Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-12-07

with the government, prosecuting claims
against it, failing TO produce evidence for
tine government the granting of pensions
ana expanding large sums for public build
lngs and other improvements thereby
croWdIng out action on important matters.
Ms an instance OF this crowdng. relief has
beou refused the ovcrCrowdpd docket OF the
supreme Court TO the distress of suitors and
the denial Of Justice while many laws have
pissed providing for holding inferior courts
to suit localities or lay the foundation for
the erection of new public building. a
bll to prevent spoliatiOn of public lands has
been neglected, while many private OF State
claims and applications for public lands have
been allowed. A well-endOrsed plan for In
dian reform has failed of legislative sanction,
while doubtful grants TO railroads TO pass
through Indian reservations have multiplied.
The lndisputcd necessity for prisons for
United States Convicts and postotllCe at
the national capital has been ignored, while
scores of less necessary public buildings have
been erected. An easily effected and Just
| revision of our pension laws has been post
poned, while hundreds of private pension
laws are annually passed, which are the
source of unjust discrimination and popular
Generalization
APPROPRIATIONS.
Appropriation bills for the support of tho
| government are defaced by items and pro-
! visions TO meet private ends, and it is free
| ~ asserted by responsible aud experienced
parties, that a bill appropriating money for
| public internal improvements would fail to
meet with favor unless it contained items,
more for local and private advantage than
! for public benefit. Devotion TO the public
| good, the president says, will lend us to
| strongly resist all impotence of constitu-
tional limitations of federal power, and to
! Professionally check the increasing tendency
| TO extend the scope of federal legislation
| into the domain of State and local jurisdc
ton upon the plea of subscribing the public
welfare The preservation of the partitions
| between proper subjects of federal and local
care and regulation is of such Importance
under the constitution, which is the law of
our very existence, that no consideration
of eXpedeucy or sentiment should
tempt us to enter on doubtful grounds
The president here quotes from President
| jackson to the effect that he desires also to
restore unimpaircd the sacred trust confided
to his charge and persuade his countrymen
that it is not in "a splendid government sup
ported 10y powerful monopolies and aristo-
cratic establishments that they will find hap
piness and liberty but in a plain system
protecting all and faVOring none. Such a
| government only will preserve unity, pros
perity and freedom. He then continues;
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
I have the satisfaction to announce that
the end of the year finds the country at
peace within and without. During the year
our foreign relations have been improved
by mutual good Offices treaties and
reciprocal eXtradition of criminals. The
question between Great Britain and the
United States relating to the rights OF
American fishermen, under treaty and inter
national comfy, in the territorial waters of
Canada and Newfoundland, | regret to say,
arenot yet satisfactorily adjusted. The pres
identsays this matter was fully treated in his
message Of February last and the proceed
ings in connection Herewith have been trans
mtted for the approval of the Senate. Com
ment upon or repetition of them he considers
unnecessary at this time. Consequently he
he simply renews the statement of Septem-
Der 12 last, that 'since March 3, 1881 ne
case has been reported to the department OF
state wherein complaint has been made OF
unfriendly or unlawful treatment of Amer
lean fishing vessels on the part of the Cana
dian authorities, in which PREPARATION wa,
not promptly and satisfactorily obtained by
the United States consul general at Hall
fax"
THE FISHERY DISPUTE.
The president here refers 10 his effort tC
settle by treaty the iong-standng fishery
dispute, asserts that he believes the rejected
treaty did furnish a satisfactory, final ano
practical adjustment upon an honorable
basis. aludes to his unavailing recommend
| n 10 of Cf ia