The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-04

such patriotic action as Will advance the |
welfare Of the entire country, and this ex-
pectation can only be answered by the per- |
formance OF public duty with unselfsh 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 intrusted with the max
ing and execution OF our laws perfect dev0- |
tion, above all other things; to the public !
good. This devotion will lead us to strongly |
resist 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 subscribing 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-
sttution. which is the law of our very exis-
tence, that no consideration of expediency or
sentiment should tempt US to enter upon
doubtful ground We have undertaken TO
discover and proclaim the richest blessings
OF free government, with the Constitution
as our guide. Let US follow the way it points
out. 1t will not mislead us. And surely no
one who has taken upon himself the solemn
obligation to support and preserve the Con-
stitution can find justification or solace for
disloyalty in the excuse that he wandered
and dis0beyed in search Of better way to
reach the public welfare than the Constitu-
tion offers.
THE PRESIDENT QUOTES FROM PREDE-
CESSOR.
What has been said Is deemed not in ap-
propriate at time when, from a century
hight, 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 peOple-in vindication Of his course as
the protector of popular rights and the cham
mi 0ff Chi In 6nf.ln rod
The ambition which leads me on Is an anx-
i0us desire and fixed determination to re-
store to the people unimpaired the sacred
trust they have confded to my charge; to
heal the wounds of the Cons titution and to
preserve 1t from further violation, to per-
suade my countrymen, so far as l may, that
1t is not in splendid government, supported
by powerful monop0lies and aristocratical
establishments, that they will find happiness,
or their liberties protection, but in a plain
system void of pomp-protecting all and
granting favors to none-dispensing its bles-
sings like the dews Of Heaven. unseen and
unfelt save in the freshness and beauty they
contribute to produce. 1t is such a govern
such an one only under which our States
may remain for ages to come, united, pros
porous and fTee."
PEACE AND TRANQUILITY.
In pursuance of a constitutional provision
requiring the President, from time to time,
to give to the Congress information of the
Union l have the satisfaction to announce
that the close Of the year finds the United
States in the enjoyment of domestic tran
guilty and at peace with all nations. Since
my last annual message our foreign relations
have been strengthened and improved by
performance OF international good offices and
by new and renewed treaties Of amity, com
merce and reciprocal extraditiOn of crimi-
nails.
Those International questions which still
await settlement are all within the domain
OF amicable negotiation, and there is no ex-
lsslng subject OF dispute between the United
States and any foreign power that is not sus-
ceptible OF satisfactory adjustment by frank
diplomatic treatment.
THE FISHERIES.
The questions between Great Britain and
the United States relating to rights of Amer
ican fishermen, under treaty and interns-
tional comfy, in the territorial waters of
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, 1888, together with
which convention, concluded under my au-
thority, with Her Majesty's government, on
the 10Th Of February last, for the removal of
all causes Of misunderstanding, was submit
ted by me for the approval Of the Senate.
This treaty having been rejected by the Sem
ate, transmitted a message to the Congress
on the 23d OF August last, reviewing the
transactions and submitting for considera-
tlon certain recommendations for legislation
concerning the important questions involved
Atterward, on the 18th of September, in re-
sponse to 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 re-
latlons between the Dominion and the Unit
ed States, including the treatment of Ameri-
can fishing vessels in the ports and waters Of
britlsh North America; These communica-
opened to the knowledge of both houses of
congress-, although two were addressed to
the Senate alone. Comment on, or repeti-
ton OF their contents would be superfiuous,
and am not aware that anything has since
occurred which should be added to the facts
therein stated. Therefore, / merely repeat
as applicable to the present time, the state
ment which will be found in my message to
the Senate OF Sept. ~ last, THAT since
March 3, 1887, no case has been reported to
the Department of State where in Complaint
has been made of unfriendly or unlawful
treatment of American fishing vessels on
the part OF the Canadian authorities in
when reparation was not promptly and sat
Consul General at Halifax"
Having essayed, in the discharge of nv
duty, to procure by. negotiation the settle
ment OF a long-standing cause of dispute and
w tOhlOfO a COuoldub lu6udCt 10 the kOOU re-
lations OF the two countries, and continuing
TO be OF opinion that the treaty of February
last which failed to receive the approval of
the Senate. did supply Unsatisfactory, prac-
tlcal and nnal adjustment upon basis hon
orable and just to both parties of the difficult
and yexed question to which it related" and
having subsequently and unavailingly rec
commended other legislation to Congress,
which l hoped would suffice to meet the ext
gency created by the rejection of the treaty, l
a m m NOR a fha
attention OF the Congress to the condition of
this important question as it now stands be-
lore them and the country, and for the set
tlement OF which am deeply solicitous.
THE MURCHIsoN LETTER.
Near the close of the month of October
last occurrences of deeply regrettable na-
ture were brought to my knowledge, which
made it my painful but imperial tive duty to
obtain. with as little delay as possible, a
new personal channel of diplomatic inter
course in this country with the government
OF Great Britain. The correspondence In re-
lation to this incident will in due course be
laid before you, and will disclose the unpar-
donable conduct Of the official referred to In
his interference by advice and counsel with
sutfrages of American citizens in the very
crisis OF the Presidential election, then near
at hand, and also In his subsequent public
declarations to justify his action, superad-
ding impugnment Of the Executive and SEN
ate OF the United States in connection with
important questions now pending in con-
troversy between the two governments. The
offence thus committed was most grave, in
volying disastrous possibilities to the good
relations of the United States and Great
Britain constituting gross breach of dip
lomatic privilege, and an invasion of the
purely domestic affairs and essential SOW
ereignty OF the government to which the En-
voy was accredited.
Having first fulfilled the Just demands of
international comfy by affording full oppor-
tunity for Her Majesty's government to act
In relief Of the situation, / considered pro-
longation of discussion to be unwarranted.
and thereupon declined to further recognize
the diplomatic character of the person whose
that mutual confidence which is essential to
the good understanding Of the two govern
ments, and was inconsistent with the welfare
and self-respect of the government of the
United States. The usual interchange of
communication has since continued through
Her Majesty's Legation in this city.
THE SEALS.
My endeavors to establish by international
cooperation measures for the prevention OF
the determination Of fur seals in Behring
Sea have not been relaxed, and l have hopes
of being enabled shortly to submit an effec-
tive and satisfactory conventional project
with the maritime powers for the approval
Of the Senate The coastal boundary be-
tween our Alaska possessions and British
Columbia, regret to say, has not received
the attention demanded by its Importance.
and which on several occasions heretofore