Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-12-12
HARRISON'S MESSAGE.
THE PRESIDENTS FIRST COMMUNI-
CATION To CONGRESS.

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 aud House of Representatives:
There are few transactions in the administra-
tion OF the Government that even tenn
porarily held in the confidence OF those charged
with the conduct OF the public business. Every
step taken is under the observation OF an In
tellgent and watchful people. The state OF the
Union is known from day to day and sugges-
tions as to needed legislation find an earlier
voice than that which speaks III these annual
communications 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 unadiusted. No obstacle is believed to 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 by frank
ness and sincerity, our purposes ayowed, ana
methods free from intrigue. This course
has borne rich fruit in the past, and it is our
duty as a nation to preserve the heritage OF good
repute which a century of right dealing with
foreign governments has secured to us.
The Pan-AmericalI Congress.
1t is matter of high significance, and no less
of congratulation, that the first year OF the sec
ond century of our constitutional existence
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
-
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-
scented 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 " i'll doubt
less have the considerate attention of Con-
gress, and its cooperation in the removal OF
unnecessary barriers to beneficial intercourse
between the nations Of America. But while
the commercial results, which 1t ID hoped will
follow this conference, are worthy OF pursuit
and of the great interest they have excited II
is believed that the GROWING benefit will be
found in the better securities which may be de-
vised for the maintenance of peace among all
American nations and the settlement OF all
contentious by methods that a Christian civiliza-
tion can approve. While viewing with interest
our national resources and products, the dele
gates will l am sure, find a higher satisfaction
in the evidences of unselhsh hiendship which
everywhere attend their intercourse with our
people.
Another international conference, having
great possibilities for good, has lately assembled,
and is now in session in this capital An inyi-
the act of Congress of July 9, 1888, To all mari
time nations TO send delegates to confer touch
ing the revision, and amendment OF the rules
and regulations governing vessels at sea and to
adopt uniform system OF marine signals. The
response to this invitation has been very gen-
six nations are present in the conference, and
they have entered upon thoir usual work with
great zeal, and with an evident appreciation of
it's Importance So far the agreement to be
reached may require legislation to give il effect,
our corporation in, confidently relied upon.
1t is an interesting, IL not indeed an unpre-
ferences have brought together here the
credited representatives ofthirty-three nations.
Bolivia, Ecuador, and Honduras are now rep
resented by resident ENJOYS OF the plenipoten-
tiary grade. All the States OF the American
system now maintain diplomatic representation
at this capital.
In this connection il may be noted that all the
nations Of the Western Hemisphere, with
exception sent TO Washington ENJOYS Extra
ordinary and Ministers l1enipotentiary, being
the highest grade accredited to this Government.
The United States, on the contrary, sends En-
VOWS of the lower grade to some of our sister
publics. Our representative in Paraguay and
Uruguay is a Minister resident while TO Bolivia
we send 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. 1 recommend the completion OF the re-
form thus begun, with the inclusion also OF
Hawaii and Hayti, in view of their relations to
the American system of Statos.
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-
Rted under the administration of my prede-
cessor for the further and more complete re-
striction of Chinese labor immigration, and,
with IT,, 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 relations of two
great and friendly powers. While our supreme
interests demand the exclusion OF n laboring
element which experience has shown TO be In
compatible with our social life. oil steps TO
compass this imperative need should be accom-
panied with a 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 coun-
try over which he Is called to rule.
The present state Of affairs in respect to the
Samoan Islands IL encouraging. The confer
ence which was held in this city in the summer
of 1887 between the representatives OF the