Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-02
President HarrisOn's Annual
Message.
What 1t Lacks in Strength is
Made Up in Length.
A Great Deal of Boasting About the
Administrators Doings.
The Usual Buncombe for Farmers on the
Tariff Subject-Old Sophistries
in New Clothes.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Following is
the presidents message read at the
opening of congress today:
The Senate and House of Representatives.
The reports OF the several executive
departments which will be laid before
congress in the usual course will exhibit
in detail the operations of the govern
ment for the last fiscal year. Only the
more important incidents and results,
and chiefly such as may be the founda-
tion of the recommendations shall SUBJ
NIT, will be referred to in this annual
message.
The vast and increasing business of
the government has been transacted by
the several departments during the year
with faithfulness, energy and success.
The revenues, amounting to about $780,
100000, have been collected and dis
bursed without revealing, SO far as l
can ascertain, single case of defalca-
tion or embezzlement An earnest effol
has been made to stimulate sense of
responsibility and public duty in all the
officers and employees of every grade,
and the work done by them has almost
wholly escaped unfavorable critic ism. l
speak on these matters with freedom :,
because the credit of this good work is
not mine, but is shared by the, heads OF
the several departments with the great
body of faithful officers and employees
who serve under them. The closest
scrutiny of congress is invited to all the
methods of administration, ar d to every
item of expenditure. II
Friendly Foreign Rela ions.
The friendly relations of bur country
with the nations of Europe and of the
East have been undisturbe,l, while the
ties of good will and common interest
that bind us to the states of the western
hemisphere have been notably strength
ened by the conference held in this cap
ital to consider measures for the general
welfare. Pursuant to the invitation
authorized by congress, the represent
atives OF every independent state OF the
&1hCiICetil COhblICiiu VI uCJ
in conference in this capital in October,
1889, and continued in session until tho
10Th of April. This important convoca-
tion makes most interesting and con-
tinental epoch in the history of the
western hemisphere. 1t is noteworthy
that Brazil, invited under an imperial
form of government, shared as repub.
lie in the deliberations and results of
the conference. The recommendation
of this conference were all transmitted
to congress at the last session. The
International Maritime congress which
sat in Washington last winter reached
very gratifying result. The recommend
ations suggested by it have been brought
to the attention of all the governments
represented, and their general adoption
is confidently expected.
The legislation of congress at the last
session is in conformity with the propo-
sition of the conference, and the procla-
nation provided therein will be issued
when the other powers have given notice
of adhesion.
The Congo State.
The conference at Brussels to devise
means for suppressing the slave trade in
Africa afforded an opportunity for new
expression of the interest the American
people feel in that work. 1t soon be-
came evident that the measure proposed
would tax the resources of the Congo
basin beyond the revenues available
under the general act of Berlin in 1884.
The United States, not being party to
that act, could not share in it's revision,
but by separate act the independent
state of the Congo was freed from the
restrictions upon its customs revenue
The demoralizing and destructive traffic
in ardent spirits among the tribes also
claimed the earnest attention of the
conference, and the delegates of the
United States were foremost in advocat-
ing measure 8 for it's repression. An ac-
cord was reached, the influence of which
will be very helpful and extend over a
wide region. AS soon as these meas
ures shall receive the sanc-
ton of the Netherlands, for
time withheld, the general acts
will be submitted for ratification by the
senate. Meanwhile negotiations have
been opened for new and complete
treaty Of friendship, commerce and nav
igation between the United States and
the independent state of Congo.
The Recognition of Brazil.
Toward the end of the past year the
only independent imperial government
on the western continent, that of Brazil,
ceased to exist, and was succeeded by
republic. Diplomatic relations were at
once established with the new govern
ment, but it was not completely recog-
nized until an opportunity had been al
forded to ascertain tnat it had popular
approval and support. When the course
of events had yielded the assurance of
this fact, no time was lost in extend
ing to the new government a full
and cordial welcome into the family of
American commemorative. 1t is con-
fidently believed that the good relations
of the two nations will be preserved,
and that the future will witness an in
creased intimacy OF intercourse and an
of their mutual commerce.
The Central American Unpleasantness.
The peace of Central America has