each case OF naturalization in the United
States would be secured and properly re
corded, and thus many cases of spurious
| citizenship would be detected and unjust
responsibilities would be avoided.
1.-The reorganization Of the consular ser
! vice is a matter Of serious Importance 70
| our national interests. The number of ex-
listing prime pal consular officers il believed
TO be greater than is at all necessary for
the conduct of the public business. II need
not be our policy TO maintain more than a
moderate number of principal officers, each
! supported by a salary sufficient to enable
| the incumbent to live in comfort and 90
| distributed as to secure convenient super
| vision over a considerable district. re-
peat the recommendations heretofore made
| by me, that the appropriations for the
maintenance OF our diplomatic and consular
service should be recast; that the 80 called
! notarial or unofficial duties which our rep
| resentatives abroad are now permitted TO
treat as personal perquis ties, should be for
hidden; that "A system Of consular inspec-
ton should be instituted: and that limited
number OF secretaries Of legation at large
| aknnll no anshnrizad