The Iola register., 1889-12-13
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Harrison's First Messege
to Congress.
Our Cordial Foreign Relations-R com.
mendations rs to Tariff Revision-Ths
Surplus, Pensions and Other
Matt ers Discussed.

sage was received in both he uses of Congress
yesterday at noon and is principally as fol-
lows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives.:
Few transactions in the administration OF
government are even temporarily held in
the confidence of those charged with the
conduct of public business. Every step
taken Is under the observation of an intelli-
gent 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 in these an
nual communications of the President to
Congress.
Good will and cortliallty have character
lied our relations and correspondence with
other Governments, and the year closed
leaves few international questions of impor-
tance unadjusted. No obstacle is believed
to exist that can long postpone the consider
alton and adjustment of still pending ques-
tions upon satisfactory and honorable terms.
The dealings of this Government 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 IL IL our
duty as Nation to preserve the heritage OF
good repute which a century of right dealing
with foreign Governments has secured to us.
It is a matter of significance and no less OF
congratulations that the first year of the
second century of our constitutional exist
ence finds as hOnored guests within our bOr-
ders the representatives OF all the independ-
ent 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
friendliness existing 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 permit myself to doubt. Our
people will await with interest and con-
fidence the results to flow from so auspiciOus
a meeting of allied and in large part identical
interests.
Recommendations of this international
conference of enlightened statesmen will
have the attention of Congress and its CO.
operation in the removal of unnecessary bar
rers between the Nations of America. But
while the commercial results which il is
hoped will follow this conference are worthy
of praise and the great interest they have
excited, it is believed the crowning benefit
will be found i'm the better securities which
may be devised for the maintenance of peace
among all American Nations and settlement
of all contentious by methods Christian
civilization can approve. While viewing
with interest our National resources and
products, the delegates, am sure, will find a
higher satisfaction in the evidences of un
selfish friendship which everywhere attends
the intercourse with our people.
An international marine conference, hav-
ing great possibilities for good, has lately
assembled and is now in session in this cap
ital. An invitation was extended by the Gov
ernment, under the act of Congress of July
9, 1888, to all maritime nations to
Isend delegates to confer touching the
revision and amendment of the rules
and regulations governing vessels and to
adopt a uniform system Of marine signals.
The response to this invitation has been
very general and very cordial. Dele
gates from twenty-six Nations are
they have entered upon their useful
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 CO. operation of Con-
gress is confidently relied upon. 1t is an in
teresting and unprecedented Tact that the
two international conferences have brought
here the accredited representatives of 6hirty-
three Nations. Bolivia, Ecuador and Hon
duras are now represented by resident en-
yoys OF the plenipotentiary grade. All the
States of the American system now maintain
diplomatic relations at this capital.
RELATIONS WITH CEINA.
Our relations with China have the atten-
tintive consideration which their magnitude
and interest demand. The failure of the
treaty negotiated under my predecessor for
tie further and more complete restriction of
Ch;sese labor, immigration and with it the
legislation of the last session of Congress
dependent thereon leaves 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 laboring element
patible with our social life. All steps
to compass this imperative need should
be accompanied with a recognition of the
claim of those strangers now lawfully among
us to humane and just treatment. The acces-
sion of the young Emperor of China marks,
we may hope, an era of progress and pros
perity for the great country over which he is
called to rule.
SAMOAN AFFAIRS.
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 1883 between
the representatives of the United States,
Germany and Great Britain had been ad
journed because of the persistent divergence
of views which was developed in its delib-
erations. The subsequent course of events in
the islands gave rise to questions of a seri
Gus character. On the 4th of February last
the German Minister at this capital in behalf
of his Government proposed a resumption
OF the conference ut Berlin. This PROPOSE
tiOn was accepted as Congress in February
last was informed. Pursuant to the under
standing thus reached commissioners were
appointed by me, by and with the adv ice and
consent of the Senate, who proceeded to Ber
lin and the conference was resumed. The
deliberations extended through several
weeks and resulted in the conclusion Of a
treaty which will be submitted to the Senate
for its approval.
BRITISH AFFAIRS.
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 Do
minion of Cana1a an effort has been ap-
parent during the season just ended to ad
minister the laws and regulations applicable
to the fisheries with as little occasion for
friction as was possible, and the temperate
repressons of this Government in re-
spect of cases of undue hardship or OF harsh
representations have in most cases been met
with measures of transitory relief. It IL
trusted that the attainment of our just rights
under existing treaties and by virtue of the
concurrent legislation of the two contiguous
countries will not be long delayed and that
all existing cause of differences may be
eQuitably adjusted.
OTHER FOREIGN QUESTIONS.
The importance of the commerce of Cuba
and Porto Rico with the United states, their
nearest and principal market, tustifies the
expectation that the existing relations may
be beneficially expanded. The impediments
resulting from varying dues on navigation
and from the vexatious treatment of our YES
sells on merely technical grounds of COM
plants in West India ports, should be re-
moved.
The progress toward an adjustment of
pending claims between the United States
and Spain is not so rapid as could be desired.
Questions affecting American interests in
connection with railways constructed and
operated by our citizens in Peru have claimed
the attention Of this Government. 1t is urged