Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Harrison's First Message
to Congress

to Congress
| Our Cordial Foreign Relations-Recom-
meudations as to Tariff Revision-The
Surplus. Pensions and Other
Matters Discussed.
WASHINGTON, Dec 4-The Presidents mes
| sage was received in both houses of Congress
| yesterday at noon and is Principally as fol-
| lows:
To the Senate and House Of Representatives.:
Few transactions in the administration of
| government are even temporarily held in
the confidence of those charged with the
conduct OF public business. Every step
taken is under the observation Of an intelli-
| gent and watchful people. The state of the
union Is known from day to day and sugges-
lions as to needed legislation find an earlier
voice than that which speaks in these an
Congress.
Good will and cordiaIity have character
| izeo our relations and correspondence with
other Governments, and the year closed
leaves few International questions of impor-
tance unadjusted. No obstacle is believed
| to exist that can long postpone the consider
alton and adjustment of still pending oues-
tons upon satisfactory and honorable terms.
| The dealings of this Government with other
States have been marked by frankness and
sincerity. our purposes avowed and our
methods free from intrigue. This course
/ has borne rich fruit in the past, and it is our
! duty as Nation to preserve the heritage of
| good repute which a century of right dealing
| with foreign Governments has secured to us.
IL is a matter of significance and no less of
congratulations that the first year of the
second century OF our constitutional exist
ence finds as honored guests within our bor-
| ders the representatives of all the independ-
ent States of North and South America met
| together in earnest conference touching the
hnC fhfNdQ of a%x,af
| ing the relations of mutual interest and
! friendliness existing among them. That
| the opportunity thus afforded for pro-
| noting closer international relations and
the increased prosperity of the States repre-
| sented will be used for the mutual good of
all can not permit myself to doubt. Our
people will await with interest and con-
| fdence the results to flow from so suspicious
| a meeting of allied and in large part identical
| interests.
| Recommendations of this international
! conference of enlightened statesmen will
have the attention of Congress and its CO.
operation in the removal of unnecessary bar
riers between the Nations of America. But
| while the commercial results which it is
| hoped will follow this conference are worthy
| of praise and the great interest they have
| excited, it is believed the crowning benefit
| Will be found in the better securities which
may be devised for the maintenance of peace
among all American Nations and settlement
| of all contentious by methods Christian
with interest our National resources and
products, the delegates, 1 am sure, will find a
| higher satisfaction in the evidences of I'M
| selfish friendship which everywhere attends
| the intercourse with our people.
An international marine conference, hav-
| ing great possibilities for good, has lately
| assembled and is now in session in this cap
/ ital. An invitation was extended by the Gov
eminent, under the act of Congress of July
9, 1885, to all maritime nations to
send delegates to confer touching the
| revision and amendment of the rules
and regulations governing vessels and to
| The response to this invitation has been
| very general and very cordial. Dele
| gates from twenty six Nations are
! present in the conference and
| they have entered upon their useful
work with great zeal and with an evident
| appreciation of it's Importance. So far as the
| agreement to be reached may require legis-
latiOn to give it effect the operation of Con-
| gress is confidently relied upon. 1t is an in
| teresting and unprecedented fact that the
| two international conferences have brought
| here the accredited representatives of Nlirty-
! three Nations. Bolivia, Ecuador and Hon
duras are now represented by resident en-
| yoys of the plenipotentiary grade All the
| States of the American system now maintain
! diplomatic relations at this capital.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
Our relations with China have the atten-
tintive consideration which their magnitude
and interest demand. The failure of the
treaty negotiated under my predecessor for
the further and more complete restriction of
Ch.2ese labor, immigration and with it the
legislation OF the last session OF Congress
dependent thereon leaves some questions
open which Congress should now approach
il that wise and just spirit which should
characterize the relations of two great and
friendly powers, while our supreme interests
demand the exclusion of laboring element
which experience has shown to be incom-
patible with our social life. All steps
to compass this imperative need should
be accompanied with a recognition of the
claim of those strangers now lawfully among
us to humane and just treatment. The acces-
sion of the young Emperor of China marks,
we may hope, an era of progress and pros
perity for the great country over which he is
called to rule.
SAMOAN AFFAIRS.
The present state of affairs in respect to
the Samoan Islands is encouraging The
conference which was held in this
city in the summer of 1888 between
the representatives of the United States,
Germany and Great Britain had been ad
journed because of the persistent divergence
of views which was developed in its delib
erationS. The subsequent course of events in
the islands gave rise to questions of a seri-
Gus character. On the 4th of February last
the German Minister at this capital in behalf
of his Government proposed a resumption
of the conference at Berlin This PROPOSE
ton was accepted, as Congress in February
last was Informed. Pursuant to the under
standing thus reached commissioners were
appointed by me, by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate, who proceeded to Ber-
lin and the conference was resumed. The
deliberations extended through several
weeks and resulted in the conclusion OF
treaty which will be submitted to the Senate
for its approval
BRITISH AFFAIRS.
The questions which have arisen during
the past few years between Great Britain
and the United States are in allegiance or in
course of adjustment.
On the part of the Government of the Do
minion of Canada an effort has been ap-
parent during the season just ended to ad-
minister the laws and regulations applicable
to the fisheries with little occasion for
friction as was possible, and the temperate
repressions of this Governmcnt in re-
spect of cases of undue hardship or of harsh
representations have in most cases been met
with measures of transitory relief. 1t is
trusted that the attainment of our just rights
under existing treaties and by virtue of the
concurrent legislation of the two contiguous
countries will not be long delayed and that
all existing cause of differences may be
eQuitably adjusted.
OTHER FOREIGN QUESTIONS.
The importance of the commerce of Cuba
and Porto Rico with the United States, their
nearest and principal market, fustifies the
expectation that the existing relations may