Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-04
THE PRESIDENT.
Address Of the Chief Magistrate
on Affairs Of State.
RATHER CONCRATULATORY ADDRESS.
Satisfactory Relations With Foreign Powers
The Departments Prospering-Time
Needed For the New Tariff Act
The Elections Bill Recon-
mended-Etc.

WARRINGTON, Dec 1.-The Presl-
dents message was submitted to-day.
It 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-
fress in the usual course, will exhibit in de-
taIi the operation of the Government for the
last fiscal year. Only the more i'm
portant incidents and results, and chiehy
such as may be the foundation of recon-
mendations Z submit is all that VIII be re-
ferred 70 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
fuiness, energy and success. The revenues,
amounting to above $3.50, 100000, have been
collected and disbursed without revealing,
90 far as / can ascertain, single case OF de-
tAlcation or embeZzlement. An earnest ef-
fort has been made to stimulate sense OF
responsibility and public duty in ali officers
and employees of every grade, and the work
done by them has almost wholly escaped un-
favorable criticism. / speak of these mat
sers 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-ANERICAN CONGRESS.
Pursuant 70 the invitation authorized by
Congress, the representatives of every inde-
pendent State of the American continent ana
OF Hayti, met i'm conference in this capital in
October, 1889, and continued in session until
the 18th of last April This important convo.
cation marks a most interesting and infu-
entIaI epoch in the history of the Western
hemisphere.
II 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 NEW REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL.
Toward the end of the past year the only
Independent mOnarchical government on
the Western continent, that of Brazil, ceased
20 exist and was succeeded by q republic.
Diplomatic relations were at once established
as to the new Government, but 1t was not
completely recognized until an opportunity
had been afforded to ascertain that it had
popular approval and support. When the
course of events had yielded assurance of
this fact no time was lost in sending the new
Government 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
Simacy of intercourse and an expansion of
their mutual commerce.
THE BARRUNDIA KILLING.
The killing of General Barrundla 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
fer Panama. The consent of the represent
atives of the United States sought to ef-
feet his seizure, first ut Champrico, where
che steamer touched, and afterward at San
Jose. The captain of the steamer refused to
give up his passenger without 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 inSurrcctiOnary 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 Barrundta 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-
mitting, in compliance with the demands Of
the Guatemalan authoities in effect in viola
tion of precedent, the seizure on a vessel of
she United States of passenger in transit,
charged with political Offcnses, 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 tho last year negotiations have
been renewed for the settlement of the
claims of American citizens against the Gov
ernment of Chill, principally growing ont of
the late war with Peru. The reports from
our Minister at Santiago warrant the expect
alton of an early and satisfactory adjust
ment.
our relations with China, which have for
several years occupied so important place
In our diplomatic history, have called for
careful consideration and have been the sub
iect of much correspondence. The commu-
nlcations of the Chinese Minister have
brought into view the whole subject of our
conventional relations with his country; and
ct the same time this Government, through
its legation at Pekin, has sought to arrange
various matters and complaints touching the
interests and protection of our citizens in
China. In pursuance of the concurrent reso-
lutiOn of October l, 1890, have proposed to
the Governments of Mexico and Great Britain
TO consider "A conventional regulation of the
passing of Chinese laborers across our south
ern and northern frontiers.
On the 22d day of August last, Sir Edmund
Monson, the arbitrator selected under the
treaty of December 6, 1855, rendered an award
TO the effect that no compensation was due
from the Spanish Government to the United
States on account of what is commonly
known as the Carlos Butterfield claim.
SETTLING THE MEAT PROBLEM.
Our relations with the French Republic
continue to be cordial. Our representative
ct that court has very diligently urged the
removal of the restrictions imposed upon
our meat products and it is believed that
substantial progress has been made a Just
settlement.
TREATIES.
The Samoan treaty, signed last year at Ber-
lin by the representatives of the United
States, Germany and Great Britain, after due
ratification and exchange, has begun to pro-
duce salutary effects. The formation of the
Government agreed unOn will soon replaca
the disorder of the past by a staple adminis-
tration, alike just to the natives and eouit-
able to the three Powers most concerned in
trade and intercourse with the Samoan ISL
ands. The Chief Justice has been chosen by
the King of Sweden and Norway, on the invi-
tation of the three Powers, and will soon be
Installed. The land commission and the
municipal council are in process of organiza-
tion. A rational and evenly distributed
scheme of taxation, both municipal and
upon imports, is in operation.
The new treaty of extradition with Great
Britain, after due ratification, was pro-
claimed on the 25th of last March, Its bene.
0cial working is already apparent.
THE BEHRING SEA DIFFICULTY.
The difficulty between the two Govern
ments touching the fur seal question in the
Behring sea is not yet adjusted as will be
seen by the correspondence which will soon
be laid before Congress. The offer to submit
the question to arbitration, as proposed by
her Ma1esty's Government, has not been ac-
cepted for the reason that the form of sub
mission proposed is not thought TO be calcu-
lated to assure conclusion satisfactory to
either party. 1t is sincerely hoped that be-
sore the opening of another sealing season
-, sr,e aErangement may be effected which
VIII assure to the United States q nronertI
right, derived from Russia, which was no,
olsregsrded by any nation for more thar
eignty years preceding the outbreak of the