Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-05
HARRISON'S MESSAGE.
rHE PRESIDENTS FIRST coMsIUNI-
CATION TO CONGRESS.

Each Department of the Government
Treated I'm DetaiI-Reduction of the Sur
pIus-Tarifr Legislation Public Land
Laws Pension Legislation The Civil
servIce-Other Matters.
The first annual message of President
Harrison, read in the Fifty-frst Con-
gress, on the 81 inst, is as follows:
10 the Senate and House OF Representatives
There are few transactions In the administra-
ton OF the Government that are even tenn
porarily held in the confidence Of those charged
with the conduct Of the public business. Every
step taken IL under the observation OF an In
telligent and watchful people. The state OF the
Union Is known from day to day, and sugges-
Hons 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 remain
ing unadiusted No obstacle fsbelieved 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 avowed, and
our methods free from intrigue. This course
has borne rich fruit in the past, and 1t Is our
duty as a nation to preserve the heritale OF good
repute which q century OF right dealing with
foreign governments has secured to us.
The Pan-American Congress.
1t is matter of high significance and no less
of congratulaton, 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
perpetuating 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-
scented will be for the mutual good of oil, can
not permit myself to doubt. Our people will
await with interest and confidence the results
to flow from so auspicious O 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-
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 is hoped will
follow this conference, are worthy OF pursuit
and of the great interest they have excited, it
il believed that the crowning benefit Will be
found in the better securities which may be de-
vised for the maintenance of peace among oil
American nations and the settlement of all
contentious by methods that Christian civiliza-
don can approve While viewing with interest
our national resources and products, the dele
gates will, l am sure. find higher satisfaction
in the evidences of unselfish fliendship which
everywhere attend their intercourse with our
people.
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 July9 1883, 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 a uniform system Of marine signals. The
response to this invitation has been very gen.
eraI and very cordial Delegates from twenty
Six nations are present in the conference, and
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 it effect,
our cooperation in confidently relied upon.
1t is an interesting, If not indeed an unpre-
cedented, fact that the two international con-
ferences have brought together here the
credited representatives of thirty-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 it may be noted that all the
nations of the Western Hemisphere, with one
exception, sent to Washington ENJOYS Extra
oSdinary and Ministers rlenipotentiary, 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 re-
publics. Our representative in Paraguay and
Uruguay is Minister resident, while to Bolivia
we send a 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
the American system OF States.
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
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 a 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 O recognition of the claim of those
strangers now lawfully among us to humane
and Just treatment. Tho 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 Is encouraging. The confer
ence which was held in this city in the summer
United States, Germany, and Great Britain hav-
ing been adjourned because of the persistent
divergence of views which was developed in its
deliberations, the subsequent course of events
in the islands gnve rise to questions OF u seri-
GUS character. On the 4th of February last. the
German Minister Mt this capital, in behalf Of
his Government, proposed II resumption of the
conference at Berlin This proposition was ac-
cepted, as Congress, in February last, was in
formed
Pursuant to the understanding thus reached,
commissioners were appointed by me, who pro-
ceeded to Berlin, where the conference was re-
newed The deliberations extended through
several weeks, and resulted. in the conclusion
of q treaty which will be submitted to the SEN
ate for its approval l trust that the efforts
which have been made to effect an adjustment
of this question will be productive Of the per-
manent establishment of law and order in
Samoa upon the basis OF the maintenance of
the rights and interests of the natives, as well
as of the treaty powers.
The Canadian Fisheries.
The questions which have arisen during the
past few years between Great Britain and the
United States are in allegiance or in course OF
amicable adjustment.
On the part of the Government of the Domin-
ion of Canada, an effort has been apparent dur
ing the season Just ended to administer the
laws and regulations applicable to the fisheries
with as little occasion for friction as was posi-
BILE, and the temperate representations, OF this
Government in respect of cases of undue hard
ship or Of harsh interpretations have been in
most cases met with measures of transitory
relief 1t 10 trusted that the attainment OF our
Just rights under existing treaties and in vir-
tue of the concurrent legislation of the two con.
tiguous countries, will not be long deferred, and
that all existing causes Of difference may be
equitably adjusted.
1 recommend that provision be made by ar
international agreement for visibly marking
the water boundary between the United States