Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-12-04
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Important Recommendations Regarding
Other Countries.


It is matter OF high significance, and no les
of congratulation, that the first of the second
century of our constitutional existence finds. AZ
honored guests within our borders, the repre-
sentatives OF ali the independent states OF North
and South America, met together in earnes1
conference touching the best methods OF perpet
uating and expanding the relations of mutual
interest and triendliness existing among them.
That the opportunity thus Afforded Tor p!omot
ing closer International relations and the in
creased prosperity Of the states represented will
be used or the mutual good OF all, cannot per
NIT myself TO doubt. Our people will await
with interest and confidencs the results
to flow from suspicious meet
ing, allied and in large part Identical Interests
The recommendations OF their internationa
con ference of enlightened statesmen will DOUBT
less have the consioerate attention or Congress
and its cooperation in the removal OF unneces-
sary barriers to beneficial intercourse between
the nations OF America. But while the com
mercial results, on which it is hoped will follow
this conferences, are worthy of pursuit and the
great interest excited, it is believed that
the crowning benefit will be found in the better
securities which may be devised for the main
tenance of peace among all American nat ons
and the settlement OF ali contentious by methods
that exist in civilization can approve While
viewing with nterest our national resources and
products, the delegates will, [ sure tud u
higher satisfaction in the evidences OF unseltish
friendship which everywhere attend their inter
course with our people.
Another International conference having
great possibilit for good. has lately assemb led
and is now in session in this capital An invita-
ton was extended by this government, under
the act of Congress of July 9, 1885, 10 All mari
time nations to send delegates 10 confer touch
Ing the revision and amendment of the niles
and regulations governing vessels at sea, and 10
adopt uniform system of marine signals. The
response to this invitation has been very general
and very cordial. Delegates from lwenty-slN
nations are present in the conference, and they
have entered upon their useful WORK With Great
zeal and with an evident appreciation of its i'm
portance. SO lar as the agreement TO ne reached
may require legislation to give 1t eft CT. the CO.
operation of Congress is confidently relied upon.
1t is an interesting if not indeed an unprece-
denied fact, that the two international confer
enCes hsvebr usht together here the accredited
representatives of thirty-three nations.
bolivia, Ecuador and Honduras now rep
resented by resident ENJOYS of the plenipoten-
tiary grade. All the states of the American sys-
tenn now maintain diplomatic representation az
In this connection it may be noted that all the
nations of the Western Hemisphere, with Que K
ception, send to Washington ENJOYS extraordina-
ry and ministers plenipOtentiary, being the hig h
est grade accredited to this government. The
United s at $ on the contrary. sends ENJOYS OF
lower grade to some OF our sister republics. Our
representa- We III Paraguay and Crr-
quay is minister resident. while
to BOLIVIA we SEND vsw 81 minis,er
portance of our relations with the states OF the
American system. our diplomatic agents in those
countries should be of the uniform rank OF envoy
extraordinary and minister plenipotentlary.
Certain missions were elevated by the last
Congress with happy effect. recommend the
completion OF the reform thus begun, with the
inclosion also of Hawaii and Hayti. III view OF
the relations for the system of states. also
recommend that timely provision be made for
extending to Hawaii an invitation TO be repre-
sented 10 the international conference now Sit
ting at this capital.
Our relations with China have the attentive
consideration which their magnitude and inter
demand. The failure ofthe treaty negotiated
under the administration OF my predecessor Tor
the further and more complete restriction CT
Chinese labor-immfgration, and. with ii, the
legislation of the last session of Congress de-
pendent thereon. leave some questions open
which Congress should now approach IN that
wise ano just sp rit which should characterize
the relations of two great and friendly powers.
While our supreme interests demand the excln-
sion OF laboring element which expert
ence has shown 's to be Incompatible with
this imperative need should be accom- pa aied
with rt cognition of the claim of those strangers
now lawfully among to humane and just
or OF China marks. we may hope, ali era OF PRO-
gress and prosperity for Inc great country over
which he is called to rule.
The present state of affairs in respect 10 the
Samoan Islands is encouraging. I he confer
ence which was held in this city in the summer
of 1887, when the representatives of the United
States, Germany and Great Britain having been
adjourned because of the persistent divergence
of views which was developed in its de-
HberattOns, the subsequent course OF events
in the Islands gave rise TO questions OF
serious character On the 4th OF February
last, the German minister at this capital in be-
half of his government, proposed q resum ption
OF the con ference at Berlin. This proposition
was accepted, as Congress, in February last, was
informed. Pursuant to the understanding thus
reached, commissioners were appointed by me,
by and with the advice and consent of the Sem
ate, who proceeded to Berlin, where the confer
ence was renewed. The deliberations extended
through several weeks, and resulted i'll the con
clusion of a treaty which will be submitted to
the Senate for its approval / trust that the
efforts which Lave been made TO effect an ad-
inCf Of will he nj
the permanent esia blishment OF law and
der in Samoa upon the basis of tn maintenance
of the rights and interests of the natives we'll
as OF the treaty powers.
The questions which have arisen during the
past few years between Great Britain and the
United States in allegiance in course OF
amicabe adjustment.
nthe part OF the government Of the Dominion
of Canada an effort has been apparent during he
season Just ended to administer the laws and
regulations applicable to the fisheries with as lit
tie occasion for fl ction posi- ble and the
perate representation of this government III res
pect of cases of undue hardship or of harsh inter
pretations have been in most cases met ), lttl
measures of transitory relief. 1t is trusted tina
the attsiument Of our just rights under existing
treaties ana in virtue oil the concurrent iegisa
ton of the two contiguous countries will not be
long deferred, and that ali existing causes OF dit
ference may be equitably adjusted.
recommend that provision be made by an
International agreement fOryisibly marking the
water boundary line between the United S ates
and Canada in the channels that join the grea1
lakes. The conventional line therein traced by
the northwestern boundary survey, years ago, i;
not in all cases readily ascertainable Tor the
settlement of jurisdictional questions.
A just and acceptable enlargement OF the list
of offenses for which extradIttOn may be
claimed and granted is more desirable to this
country and Great Britaia. The territory OF
neither should become secure harbor for the
evil doers of the other through any ayOidable
short-coming in this regard. new treaty on
this subject between the two powers has been
recently negotiated and win soon be laid before
the Senate.
The Importance of the commerce OF cuba
and Porto RIGA and the United States with their
nearest and principal market, justities the ex-
pectation that the existing relations may be ben
efcially expanded. The Impediments resulting
from varying dues on navigation and from the
yexatious treatment of our vessels, on merely
technical grounds OF complaint, in West India
ports, should be removed.
| The progress toward an adjustment of pending