The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-12-11
HARRISON'S MESSAGE.
THE PRESIDENTS FIRST COMMUNI-
CATION TO CONGRESS.

Treated I'm Reduction OF the Sur
plus Tariff Legislation II Public Land
Laws Pension Legislation - The Civil
Service-Other Matters.
The first annual message of President
Harrison, read in the Fifty-first Con-
gress, on the Sd inst, is as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
There are few transactions in the adIninistra-
tion OF the Government that are even tenn
porarily held in the confidence OF those charged
with the conduct OF the public business Every
.tep taken Is under che observation OF an in
teliigent and watchfui people, The state OF the
Union Is known from day To day, and sugges-
tions to needed legislation find an earlier
voice than that which speaks I'm these annual
munioations OF the President TO Congress.
Goodwill and cordiality have characterized
our relations and correspondence with other
governments, and the year just closed leaves few
international questions of importance remain
ing unadjusted. No obstacle is believed 10 exist
that can LONG postpone the consideration and
adjustment OF the still pending questions upon
satisfactory and honorable terms. The dealings
of this Government with other states have
been and should always be marked 10y frank,
ness and sincerity, our purposes avowed, and
our methods free from intrigue. This course
has borne rich fruit in the past. and II is our
duty as a nation TO preserve the heritage Of good
repute which century of right dealing with
foreign governments has secured to us.
Tho Pan-American Congress.
II is n matter of high significance, and no less
of congratuation, that the first year OF the sec
finds, as honored guests within our borders, the
representatives of all the independent States
OF North and South America met together in
earnest conference touching the best methods OF
pcrpetuating and expanding the relations OF
mutual interest and friendliness existing among
them. That the opportunity thus afforded for
promoting closer international relations and
the increased prosperity OF the States repre-
sented will be for the mutual good OF ALL can
not permit myself TO doubt Our people will
await with interest and confidence the results
TO flow from so suspicious meeting OF allied
and in large part, identical interests.
The recommendations of this international
conference OF enlightened statesmen will doubt
less have the considerate attention of Con-
grese, and its cooperation I'm the removal of
unnecessary barriers TO beneficial intercourse
between the nations OF America. But while
the commercial results, which IL is hoped will
follow this conference, are worthy Of pursuit
and OF the great interest they have excited IL
f. believed that the browning benefit will be
found In the better securities which may he de-
Vised for the maintenance OF peace among all
American nations and the settlement OF all
contentious by methods that n Christian civilza-
tion can approve. While viewing with interest
our national resources and products, the dele
gates will. am sure, find higher satisfaction
in the evidences OF unselish friendship which
everywhere attend their intercourse with our
peoples
The Maritime Congress.
Another international conference, having
great possibilities for good, has lately assembled
and is now in session in this capital An invi-
tation was extended by the Government, under
the act of Congress of July Q, 1888, TO all mari
time nations TO send delegates TO confer touch
ing the revision, and amendment of the rules
and regulations governing vessels n sea and to
adopt n uniform system of marine signals. The
response 20 this invitation has been very gem
eraI and very cordial. Delegates from twenty
six nations are present in the conference, aud
they have entered upon their usual work with
great zeal and with an evident appreciation Of
its Importance So far as the agreement To be
reached may require legislation TO give il effect
our cooperation in confidently relied upon.
IL is an interesting, IL not indeed an UMPIRE
cedented, fact that the two international con-
ferenoes have brought together here the
credited representatives OF thirty-three nations.
Bolivia, Ecuador, and Honduras are now rep
resented by resident ENJOYS of the penipoten-
tiary grade All the States of the American
systeln now maintain diplomatic representation
at this capital.
nations OF the Western Hemisphere with one
exception sent to Washington ENJOYS Extra
ordinary and Ministers llenipotentiary, being
the highest grade accredited to this Government
The United States, on the contrary, sends En-
voys OF the lower grade TO some of our sister
publcs. Our representative In Paraguay and
Uruguay is Minister resident, while TO Bolivia
send n Minister resident and Consul General
In view of the Importance of our relations with
the States OF the American system, our diplo-
matte agents in those countries should be Of the
uniform rank OF Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary. Certain missions
were so elevated by the last Congress with happy
effect. / recommend the completion OF the re-
form thus begun With the inclusion also of
Hawaii and Hayti, in view of their relations TO
tne American system OF Sthles.
also recommend that timely provision be
made for extending Hawaii an invitation to be
represented at the International Conference
now sitting at this capital.
Our Relations with China.
Our relations with China have the attentive
consideration which their magnitude and inter
est demand. The failure of the treaty negoti-
ated under the administration OF my prede-
cessor for the further and more complete re-
striction OF Chinese labor immigration and
with IL, the legislation of the last session
some questions open which Congress should
now approach in 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