Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-03
THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS.
Our Defenseless Coast Cities.
A GOOD WORD FOR THE DISTRICT
The President Suggests Inviting Hawaii
Into the Pan-American Circle-The
Negro Question Receives Attention
Our Relations with China, Canada and
Other Foreign Powers.

To THE SENATE AND HOUSE on REPRESENTA-
TIyEs:
There are few transactions in the administra-
tion OF the Government that are even tempo
rarily held in the confidence Of those charged
with the conduct Of the public business. Every
step taken is under the observation Of an INTEL
hgent and watchful people. The state Of the
Union is known from day to day, and sugges-
nons as to needed Legislation find an earlier
voice than that which speaks in 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 re-
naming unadjusted. No obstacle is believed
to exist that can long postpone the considera-
tion and adjustment of the still pending ques-
tions upon satisfactory and honorable terms
The dealings OF this Government with other
states have been and should always be marked
by frankness and sincerity, our purposes
avowed, and our methods free from intrigue
This course has borne rich fruit in the past
and il is our duty a nation to preserve the
heritage of good repute which a century OF
right dealing with foreign Governments has
secured to u.s.
THE PAN-AMERicAS coNGREss
1t is a matter of high significance, and no
less Of congratulation, 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 inde-
pendent states of North and South America
met together in earnest conference touching
the best methods Of perpetuating and expand
ing the relations of mutual interest and friend
illness ayisfinO fhatn hot fha
tunity thus afforded for promoting closer in
ternational relations and the increased pros
perity of the states represented will be used
for the mutual good of all, / cannot per-
NIT myself to doubt. Our people will await
with interest and confidence the results to flow
from so auspicious a meeting Of allied and, in
large part, identical interests.
The recommendations Of this international
conference of enlightened statesmen will
doubtless have the considerate attention Of
Congress, and Its cooperation in the removal
of unnecessary barriers to beneficial inter-
course between the nations Of America. But
while the commercial results, which il is hoped
will follow this conference, are worthy of pur-
suit and Of the great interest they have ex-
cited, it is believed 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 all contentious by methods that a Christian
civilization can approve. While viewing with
interest our national resources and products,
the delegates will, / am sure, find a higher
satisfaction in the evidences of unselfsh friend
ship which everywhere attend their intercourse
with our people.
THE MARITIME CONFERENCE
Another international conference, having
great possibilities for good, has lately as
sembled and is now in session in this Capital.
An invitation was extended by the Govern
ment, under the act of Congress of July 8, 1883.
to all maritime nations to send delegates to
confer touching 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 general and very cordial. Delegates
from twenty-six nations are present in the con-
ference, and they have entered upon their USE
ful work with great zeal, and with an evident
appreciation of its importance. So far as the
agreement TO be reached may require legis-
lation to give it effect the cooperation of Con-
gress is confidently relied upon.
1t is an interesting If not indeed an unprece-
dented fact, that the two International Confer
enoes have brought together here the ac-
credited representatives Of thirty-three nations
THE AMERICAN REPUBLICS.
Bolivia, Ecuador and Honduras are now
represented by resident ENJOYS of the pleni-
potentiary grade. All the states of the Amer
ican system now maintain diplomatic repre-
sentation at this Capital.
In this connection il may be noted that all
the nations of the western hemisphere. with
one exception, send to Washington envoys ex-
traordinary and ministers plenipotentiary, be-
ing the highest grade accredited to this Gov
ernment. The United States on the contrary,
sends ENJOYS Of lower grade 10 some Of our
sister republics. Our Representative in Para
quay and Uruguay is a minister resident, while
to Bolivia we send q minister resident and con-
sul-general In view Of the importance Of our
relations with the states Of the American sys-
TEN, our diplomatic agents in those countries
should be Of the uniform rank Of envoy extra
ordinary and minister plenipotentiary. Certain
missions were so elevated by the last Congress
with happy effect and / recommend the COM
pletion of the reform thus begun, with the in
their relations to the American system Of
9 ates.
also recommend that timely provision be
made for extending to Hawaii an Invitation 10
be represented in the International Confersnos
now sitting at this Capital
THE CHINESE QUESTION.
Our relations with China have the attentive
consideration which their magnitude and intsry
est demand The failure of the treaty nego.
tiated under the administration Of my pre1s.
cessor for the further and more complete 70.
striction of Chinese lsbor-immigrati6n, aod,
with it, the legislation of the last session of
Congress dependent thereon, leave some Ques-
lions open winch OOuBreee euoulo now approach
in that wise and just spirit which should char.
acterize the relations Of two great and friendly
powers. While our supreme interests demand
the exclusion Of . laboring element whiok
experience has shown to be incompatible With
our social life, all steps 10 compass this impero.
tive need should be accompanied with Q rSooa,
milton Of the claim OF those strangers nov lsS,
fully among us TO humane and lust treatmsuA
The accession Of the young Emperor al
chi China, marks; We n, may hope. se ere Of psogrsY
which he 4 called 10 rule.
The present state Of affairs In respect 10 tbs
Samoan Islands IL encouraging. The confer.
ence which was held in this city In the summer
OF 1887 between the Representatives OF the
United States, Germany, and Great britain
having been adjourned because of the pervist-
ent divergence Of views which was developed
in its deliberations, the subsequent course a
events In the Islands gave rise 70 questions Of .
serious character. On the 4th Of February last
the German minister ct this Capital, I'm behalf
OF his Government, proposed resumption Of
the conference at Berlin. This proposit1oo vse
accepted, - Congress, in February 1ast ~ u
formed
Pursuant 70 the understanding sbs reached
commissioners were appointed BY N, py eso
with the advice and consent Of the esnase, wne
proceeded 10 Berlin, wbers The conferenee ~
renewed. The deliberations extenoeo tnf0a
several wesks and resulted IN The cQcciusaoo q
Q treaty which viii be subul1teeo sc sne ceneH