San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-12-10
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE,
AN ABLE REVIEW OF NATIONAL
AFFAIRS PRESENTED TO
CONGRESS.
Our Foreign Relations and COntrO-
yersies With Italy and Chilli
Domestic Affairs and Perti-
nent Suggestions IN Rela-
ton Thereto.

congress yesterday, was volumnious
document, of which the following is a
clear synopsis.
The reports of departments submitted
to me and herewith presented, with re-
ports of secretary of the treasury and at
torney general, show the administrative
work Of the past year, how every ques-
ton has been decided from the stand
point of public duty and interest. The
scrutiny of congress is invited to every
branch of the public service. That of
the state department has embraced an
unusual number of important negotia-
tionS whose diplomatic results have been
highly BENEFICIAL. Among them are
RECIPROCAL TRADE ARRANGEMENTS
with Brazil. Spanish West Indies and San
Domingo, and well advanced negotiations
with other countries, which. before the
close of the year, will probably end in
decisive arrangements of great value.
An agreement was reached and signed
June 18th by which Great Britain, pend
ing arbitration on the seal question,
agreed to prohibit the killing by her sub
iectS OF seals in
THE BEHRING SEA
and the U. 5. to enforce its acts against
pillage and limits its catch to Z, 800 skins,
the agreement to hold until May 1892. 1t
was four months after submitting this
proposition before it was accepted, and
had it been at once agreed to would have
been more effective in restraining Cana
dian paoching, but as it was it has pre-
vented much destruction.
Terms for arbitration satisfactory to
this government have been agreed upon,
and these will hope meet the approval
of congress. A joint demarkatiOn of the
line between Canada and u. s., especially
an exact location of water boundaries is
imperatively demanded.
Germany. Denmark, Italy, Austria and
France have opened their ports TO Ameri-
can imported pork. Outlines Of an agree
ment with Germany have been reached
looking to equitable trade concessions.
Brazil adviceS were too meagre to en-
able us to do more than express our hope
for the continued peace OF the country,
which were accepted in friendly spirit.
THE MALTA AFFAIR.
The lynching of IL men of Italian ma
tiOnality in New Orleans last March was
a depIorable affair. Representation was
made to the Italian minister that these
men were Italian citizens, and demand
was made for the punishment OF the
guilty and naturalization TO the families
or the murdered men. L ne HlduneT III
which this demand was made precluded
any calm discussion of the affair. The
views Of this government as to foreigners
domiciled here were fully stated, as well
as its purpose to Investigate and aSc err
tain if any obligation rested upon the U.
s. Correspondence has been retarded by
the temporary absence of the Italian
minister, but it is not doubted that
friendly conclusion is attainab.e. | be-
lieve congress is competent to make Of
lenses against treaty rights OF foreigners
domiciled here recognizable in the federal
courts. and that the officers of the state
should be considered in such cases as fed
eral agents, for whose acts this govern
ment would be anSwerable.
GILLIAN COMPLICATIONS.
Upon the surrender of Valparaiso to
the congressional forces late in August.
our minister was directed to recognize the
new government. which was done. This
government refused to give belligcrent
rights to the insurgents, as the govern
mcnt had insisted Europe should not give
such rights to the insurgents during our
own civil war. The ltata was seized for
violation of neutrality, fOrCiby wreSted
from the IS. officer and put to sea. The
provisional government OF Chill conceded
the right of this government 10 take such
action and returned the ltata to our GUS
V.
no belligerent rights there could be no
violation of neutrality laws and from this
opinion an appeal is taken. This govern
ment insisted upon the absolute non in
reference in Chilli affairs, by its minister
and officers in Chill waters. No official
complaint has reached this government
that these orders were diSObeyed. The
American minister offered an asylum to
the political refugees whose lives were in
peril and have not ordered the surrender
Of these refugees without conditions. The
unfricndly treatment shown our minister
on this account has been discontinued.
On the 10Th of October several ~ our
sailors on shore in Valparaiso on leave
and unarmed were attacked by armed
men. one petty officer killed and several
men seriously wounded, one of whom has
died Thirty-SiX of our men were ar
rested some badly beaten while going 10
prison. The fact that all were SuDSe-
quentiy discharged shows that there was
no breach of the peace. An investigation
made at once by the ships officers showed
no cause for the assault. There was no
apparent cause for the assault save that
these men were wearing the uniform OF
this government. The attention OF Chlll
was called to the affair, and she was CIV
en- notice that reparatioE would De de-
manded if the investigation showed no
Just prOvOcatiOn for the attack; NO re
ponse has been made by Chill, but inves-
tigation has been ordered by her and it is
now nearly concluded, and reply TO our
note as we'll as the results of the investl-
CATION are looked for soon. If these eXpec-
tations are not met / will call the atten-
tion of congress to this matter in spec
ial message. and lay before you all the
correspondence covering the case.
CHINESE BARBARITIES.
The massacres of foreigners il China
OCCASION great alarm. No effort will be
wanting TO protect our citizens in that
country. have pointed out to the Chi
nese government the untenableness OF its