The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-12-14
BLOOMSBURY. PA, FRIDAY. DECE EMBER IA, 1888.

Visions to meet private ends, and 1t Is freely |
asserted by responsible and experienced par
ties that a bill appropriatiug money for pub
lie internal Improvement would fail TO meet
with favor, uness it contained items more
for local and private advantage than for
public benefit.
These statements can be much emphasized
by an ascertainment of the proportion Of
federal legislation, which either bears upon
its face its private character or which, upon
examination, develops such motive power.
UNSELFISH LEGISLATORS NEEDED.
And yet the people wait and expect from
their chosen representatives such patriotic ac-
tion as will advance the welfare of the entire
country; and this expectation can only be
answered by the performance of public duty
with unselfish purpose Oar 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 iu-
trusted 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 re- |
sist all impatience of constitutional limita-
tions of Federal power, and to persistently |
check the increasing tendency to extend the |
scope of Federal legislation into the domain
of state and local jurisdiction, upon the plea
OF subserving the public welfare. The pres |
ervation of the partitions between proper |
subjects of Federal and local care and regu-
lation is of such Importance under the con-
stitution, which is the law of our very exist
ence, that no consideration of expediency or
sentiment should tompt us to enter upon
doubtful ground. We have undertaken TO
discover and proclaim the richest blessings of
"a free government, with the constitution as
our guide Let us follow the way it points
out IL will not mslead us, And surely no
one who has taken upon himself the solemn
obligation to support and preserve the con
stitution can find Justification or soace for
disloyalty in the excuse that hs wandered
and disobeyed in search of a better way to
reach the public welfare than the constitu-
tion offers.
What has been said is deemed not inap-
propriate at time when, from a century'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 at all times
the firm and brave friend Of the psople-in
vindication of his course as the protector of
popular rights and the champion of true
American 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 it from further violation; to per-
suad my countrymen, so far as | may, that
il is not in a splendid government supported
by powerful monopolies and arstocratical
establishments that they will find happiness,
or their liberties protection, but in plain
system, void of pomp-protectng all and
granting favors tn dispensing its bless
ings like the dews of heaven, unseen and I'M
felt save in the freshness and beauty they
contribute to produce. 1t is such govern
ment that the genius of our people requires
such an one only under which our states may
remain, for ages to come, united, prosperous
and free.n
THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY
In pursuance of a constitutional provision
requiring the president, from time to time,
to give to the congress information of the
state of the Union, | have tho satisfaction to
announce that the close of the year finds the
United States in the enjoyment of domestic
tranquility and at peace with all the nations.
Since my last annual message our foreign
relations have been strengthened and i'm
proved by performance of international good
offices and by new and renewed treaties of
amity, commerce and reciprocal extraditiou
of criminals.
Those international questions which still
await settlement are all reasonably within
the domain of amicable 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 of
Canada and Newfoundland, l regret to say
are not yet satisfactorily adjusted.
These matters were fully treated in my
message to the ser ate of Feb. 20, 1888 to-
gether with which convention, concluded
under my authority with her majesty's gov
ernment on the 18th of February last for the
removal of all causes of misunderstanding
was submitted by me for the approval Of the
senate.
THE FISHERIES QUESTION.
This treaty having been rejected by the
senate, Transmitted a message to the congress
on the 23d of August last, reviewing the
transactions and submitting for considera-
tion certain recommendations for legislation
concerning the important questions involved.
Afterwards, on the 18th of September, in
response to a resolution of the senate, | again
communicated 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 OF
American fishing vessels in the ports and
waters of British North America.
These communications have oil been pub
lished, and therefore opened to the knowledge
of both houses of congress, although two
were addressed 20 the senate alone.
Comment upon or repetition of their con
tents would be superhuous, and | am no
aware that anything has since occurred which
should be addei to the facts therein stated
Therefore, I merely repeat, as applicable t.
the present time, the Statement which will b
found in my message to the senate of Sept
| IL, last, 'that since March g. 1887 no case ha
been reported to the department of stat
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 no
promptly and satisfactorily obtained by tn
United States consul general at Halifax"
| Having eSsayed, in the discharge OF m
duty, to procure by negotiations the SETTLE
ment of long standing cause of dispute, an
to remove a constant menace to the goot n
lations of the two countries, and continuin
to be of opinion that the treaty of Februar
last, which failed to receive the approval c
the senate did supply "a satisfactory, prat
tical and final adjustment upon basis hor
orabe and just 10 both parties of the diff
cult and vexed question to which it related
and having subsequently and unavailmgl
recommended other legislation to congre
which hoped would suffice to meet the e.
igency created by the rejection of the treatl
| now again invoke the earnest and in
mediate attention of the congress to the cor
dition of this important question, as it mo-
stands before them and the country, and fC
the settlement of which | am deeply soli
itous
THE sACRvILLE INCIDENT
Near the close Of the month Of October las
occurrences of deeply regrettable natu
were brought to my knowledge, which ma
it my painful but imperative duty to obtai
with as little delay as possible, new pc
sonal channel of diplomatic intercourse
this country with the government of Gre
Britain.
The correspondence in relation to this /
cident will in due course be laid before 70
and will disclose the objectionable condu
of the official referred TO in his interferen
by advice and counsel with the suffrages
American citizens in the very crisis Of {
presidential election then near at hand, al
also in his subsequent public declarations
justify his action, superadding impugnme
of the executive and senate of the Unit
States, in connection with important que
tions now pending in controversy betwe
the two governments.
The offense thus committed was me
grave, involving disastrous possibilities