Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-12-04

ests, the usual rules and limitations of business
principles and just dealing should be waived
aged by legislative aequiescence. Relief
eminent is too easily accorded in favor
OF the citizen. The failure to support claims
against the government by proofs IS often sup
piled by no better consideration than the wealth
of the government and the poverty of the claim
granted upon no other real ground than the |
needy condition of the applicant or for |
reasons less valid, and large sums
aps ap other Ior public buildings
scarcely claimed TO be related TO public needs and |
necessities. The extent to viii Il the considera-
ton OF such matters subordinate and postpone
action upon subjects OF great public Importance, |
out involving no special private or partisan inter-
est, should arrest attention and lead to reforma
ton.
few of the numerous illustrations of this |
condition may be stated The crowded condition |
or the calendar of the supreme court, and the |
delay to suitors and denial of Justice resulting
tnerefrom, has been strongly urged upon the at
tention OF congress with plan for the relief of
the situstion approved ny those well able TO
judge of its merits. While this subject remains |
without effective consideration many laws have |
been passed providing for the holding of terms
Of inferior courts at places to suit the convent
ence OF localities, or to lay the foundation of an
application for the erection Of public build
ing
Repeated recommendations have been submit
ted for the amendment aud change OF the laws
relating to our public lands So that their spoa-
ton and diversion To other uses than as homes for
honest settlers might he prevented. While a
measure to meet this conceded necessity of re-
form remains awaitng the action Of congress-
many claims TO the public lands and application
for their donation in favor OF states and tndividu
ais have been allowed.
A plan in aid Of Indian management recon-
mended by those well informed containing
valuable features in furtherauce of the solution
of the Indian problem. has thus far failed OF leg
islative sanction, while grants Of doubtful exps-
diency to railroad corporations, permitting them
to pass through Indian reservations, have greatly
multiplied.
The propriety and necessity of the erection of
| one more prisons for the confinement of United
| States convlcts, and pOstoffice building in the
| national capital, are not disputed. But these
needs yet remain unanswered, while scores of
public buildings have been erected where their
necessity for public purposes is not apparent
A revision Of our pension laws could easily be
| made which would rest upon just principles and
| provide for every worthy applicant. But while
! our general pension laws remain confused and
imperfect, hundreds OF private pension laws are
annually passed, whicn are the sources of unjust
discrimination and popular decentralization.
| Appropriation bills for the support of the
| government are defaced by items and provisions
to meet private ends and il is freelyRaSserted by
| responsible and experienced parties that bill
| appropristing money for public internal improve
| ment would fail to meet with favor unless it CON
tanned more for local and private advantage than
for public benefit. These statements can be much
emphasized by an ascartainmeut of the proper
tou of federal legislation which either bears
upon its face its private character or which upon
examination develops such q motive power
And yet the people wait and expect from their
chosen representatives such patriotic action as
will advance the welfare OF the entire country;
and this expectation can only be answered by the
performance Of public duty with unSelfish pur
pose. Our mission among the nations of the
earth and our success In accomplishing the work
| God has given the American people to do require
| of those entrusted with the making and eXecn-
ton of our laws perfect devotion above all other
things to the public good,
This devotion will lead to strongly resist all
impatiel ce of constitutional limitations of fed
eral power, and TO persisteuiy check the lncreas-
ing tendency TO extend the scope OF federal legs-
lation into the domain OF state and local Jurisdic
tion, upon the plea of subscribing the public
welfare. The preservation Of the partitions be-
tween prop subjects of federal and local care
! and regulation Is Of such importance under the
constitution which is the law of our very exis-
tence, that no consideration of expedi-ncy or
sentiment should tempt us to enter upon doubt
full grounds We have undertaken to discover
and proclaim the richest blessings of free gov
ernrnent, with the constitution our guide, Let
us follow the way It points out. II VIII not mis-
lead us An surely no one who has taken upon
preserve the conSti ution 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 constitution
offers.
What has been said is deemed not inappropr
ate at a time when, from century's height, we
pie and attempt 10 discover their future path.
The seventh president of the United States-the
soldier and statesman, and at all times the firm
and brave friend of the peCple-in vindication OF
his course as a protector Of popular rights
and champion Of true American citizenship, de
clared The ambition which leads me on is al
anxious desire aud fixed determination to re
store to the people unimpaired the sacred ..trusl
! they have coufided to my charge. To heal the
wounds of the constitution and TO preserve il
| from further violation. To persuade my country
| man nr rs is n n
government supported by powerful monopolies
and arstocratical establishments that they viii
find happiness, their liberties protection but
In pa u SYSTEM void Of pomp-protecting al
? and granting favOrs to none-dispensing its bless
| ings like the dewS OF heaven unseen and untel
save in the freshness and beauty they contribute
| 10 produce, 1t is such a government that the
r | genius of our people requre-stch an one only
under which our states may remain, for ages q
: come, united, prosperous, and free"
. | In pursuance of constitutional provision re
: quiring the president from time to time TO give
a TO the congress information of the state of the
: Union, have the satisfaction to announce thai
e the close OF the year finds the United States il
I the cpjoyneut of domestic tranquility and
peace with all the nations; Since my last an2nya
T ened and improved by performance of interna
\ tonal good offices and by new and renewet
u treaties Of amity. commerce and reciprocal ex
. tradition Of criminals Those international ques
7 tions which still await settlement are all reason
! ably within the domain Of amicabe negotiation
and there is no existing subject of dispute be
r that is not susceptible of satisfactory adjust
+ ment by frank diplomatic treatment. The queS
= tions between Great Britain and the United State
i relating to the rights of American fishermen III
y der treaty and international comfy in the terri
! torial waters Of Canada and Newfoundland,
y regret to say are not yet satisfactorily adjusted
u These matters were fully treated in my messag
8 TO the senate Of Feb 20 1855 together with whic
IT a convention concluded under my authority wit
!, her majesty's government the 18th of FebrI
y AIRY last for the removal of all causes OF misuI
u I daret auIiu VAS Cr1bn tft1 nv fort q
"a proval of the senate.
! This treaty havins been rejected by the senat
/ | transmitted message to the congress on th
23d of August last, reviewing the transaction an
u submitting for consideration certain recommend
~ ~ etions for legislation concerning the inpOrtan
y questions involved Afterwards on the 18th q
y September In response to q resolution of the sci
m ate, again communicated fully all the informs
a ton in my possession TO the action of the goy
in ernment Of Canada affecting the commercial rel,
l. tivns between the Dominion and the United State:
Ia including the treatment OF American fishing We,
n sells in the ports and waters of British Mort
A.. America. The communications have all bee
10 published, and therefore opened 10 th
II, knowledge Of both houses of congress, althoug
e two were addressed to the senate alone. Con
r. rnent upon repetition OF their contents would
he sup-rtuous and am not aware that anything hs
ma since occurred which should be added to the fac
nj therein stated. Therefore, merely repeat al
10 plcable to the present time the statement whic
OF will be found in my message to the senate
ev Sept. 10 last, That since March 3, 1897, 1
n has been reported To the depar nnent OF sta
ri wherein complaint has been made of unfriend
*. or unlawful treatment of American vessels on tn
no part of the Canadian authorities, in which repa
re alton was not promptly and satisfactorily o
vs. tained by the United States consul general
an Halifax
in Having essayed in the discharge of my duty
er procure by negotiation the settlement of lont
le standing of dispute and
nd remove a constant menace to the good relation
r Of the two countries and continuing OF the opinit
ire that the treaty Of February last which failed
les receive the approval of the senate did supp
d "A satisfactory practical and final adiustTne
nd upon basis honorable and Just to both parties
the difficult and veXed question TO which IL T
of lated" and having subsequently and unava
all ingly recommended other legislation to congre
IN which hoped would suffice to meet the exigent
lat created by the rejection of the treaty, | no
ie again invoke the earnest and immediate atte
of ton OF the congress to the condition of this il
a portant question 1t now stands before the
m and the country and for the settlement OF whit
M am deeply solicitous.
ar Near the close of the month of October las
id occurrences Of a deeply regretab. nature we
zee brought to my knowledge, which made if II
he painful but imperative duty to obtain with
il, little delay possible personal channel
TO diplomatic intercourse 10 this country with Il
lie, government of Great Britain. The corTespon
he ence In relation to this incident will in due cour
ley be laid before you and will disclose the unpardo
in able conduct OF the official referred to in his
rn- reference by advice and counsel with &
ro- suffrages of American citizens in the very cr,
est of the presidential election then near at han
5t- and also in his subsequent public declarations
led justify his action superadding iInpugnment
po- the executive and senate of the United Stats
In connection with important questions nc
ws pending in controversy between the two COVER
our ments.
rs The offense thus committed was most gray
The involving disastrous possibilities to the good
,ot lations of the United States and Great Brita
as constituting gross breach of diplomatic pri
~ ~ lege and invasion of the purely domestic affai