The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-12-10
THE MESSEGE
The Presidents Recommendations
to Congress Condensed.
a VIGOROUS CHILEAN POLICY.

sage Will BE Issued-Beneflts of
yer.
WASHINGTON, Dec l0.--The annual mes
sage Of the president to congress was read in
the senate and house yesterday. II begins
with reference to the important negotiations
entered into by the state department during
the past year, and after dealing at length with
the Behring sea controversy, says:
"In my last annual message stated that the
basis of arbitration proposed by her majesty's
government for the adjustment of the long
pending controversy as to the seal fisheries
was not accepted. am glad now to be able
to announce that terms satisfactory to this
government have been agreed upon and that
en- agreement as to the arbitrators Is all that
% necessary TO the completion of tho conven-
tion."
"The law of the last congress placed this gov.
ernment In a position TO effectually urge the
removal of Determinations against our meats
1t is gratifying to be able to state that Ger
many, Denmark, Italy, Austria and France
In the order named, have opened their ports to
Inspected American pork prod ucts."
OF the New Orleans lynching the message
says;
'1he lynching at New Orleans In March
last of eleven men of Italian nativity by mob
VI citizens was most deplDrnDle ana dis.
creditable incident, 1t did not, however, have
its origin in any general animosity TO the
Italian people, nor in any disrespect to the
government of Italy, with which our relations
were OF the most friendly character. Some
suggestions growing out of this unhappy in
cidcnt are worthy the attention of congress.
IL would, believe, be entirely comp tent for
congress TO make otfenses against tho treaty
rights of foreigners dOniciled in the United
states cognizable in the federal courts. This
has not, however, been done, and tile federal
officers and courts have no power in such
cases to intervene. II seems TO mo to follow,
In this state of the law, that the officers of the
state charged with police and judicial powers
In such oascB must, In the eonsiderr tion of in
ternationai questions growing out Of such in
cfdents, be regarded in such sense as federal
agents"
tho ltata and the massacre Of American
sailors in VRlpar also the president says:
An inyostifiation of the affair was promptly
made by board Of officers of tho Baltimore,
and their report show that theae assaulta
were unprOvoked that our men wcra conduct
ing themselves in peacenbe end orderly
manner, and that some Of tho police OF the
city took part In the assault and used their
weapons with fatal effect, while fow others,
with some we'll disposed citizens, endeavored
10 protect onr mon Thirty-six of our sailors
were arrested, and some of thorn, while beinH
taken to prison, were cruelty benten and mall
treated. Tho fact TINT they wore all dis
el arged, no criminal charge being lodged
against any ono of them, shows very clearly
a that they were innocent Of any breach of the
prace.
sThe attention OF the Chilean government
was at once called to this affair, aud 1t was
advised that IL such qualifying facts did not
exist this government would confidently ex-
pect full and prompt reparation.
1t is to be regretted that the reply of the
nrnfn fgEt
government was couGhcd in an offensive tone
10 this no response has been mado. This gov
eTnmcntis now awaiting the result of an in-
yestigntion which has been conducted by tile
criminal court ut Valparaiso 1t is reported
nnofileially that tho invest cation is about
completed. and It isexpected that the result
will soon be communicated to this government,
together with some adequate and satisfactory
response TO tho note by which the attention OF
Chilo was called to this incident Ii these Just
expectations should be disappointed or fur
ther needless delay intervene, | will, by
special message, bring this matter again to the
attention Of con5ress for such action as may
bo necessary.
The president refers TO the outbreak against
foreigners In China, which he views as a mat
tor of deep concern in view OF American in
terests in that country. He regards as desir-
able that provision be made by congress- for the
sadmisslon of Chinese artisans and laborers In
connection with the Columbian exposition.
Attention is called to tho protest by our gov
ernmont 10 Russia against the persecution of
the Hebrews in that country, and to tho ae-
ceptance of our international copyright law by
Belgium, France, Great Britain and Switzer-
land With Germany special convention has
been negotiated.
In calling attention TO the effect of the tariff
legislation of the last congress the president
gives figures showing tho total value of our
foreign commerce for the yeRr ending Sept. 10,
1891, to be Sl7i7, ,S6 406, the largest of any year
In the nations history. In the same time our
imports OF merchandise amounted TO SS4,7l5,
10 an increase of over Sll 10000. OF the effect
of the Mckinley bill he says
The alue of free imports during the twelye
months ending Sept 80, 1891. was SiiS,802,3 ,3ST
more than the value OF free imports during the
corresponding twelve months of the preceding
year. and there was during the same period o
decrease of 3lps, ,siG,5 8 In the value of imports
ofdutlable merchandise. The percentage of
merchandise admitted free Of duty during the
year to which have referred, the first under
the now tariff, WAS 4slB while during the pre-
ceding twelve months, under the old tariff. the
percentage was Ss.2f, an increase of 1891 per
cent.
III we turn to exports Of merchandise the
statistics nre full OF qualification. Tho value
of such exports OF merchandise for tho twelve
months ending Sept. 30, 1891, was s923 90, ,l88,
while FOR the corresponding previous twelve
months 1t was $3.50 III, ll5, an increase of s82,-
Rl4,Ri.
"Thnre is certainly nothing in the condition
Of trade, foreign or domestic there is certainly
nothing In the condition of our people of any
class TO suggest that the existing tariff and
revenue legislation bears oppressiyely upon
the people or retards the commercial develop
mont of the nation. 1t may be argued that
our condition would be better if our tariff
legislation were upon free trade basis; but It
cannot be denied that all tho conditions of
prosperity and Of general contentment are
present In larger degree than ever before in
our history, and that too, Just when Is waa
prophesied they would be in the worst state.
Agitation for radical changes In tariff and
financial legialation cannot help, but may
seriously impede business to the prosperity OF
which some degree of atahllity In legislation
y essential. think there are conclusive evil
depces that this new tariff has created several
great industries which will within few years
give employment TO several hundred thousand
American workinamen and women. In view
OF the somewhat overcrowdcd condition Of
the labor market OF the United States every
patriotic citizsn should rejoice at such rc-
suit.
1.-THE report Of the secretary of the treasury