Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-12-04

What has been sal Is deemed not iuap-
propriate at tins when from a csntlry's
height, we view the way already trod by thu
American people, and attempt to discover
their future path.
The seventh president OF the United Statei
the soldier ani statesman, and at all times
the firm and brave friend OF the ople--in
vindication of his coarse as the protector OF
popular rights and the champion of true
American citizenship, dac.ared:
"The ambition VIII ch leafs me on is an
anxious desirs and a fixs 1 detarmin alton 60
restore to the psople, unim )Airel the sacrsl
trust they have coni lei 10 my charge; to
heal the wounds of the contribution and to
preserve it from further violation; TO per-
suade my countrynen, so far | may, that
it is not in a splendid government sup ported
by powerful monopoliss aal arissocratical
establishments that they will fad happiness,
or their liberties protscsioi, bat in pllin
system, void of ponp-proteoting all and
granting favors to mona dispensing its bless
ings like the dews of heaven, unseen AMI un-
felt save in the FRESHNESS AMI beauty they
contribute to pro1uca. Il is su IN govsra
ment that the genius of our people requires
such an one only under whici our states may
remain, for ages to cone united, prosperous
and frees
THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY.
In pursuance OF a constitutional provision
requiring the president, from time to time
to give to the congress inform ltion of the
state of the Union, have tbs satisfaction to
announce that the close of tle year finds the
United States in the enjoym mt OF domestic
tranquility and at peace with all the nations
Since my last annual message our foreign
relations have been strengthened anl i'm.
proved by performance of international good
offices and by new and renewed treaties OF
amity, commerce and reciprocal extradition
of criminals.
Those international questions which still
await settlement are all reasonably within
the domain of amcable negotiation, and
there is no existing subject of dispute between
the United States and any foreign power
that is not susceptible of satisfactory adjust
ment by frank diplomatic treatment
The questions between Great Britain and
the United States relating to the rights of
American fishermen, under treaty and inter-
national comfy, in the territorial waters oil
Canada and Newfoundland, / regret to say
are not yet satisfactorily adjusted.
These matters were fully treated in my
message to the senate OF Feb 20, 1883, to-
gether with which convention, CONCLUDED
under my authority with her mai ,sty's gov.
ernmant on the 18th of February last, for the
removal of all causes of misunderstanding
was subm tied by me for the approval of the
senat te.
TIE FISHERIES QUESTION.
This treaty having been rejected by the
senate, transmitteia a m sssage to the congress
on the 231 of August last, reviewing the
tion certain recommendations for legislation
concerning the important questions involved
Afterwards on the 18th of september, ir
response to a resolution of the senate, again
com nunicated fully all the Information in
my possession as to the action of the govern
ment of Canada affecting the commercial
relations between the dominion and the
United States, including the treatment ol
American fishing vessels in the ports and
waters of British North America
These communications have all been pub
lished, and therefore opened to the knowledge
of both houses of congress, although two
were addressed to tire senate alone.
Comment upon or repetition of their con
tents would be superluous and | am not
aware that anything has since occurred which
should be added to the facts therein stated
Therefore, merely repeat, as applicable tc
the present time, the statement which will bt
found in my message to the senate of Sept
II, last, ''that since March 3, 1887, no case hat
been reported to the department of stata
wherein complaint has been made of un
friendly or unlawful treatment of American
fishing vessels on the part of the Canadian
authorities, in which reparation was moi
promptly and satisfactorily obtained by tn,
United States consul general at Halifax"
Having essayed, in the discharge of my
duty, to procure by negotiations the settle.
ment of a long standing cause of dispute, and
to remove constant menace to the cool re
lations of the two countries and continuing
to be of opinion that the treaty of February
last, which failed to receive the approval Oh
the senate, did supply "a satisfactory prac
tical and final adjustment upon basis hon
orable and just to both parties Of the diff
cult and vexed question to which it related
and having subsequently and unavailingly
recommended other legislation to congress
which hoped would suffice to meet the ex
igency created by the rejection of the treaty,
/ now again invoke the earnest AMI i'm.
mediate attention of the congress to the con-
dition of this important question, as it now
stands before them and the country, and foi
the settlement of which I am deeply solic
itous
THE SACKvTLLE INCIDENT.
Near the close of the month of October last
occurrences of deeply regrettable nature
were brought to my knowledge, which mads
it my painful but imperative duty to obtain,
with as little delay as possible new per-
sonal channel of diplomatic intercourse ir
this country with the government of Great
Britain
The correspondence in relation to this in
cident viii in due course be laid before you,
and viii disclose the unparionable con luct
of the official referred to in his interference
by advics and counsel with the suffrages Of
American citiEens in the very crisis of the
presidential election then near at hand, and
also in his subsequent public declarations tc
justify his action, superadding mpugnment
of the executive and senate of the United
States, in connection with important ques-
tions now pending in controversy between
the two governments.
! The offense thus committed was most