Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-02

the Work Before Them-Sat isfact ory
Relations With All Nations-The Seal
Fisheries Question.The silver Problem
and Finances of the Country The In
creased Circulation.
To THE SENATE AND House or Rrpersrxr.
ATIVEs, The reports of the several exc, utive
departments which will be laid before con-
gress In the usual course will exhibit in detail
the operations OF the government for the last
fiscal year. Only the more important incidents
and results, and chiefly such as may be the
foundation of the recommendations / shall
submit, viii be referred to in this annual
MESA e.
The vast and increasing business Of the gov
eminent has been transacted by tn several
departments during the year with faithful
ness, energy and success The revenues
collected and DISTURBED without revealing so
TAR as can ascertain a single case of Ciefalca-
tion or emoezzlement. An earnest effort has
been made TO stimulate "a sense of responsible
ity anu public tuty in all officers and en-
ployes OF every grade, and the work done by
them has almost wholly escaped unfavorable
criticism spea of these matters with rec
dom 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 whose We under
Them them The IN iosest srutuy OF congress is m
TO every item of expenditure.
Foreign Relations.
The friendly relations of our country with
the nations OF Europe and the east have been
undisturbed. while the ties OF God win and
common interest that bind Us TO the states of
the western hen ,isphere have been notably
strengthen d bv the conference held in III )
capiia.'o consider measures for tire general
welfare. Pursuant TO the invitati n author
lied 10y congress. the representa-; ives of every
indeps ndent stat of the American continent
and or Hayu met i'll conference in this capital
IN DC ober, leo5, and con inued in session until
the 18th OF last April. This important ,onvo-
cation marks most interesting and intiuen-
tai epoch in the htstor, of the western heini-
sphere. II is noteworthy that Brazil. invited
while under an imperi Al form OF government.
shares as republic in the deliberation and
results OF the conference. The recon alenda-
tons of th conference were all transmitted
10 congress at the last session
The International marine conference which
sat at Washington last winter reached IA very
gratifying r suit. The regulations suggested
have bten brought 20 the attention of all the
governments Represented. and their general
adoption is confidently expected. The eeisla-
ton OF conxr s. al the last session is in {. H.
forInity with the prop sitions of the confer
enfe. and the proclamation therein provided
Tor Will be issued " zen he other mowers have
given notice OF their adhesion.
Tine conference OF Brussels 10 devise means
Tor suppressing the slave trade in Africa af-
forded an opportunity for new expression of
the interest the American people feel in that
great work Ii soon became evident that the
III assure proposed would tax the resources Of
the Congo basin beyond the revenues avail
Aole I'm ger the general act of rim OF ISL
The United States. not being "A party 10 that
IL {, could not share in its revision, but by a
separate act the in ependent state OF the
Congo was freed from the restrictions on a
customs revenue. The denoraliling and de-
structtve traffic in ardent spirits among the
tribes also claimed tn earnest attention OF
the conference and the delegates OF the United
states We're foremost in advocating measures
influence of which vii be very helpful an ex-
tena over a wide region. AS soon as these
measures shall receive the sanction OF the
Netherlands, for time withhs d 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 navlga ton between
the United States and the Independent, state
OF the Congo.
Republic of Brazil.
Toward the end OF the past year the only
Independent monarchical government on the
western continent, that OI Brazil. ceased to
exist and was succeeded by a Republican,
Diplomatic relations We're at once established
with the new government, but it was not
completely recognized until an opportunity
had been afforded 10 as ertain that IL had
popular approval and support. When the
course OF events, had yielded assurance OF this
fact no time was lost in ex ending TO the new
government full and cordial welcome into.the
family OF American commonwealths. ii is
confidently believed thar the good relations
OF the two countries Will be preserved, and
that the future viii. witness an increased
intimacy OF intercourse and an expansion OF
their mutual commerce.
The peace of Cent al American has again
been disturbed through a revolutionary
change in salvador which was not recognized
BY other states, and hostilities broke out
oesWeyh salvador and Guatemala. threaten
ing TO involve ali Central America in con
nict. and undo the progress which had been
nade toward Il union OF their interests. The
J efforts OF this government were promptly and
zeaIously exc ted to compose their differ
ence-. and through the active efforts of the
represent tive Of the United States a provis-
ionsi treaty OF peace was signed Aug. %
whereby the right 4 the repu bic OF Salvador
70 choose Us own rulers was Re ogniZed. Gen.
Ezeta. the chief OF the provisional govern
ment, has since been confirmed in the presi-
dency By the assembly and diplomatic recog-
The killing of Gen. Barrundia on board the
Pacrnc Mail steamer Acapulco, while an
chored In transit in the port of San Jose de
auatena a, demanded e 'reful inquiry. Hav-
ing 1aIied In revolutionary attempt to in
wade Guatemala from Mexican territory,
Gen BaTrundla took passage al Acapulco for
Panama. The consent of the representatives
or the United States was sought to effect his
er touched and afterward at San Sc The cap
tam OF The steamer refused To give up his pas
seDger without q written UTde from the
Unit states minister; an the la ter fur
nished the desired letter, STIMULATING as the
condition OF his action. that Gen. Blrrundia's
life should be sp red and that he should be
tried only for offenses growing out of his
insurrectionary movements. This letter WAS
produced TO tie captain of the Acapulco by
the military commander ut san lose. as his war
raft 10 take the pa 'senger from the steamer.
Gen. Barrun ia resisted capture and was
killed. 1t being evident that the minister
MIR; Miner had exceeded the bounds of his
authority in Intervening, in compliance with
the demands of the Gu,temaian authorities
70 authorize and effect, in violation OF preee-
dent, the seizure On a vessel of the United
states OF passenger in transit charged with
political onenseS. In order that he might be
tried for such offenses under what was de-
scrfbed as martial lazy, was cons rained to
disavow MIR. Miners act and recall him from
his post
Nicaragua Canal.
The Nicaragua canal project. under the con-
troi OF our citizens, Is making most encouI az
ing lrogress, ali the preliminary conditions
and initial Operations having been accom-
pllshed with n the prescribed time.
curing the past year negotiations have
OF American citizens a,ainst the government
war with Peru The reports from our minister
at Santiago warrant the expectation of "a early
satisfactory adjustment.
Our relations with China. which have for
several years occupied SO important "a place
In our diplomatic history. have called for
careful consideration and have been the sub
1ect OF much correspondence. The commune
cations OF the Chinese minister have brought
into view the whole su ject of our couyen-
tnral relations with his country; and at the
same time this goyernm nt through it, lepa-
ton at Peking, has sought to arrange various
matters an complaints touching the interests
anG PROJECTION OF our citizens in China. In
Pursuaffcehot the concurrent resolution of
Oct. !, 1850, r have proposed to the govern
mems OF Mexico and Great Britain to con-
slider conventional regulation Of the passage
of Chinese l. borers across our goutaera and
no thern IF ntiers.
On the END day of August last Sir Edmund
Monsoon, the arbitrator elected rnder the
treaty of Dec. q, 1888. rendered an inward to the
effect thai that no compensation was due
from the Danish government TO the United
States on account of what l. commonly known
as the Carlos Butterfield claim Our relations
with the French republic continue TO DE en-
ttrely cordial Our representative at that
court has very diligently urged the removal
of the rest lotions imposed upon our meat
products, and it is believed that substantial
progress has been made toward a just settle
ment.
The Samoan treaty signed last year at Berlin