Thomas County cat., 1890-12-04
THE MESSAGE.
President Harrison's Annual Com
munication to Congress.
The Mckinley Tariff Act Defended
By the Executive.
Time Needed to Develop Its Ad-
vantages and Benefits.
A Strong Endorsement of the Fed
eral Elections Bill.
The President Deeply in Earnest
on This Point
The Work of the Departments
Carefully Summarized.
A Strong Endorsement of the Fed
eral Elections Bill.
The Work of the Departments
Carefully Summarized.
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
To the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires:
The reports of the several executive
departments. which will be laid before
the congress in the usual course will eX-
hibit in detail the operation of the gov
ernment for the last fiscal year. Only the
more important incidents and results and
chiefly such as may be the foundation of
recommendations shall | submit in this
annual message.
The vast and increasing business of the
government mas been transacted by the
several departments during the year with
faithfulness, energy and success. The rev.
enues amounting to above four hundred
and fifty million dollars have been col
lected and disbursed without revealing
SO far as | can ascertain a single case of
defalcation or embeZZlement. An earn
est effort has been made to stimu-
late a sense of responsibility and
public duty in all officers and employees
of every grade and the work done by
them has almost wholly escaped unfavor-
able criticism. | speak of 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 and TO
every item of expenditure. The friendly
relations of our country with the nations
of Europe and of the east have been un-
disturbed while the ties of good will and
common interest that binds us TO the
states of the western hemisphere have
been notably strengthened by the con-
ference held in this capital TO consider
measures Tor the general welfare.
The Pan American Congress-
Pursuant to the invitation authorized
by congress, the representatives of every
independent state of the American conti-
nent and of Hayti met IN conference in
this capital in October, 1889, and contin-
ued in session until the 18th of last April.
This important convocation marks most
interesting and influential epoch in the
history of the western hemisphere. 1t is
noteworthy that Brazil was invited, while
under imperial form of government, and
shared as republic in the deliberations
and results of the conference. The rec
concentrations of this conference We're
all transmitted to congress at the last
session. The international marine con-
ference which sat at Washington last
year reached very gratifying result.
The regulations suggested have been
brought to the attention of all govern
ments represented, and their general
adoption is confidently expected.
The legislation of congress at the last
session is in conformity with the propo-
sitions of the conference and the procla-
nation therein provided for will be is
sued when the other powers have
given notice of their adhesion.
General Foreign Affairs.
The conference of Brussels to
devise means for suppressing the
slave trade in Africa afford
ed an opportunity for new express
sion of the interest the American peo-
pie feel in that great work. 1t soon be-
came evident that the measure proposed
would tax the resources of the Congo
basin beyond the revenues avail
able under the general act
of Berlin of 1884. The United
States not being a party to
that act, could not share in its revision,
but by a separate act the independent
state of the Congo was freed from the re-
striction upon a customs revenue. The
Decentralization and destructive traffic in
ardent spirits among the tribes also
claimed the earnest attention of the con-
ference and the delegates of the United
States were foremost in advocating meas
ures for its repression, An accord was
reached, the influence of which will be
very helpful. As soon as these measures
shall receive the sanction of the Neither
lands for time withheld. the general acts
will be submitted for ratification by the
senate; meanwhile negotiations have been
opened for 4 new and complete treaty of
friendship. commerce and navigation be-
tween the United States and the indepen-
dent state of Congo.
THE LAST AMERICAN MONARCHY.
Toward the end of the past year. the only
independent monarchical government on
the western continent. that of Brazil.
ceased tc exist and was succeeded by a re-
public. Diplomatic relations were at
once established with the new govern
ment, but il was not completely recog-
nized until an opportunity had been af-
forded 10 ascertain that it had popular
approval and support. When the course
of events had yielded assurance of this
fact. no time was lost in extending the
new government full and cordial wei
come into the family of American COM
mopwealths. 1t is confidently believed
that the good relations of the two coun-
tries will be preserved, and the future
will witness an increased intimacy of in
fercourse, and an expansion of their mu-
tual relations.
The peace of Central America
has again been disturbed through
a revolutionary change in Saliva
dor which was not recognized by other
states and hostilI,ies broke out
between Salvador aud Guatemala
threatening TO involve all Cen
trI. America in conflict and
undo the progress which had been made