Woodville Republican. (Woodville, Miss.) 185?-current, 1889-12-14
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Harrison's First Com
munication to Congress.
A Review Of Foreign and Domestic Affairs
as They Relate to the Welfare Of
the Government and Hap
plness of the People.


the Government and Hap
plness of the People.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. 3.-Immediately
after the reading of the journals of the
House and Senate to-day the COM
mittees appointed to wait on the Presi-
dent reported that they had performed
that duty and had been informed by the
President that he would communicate
with the two houses by a message in
writing Immediately. Thereupon
message from the President was an
nounced and it's reading proceeded as
follows:
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENT
ATIvEs-Thqre are few transactions in the |
administration of Government that are even |
temporarily held in the confidence of those |
charged with the conduct OF the public Dnsl-
ness. Every step taken is under the observa- |
tion Of an intelligent and watchful people. |
The state Of the Union is known from day to
day, and suggestions as to needed ieglslatlon |
find an earlier voice than that which speaks |
in these annual communications of the Presi-
dent to Congress.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Goodwill and cordiality have charac-
terized our relations and correspondence
with other governments, and the year closed
leaves few international questions OF I'M
portance remaining unadjusted. No obstacle
Is believed to exist that can long postpone
the consideration and adjustment OF still
pending questions upon satisfactory ana
honorable terms The dealings of this Gov
ernment 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 century OF
right dealing with foreign governments has
secured for u.s.
THE PAN.ASIERIoAN CONGRESS.
It is matter of high significance and no
less of congratulations, that the first year of
the second century of our constitutional ex-
Istence finds, as honored guests within our
borders, the representatives OF all the m
dependent States OF North ana Soutn
America, met together in earnest conference
touching the best methods of perpetuating
and expanding the relations of mutual inter
est and frendlineSs extended 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 permltt, myself 70 DOUBT, d 9 our
dence the result to flow from so
ausplcious meeting OF allied
and in large part identical interests;
The recommendation of this international
conference of enlightened statesmen Will
have the attention Of Congress and its CO.
operation in the removal of unnecessary
barriers to beneficial Intercourse between
the nations of America; but while the com
mercial results which it is hoped Will follow
this conference are worthy OF pursuit ana OF
the great interest they have excited, 1t is be-
lieYod that the crowning benefit will be
found in the better securities which may be
devised for the maintenance of peace among
all American nations and the settlement OF
oil contentious by methods that a CHRISTIAN
civilization can approve. While viewing
with interest our National resources and
products, the delegates will, am sure, hnd
higher satisfaction in the evidences OF un-
selfish friendship which everywhere attend
the intercourse with our people
THE MARITIME CONFERENCE.
Another international conference, having
great possibilities for good, has lately assem-
bled, and is now in session in this capital.
An invitation was extended by the Govern
ment under the act of Congress of July 8,
1888 to all maritime nations to send dele
gates to confer touching the revision and
amendment of the rules and regulations gov
erning vessels, and to adopt uniform sys-
tenn OF marine signals The response to this
invitation has been very general and very
cordial. Delegates from twenty-siX ma
tions are present In the conference
and they have entered upon their useful
work with great zeal and with an evident
appreciation of its Importance.
DIPLOMATIC MATTERS.
In this connection 1t may be noted that all
the nations of the Western Hemisphere,
with one exception, send to Washington En-
voys ExtrhordinerY and Ministers Plenipo.
tentiary, being the highest grade accredited
to this Government. The United States, on
the contrary, sends envOys of the lower
grade to some of our sister republic. Our
representative in Paraguay and Uruguay is
q Minister Resident, while to Bolivia we
send Minister Resident and Con-
tanoe of our relations with the states
of tho American system, our diplomatlc
agents in those countries should be OF the
uniform rank of Envoy Extraordinary ana
Minister Plenipotentiary. Certain missions
were so elevated by the last Congress with
happy effect, and recommend the compile
tion Of the reform thus begun, with the In.
clusion also of Hawaii and Hayti, In view OF
their relations TO the American system OF
States also recommend that timely pro-
vision be made for extending to Hawall an
invitation to be represented in the iRterna-
tlonal conference now sitting at this capital.
CHINESE IMMIGRATION
Our relations with China have the atten-
tive consideration which their magnitude
and interest demand. The failure of the
treaty negotiated under tho administration
of my predecessor for the further and more
complete restriction of Chinese labor immi-
grafton, and with 1t the legislation of the
last session OF Congress dependent thereon,
leave some questions open which Congress
should now approach in that wise and just
spirit which should characterize the rela-
tlons OF two great and friendly powers, while
our supreme interests demand the exclusion
of laborng element which cx-
perience has shown to be incom-
patible with our social life. All steps
to compass this imperative need should be
accompanied with recognition of the claim
of those strangers now lawfully among us to
humane and just treatment The accession
| of the young Emperor of China marks, we
may hope, an era of progress and prosperity
for the great country over which he is called
to.rule.
THE SAMOAN QUESTION.
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 1887, between the repre-
sentatives of the United States, Germany and
| Great Britain, having been adjourned be-
cause of the persistent divergence OF views
| which was developed in its deliberations,
| the subsequent course of events in the Islands
| gave rise to questions of serious character.
| On February last the German Minister at
| this capital, in behalf of his government,
| proposed a resumption of the conference 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 consent of the Senate, who pro-
| ceeded to Berlin, where the conference was
| renewed The deliberations extended
/ through several weeks and resulted in the
/ conclusion of a treaty which VIII be sub
mitted to the Senate Tor its approval.
GREAT BRITAIN AND CANADA.
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 Dominion of Canada an
| effort has been apparent during the season
| Just ended to administer the laws and reg
| ulations applicable TO the fisheries with as
| little occasion for friction as was possible
| and tho temperate representations OF this
| Government in respect OF cases OF undue
/ hardship or of harsh interpretations have
been In most cases met with measures OF
| transltory relief. It is trusted that the at
/ tainment of our just rights under existing
treaties and In virtue of the concurrent leg.
| islation of the two contiguous countries VIII
| not be long deferred, and that all existing
| cause Indifference may be equitably adjusted
| l recommend that provision be made by