The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-12-12
HARRIsON'S MESSAGE.
The Presidents Annual Commune
cation to Congress.
The Government Revenues and the Silver
Cuestion-The New Tariff Bill Defended
Passage of the Federal Election
Bin Urged Other Recon-
mendatIons.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1.-The Presi
dents message was submitted to-day
1t is mainly as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives
The reports of the several executive de
partments, which will be laid before the Con
gress in the usual course, will exhibit in de
tail the operation of the Government for thu
last fiscal year. Only the more i'm
portant incidents and results, and chiefly
such as may be the foundation of recon
mendations I submit is all that will be re
ferred to in this annual message.
The vast and increasing business OF the
Government has been transacted by the sew
eral departments during the year with faith
fulness, energy and success. The revenues
amounting to above S50,gO0,0o0, have beer
collected and discussed without revealing
so far as can ascertain, a single case of de-
falcation or embezzlement. An earnest eff
fort has been made to stimulate 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 I'M
favorable criticism. / speak of THESE mat
tiers with freedom, because 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 the Government.
THE PAN-AMERICAN CONGRESS.
The closest scrutiny of Congress is invited
TO all the methods of administration and TO
every item of expenditure. The friendly re-
lations of our country with the Nations OF
Europe and of the East, have been undis-
turbed, while the ties of good will and COM
mon interest that bind US to the States of the
Western hemisphere have been notably
strengthened by the conference held in this
capital to consider measures for the general
welfare.
Pursuant to the invitation authorized by
Congress, the representatives of every indie
pendent State of the American continent and
of Hayti, met in conference in this capital in
October 1889, and continued in session until
the 18th of last April. This important conyo-
cation marks a most interesting and infiu-
entail epoch in the history of the Western
hemisphere.
1t is noteworthy that Brazil, invited while
under an imperial form of government,
shared as a Republic in the deliberations and
results of the conference.
The recommendations of this conference
were all transmitted to Congress at the last
session. The International marine confer
ence which sat at Washington last year
reached a very gratifying result. The regu-
Iations suggested have been brought to the
attention of all Governments represented
and their general adoption is confidently e1-
pected.
The legislation of Congress at the last ses-
eion is in conformity of the propositions
with the conference, and the proclamation
therein provided will be issued when the
other Powers have given notice of their ad-
hesions.
THE SLAVE TRADE CONFERENCE AT BRUSSELS.
The conference at Brussels, to devise means
for suppressing the slave trade in Africa, af-
forded an opportunity for new expression
of interest the American people feel in that
great work. 1t soon became evident that the
measure proposed would tax the resources
of the Congo basin beyond the revenues
available under the general act of Berlin of
1854 The United States not being 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 restrictions
upon a 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 fore
most in advocating measures for its repres-
sion. An accord was reached, the influences
of which will be very helpful and extend
over a wide region. As soon as these meas
ures shall receive the sanction of the Neither
lands, for time withheld, the general acts
will be submitted for the ratification of the
Senate. Meanwhile, negotiations have been
opened for new and complete treaty of
friendship, commerce and navigation be-
tween the United States and the Independents
etate of the Congo.
THE NEW REPUBLIc OF BRAZIL.
Toward the end of the past year the only
independent monarchical government on
the Western continent, that of Brazil, ceased
TO exist and was succeeded by a republic.
Diplomatic relations were at once established
as to the new Government, but it was not
completely recognized until an opportunity
had been afforded to ascertain that it had
nd hnr thn
course of events had yielded assurance of
this fact no time was lost in sending the new
Government a full and candid welcome into
the family of American communities. 1t is
confidently believed that good relations
between the two countries will be preserved
and the future will witness an Increased in
timacy of intercourse and an expansion of
their mutual commerce.
THE CENTRAL AMERICAN T~oUBLEs
The peace of Central America has again
been disturbed through a revolutionary
change in Salvador, which was not recog-
nized by other states, and hostilities broke
out between Salvador and Guatemala, threat
ensng to involve all Central America in con-
iiict and to undo the progress which had
been made toward a union of their interests.
The efforts of this Government were prompt;
ly and zealously exercised to compose their
differences and, through the active efforts of
the representative of the United States, a
provisional treaty of peace was signed
August 26, whereby the right of the Republic
of Salvador to choose its own rulers was rec
ognized. General Ezeta, the chief of the
Provisional Government, has since been con-
firmed in the Presidency by the Assembly,
and diplomatic recognition duly followed.
THE BARRUNDA KILLING.
The killing of General Barrundia on board
the Pacific mail steamer Acapulco, which
anchored on transit in the port of San Jose de
Guatemala, demanded careful inquiry. Hav-
ing failed in a revolutionary attempt to in
wade Guatemala from Mexican territory,
General Barrundia took passage at Acapulco
for Panama The consent of the represent
atives of the United States was sought to ef-
feet his seizure, first at Champrico, where
the steamer touched, and afterward at San
Jose. The captain of the steamer refused to
give up his passenger without a written or
der from the United States Minister. The
latter furnished the desired letter, stipulat-
ing as the condition of his action that Gen
eral Barrundia's life should be spared and
that he should be tried only for offenses
growing out of his insurrectionary move
ments. This was produced to the captain of
the Acapulco by the military commander at
San Jose as his warrant to take the passenger
from the steamer. General Barrundia re-
sisted capture and was killed. 1t being evil
dent that the Minister, Mr.. Miner, had ex-
ceeded the bounds of his authority in per-
uniting, in compliance with the demands of
the Guatemalan authoities, in effect in viola
tion of precedent, the seizure on q vessel of
the United States of a passenger in transit,
charged with political offenses, in order that
he might be held for such offenses under
what was described as martial law, was
constrained to recall Mr.. Miner from his
post.
GENERAL FOREIGN MATTERS.
The Nicaragua canal project, under the
control of our citizens, is making most en-
couraging progress, all the preliminary con-
ditions and initial operations having been
accomplished within the prescribed time.
During the last year negotiations have
been renewed for the settlement of the
claims of American citizens against the Gov
eminent of Chill, principally growing out of