The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1891-12-15
THE MESSAGE.
Annual Communication Of the
President to Congress.

Inc WOTk OIL ti5 ObttbC -
during the last year has BEEN character
lied by an unusual numbe of import
ant negotiations and by diplomatic re-
suits of IA notable and beneficial char
acter. Among these sre the reciprocal
trade arrangements which have peen
concluded with several countries.
In view of the reports which had been
received as to the diminution OF the
seal herds in the Behring Sea deemed
If wise to propose to Her Majesty's Gov
eminent in February last that an
agreement for q closed season should Do
made. pending the negotiation for arpi-
tration which then seemed to be APP
preaching favorable conclusion,
After much correspondence, and
DELAYS for which this Governments
was not responsible, an agreement was
| reached and signed on the 10Th OF June,
In nv last annual message stated
that the. basis % arbitration pgopo ss'a
by der AAa3ssly 81 So sHfaent sSS1SAa1
Adjustment Of the 'ong pending coiis |.
versy as to the seal fisheries was not aa=
ceptable. / am glad now to be abfe
to announce that terms satisfac-
tory to this Government have been
agreed upon.
Provision should be made for joint
demarcation of the frontier line between
Canada and the United States, wherever
required by the increasing border settle
ments. and especially for the exact loca-
ton of the water boundary in the straits
and rivers.
1t is gratifying to be able to state
that Germany, Denmark, Italy, Austria
and France, in the order named, have
opened their ports to inspected Amerl-
can pork products. The removal OF
these restriction in every instance was
4 0IaIxr n a
ground that we had now provided
meat inspection that should be accepted
as adequate to the complete removal OF
the dangers, real or fancied, which had
been previously urged.
The lynching at New Orleans In
March last of eleven men OF Italian
nativity by a mob of citizens was most
deplorable and discreditable incident.
| It did not. however, have its origin In
any general animosity to the Italian
people, nor in any disrepect to the Gov
erment of Italy, with which our re-
lations were of the most friendly charac-i
ter 1t was at once represented by the
Italian minister that several OF those
whose lives had been taken by the mob
were Italian subjects, and demand
was made for the punishment of the
participants and for an indemnity to
the families of those who were
killed 1t is to be regretted that
the manner in which these claims were
presented was not such as to promote
calm discussion of the questions in
volved; but this may well be attributed
to the excitement aud Indignation which
the crime naturally evoked. The tenn
porary absence of a Minister Plenipo
Tertiary of Italy at this Capital has re-
tarded the further correspondence, but
it is not doubted that friendly conclu-
sion is attainable-
Some suggestions growing sut Of this
unhappy incident are worthy the atten-
ton of Congress. 1t would, | believe,
be entirely competent for Congress to
make offenses against the treaty rights
of foreigners domiciled in the United
States cognizable in the Federal
courts.
The civil war in Chile which began
in january last was continued, but
fortunately with infrequent and not i'm
portant armed collisions, until August
28, when the Congressional forces landed
near Valparaiso and after bloody en-
gagement, captured that city. Presi-
dent Balmaceda at once recognized that
his cause was lost, and a provisional
government was speedily established by
the victorious party. Our minister was
/
himself in communication with this Gov
eminent so soon as it should have estab-
lished its de facto character, which was
I done. During the tendency of this civil
contest frequent indirect appeals were
made to this Government to extend bel
ligerent rights to the insurgents and to
give audience to their representatives.
This was declined, and that policy was
pursued throughout.
The instructions to our naval officers
and to our minister at Santiago, from
the first to the last of this struggle,
enjoined upon them the most impartial
treatment and absolute non-interference.
am satisfied that these instructions
were observed and that our representa-
tives were always watchful to use their
influence impartially in the interest Of
humanity, and, on more than one occa-
sion. did so. We could not forget,
however, that this Government was in
diplomatic relations with the then es-
tablished Government Of Chile, as it is
now in such relations with the successor
of that Government. | am quite sure
that President Montt, who has, under
circumstances Of promise for the peace
of Chile. beeen installed as President OF
that Republic, will not desire that, In
the unfortunate event Of any revolt
against his authority, the policy of this
Government should be other than that
which we have recently observed. No
official complaint of the conduct of our
minister or Of our naval officers during
the struggle has been presented to this
Government; and it is a matter OF re-
greet that SO many Of our own people
should have given ear to unoticial
charges and complaints that manifest y
had their origin in rival interests and In
a wish to pervert the relations OF the
United States with Chile
The collapse of the government OF
Balmaceda brought about condition
which is unfortunately too familiar in
the history Of the Central and South
American States. With the overthrow
of the Balmaceda government he and
many of his councillors becam at once
fugitives for their lives and appealed to
the commanding officers of the foreign
naval vessels in the harbor Of Valpar-
also and to the resident foreign minister
at Santiago for asylum. The asylum
was freely given, according to my in
formation by the naval vessels OF sew
eral foreign powers and by several ct
the Legations at Santiago. The Ameri
can minister as we'll as his colleagues,
acting upon the influences Of humanity,
extended asylum to political refugees
whose lives were in peril ! have not
been willing to direct the surrender Of
such of these persons as are still in the
American legation without suitable con-
ditions.
It is believed that the Government Of
Chile is not in position, in view or Inc
precedents with which it has been con-
nected, to broadly deny the right o.
asylum, and the correspondence has moi
II x..I. H. Il IL
treatment of our minister for time wa.
such as to call for a decided protest, anc
it was very gratifying to observe that
unfriendly measures, which were up.
doubleday the result Of the prevailing
excitement, were at once rescinded OF
suitably relaxed.
On the 10th of October an event oc-
Cured in Valparaiso so serious and tragi,
in it's circumstances and results as tC
very Justly excite the indignation of our
people and to call for prompt and decid
ed action on the part of this Government
considerable number of the sailor.
of the United States steamship Balti more
then in the harbor of Valparaiso being
upon shore leave and unarmed, were
assaulted by armed men nearly stimuli
taneously in different localities in tn
city. One petty officer was killed out
right and seven or eight seamen were
seriously wounded, one OF whom hai
since died. So savage and brutal wa
the assault that several of our sailor
received more than two, and one 2
many as eighteen, stab wounds. Al
investigation Of the affair was prompt
made by board OF officers OF the Baiti
more, and their report shows that thes
assaults were unprovoked, that our mel
were conducting themselves in peace
able and orderly manner, and that soma
Of the police of the city took part In TN
assault and used their weapons Will
fatal effect. while few others, witt
some well-disposed citizens, endeav oroc
to protect our men. Thirty-slx of oul
sailors were arrested, and some of them
while being taken to prison. wer'
cruelty beaten and maltreated. The
fact that they were all discharged, nj
criminal charge being lodged agalns
anv one Of them. shows very clearly
that tbav ,vera Innocent of any breAcl