The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-12-16
T'HE MESSAGE.
A Lengthy State Paper by
President Harrison.

The reports OF the heads of the several execu
tive departments required by law to be sub
mitted to me, which are herewith transmitted
and the reports of the secretary of treasury
and attorney general furnish a comprehen
sive view of the administrative work of tht
last fiscal year relating to internal affairs. L
would be OF great advantage if these re
ports could have an attentive perusal b1
every member of congress and by all who take
On interest in public affairs. Such perusa
could not fail to excite higher appreciation OF
the vast labor and conscientious EFFORT which
are given to the conduct of civil admins
tration.
question has been approached, considered and
decided from the standpoint of public duty and
ests alone. Again invite to every branch OF
the service the attention and scrutiny of con
gress.
RECIPROCAL TRADE RELATIONS
The work OF the state department during the
last year has been characterized by an unusual
number OF important negotiations and by dip
1omatic results of a notable and highly bene-
dc1al character. Among these are the recip-
rocal trade arrangements which have been con.
cluded. in the exercise of the powers conferred
by section 3 OF the tariff law, with the republic
OF Brazil, with Spain for its West India posses
s1ons, and with San Domingo. Like negotia-
tions with other countries have boen much ad-
ysnced, and it is hoped that before the close of
the year further dehnitive trade ARRANGEMENTS
Of great value will be concluded.
THE SEAL FISHERIES DISPUTE.
..,a n view w OF OF tn the reports which had been re-
ths Bering Sea, deemed it wise to propose to
her majesty's governments in February last that
an agreement for closed session should be
made pending the negotiations for arbitration
which then seemed to be approaching favor
BILE conclusion. After much correspondence
and delays for which this government was not
responsible, an agreement WAS reached and
signed on the 18th Of June. by. which Great
Britain undertook from that date and until
May /, 1892 to prohibit the killing by her sub
tects OF seals in the Bering Sea, and the govern
ment OF the United States during the same Pc
riod, to enforce its existing prohibition against
pelagtc sealing and to limit the catch by the Fur
Seal company upon the island to 1900 skins. If
this agreement could have been reached earlier
In response to the strenuous endeavors of this
government 1t would have been more effective;
tionably resulted in greatly diminishing the
destruction of the seals by the Canadian seal
cries. In my last annual message stated that
ty'B government for the adjustment of the long !
pending controversy as to the seal fisheries was
noJ acceptable am glad now to be able to
announce that the terms are satisfactory to
this government have been agreed upon, and an
agreement as to the arbitrators is all that is
necessary to the completion of the convention I
In view Of the advanced position which this
governments has taken upon the subject of in
ternat1onal arbitration, this renewed expression
OF our adherence to this method for settlement
Of disputes such as have arisen in the Bering
Sea win, doubt not, meet with the concur.
OUR BOUNDARIES
Provision should be made for joint demar.
cation of the frontier line between Canada and
the United States wherever required by the
increasing border settlements, and especially
the straits and rivers.
OPENED TO AMERICAN MEATS
The law Of the last congress providing sys.
tenn of inspection for our meats intended for
export and clothing the president with power
to exclude foreign products from our market IN
case the country sending them should perpetu-
ate unjust determinations against any product
Of the United States, placed this government
in position to e1ectual1y urge the removal
It is gratifying to be able to state that Ger
many, Denmark, Italy, Austria and France in
inspected American pork products. The re-
movsl of these restrictions in every instance
was asked for and given solely upon the ground
that we had now provided a meat inspection
that should be accepted as adequate to the
complete removal of the dangers, real or fan
state our abFoa ana
the secretary OF agriculture have co-operated
with undagg1ng and intelligent zeal for the ac-
eomplishment Of this great result. The out.
lines tof an agreement have been reached
IL Of tbe oontnaee
free importation OF her sugars, but the time
has not yet arrived when this correspondence
can be submitted to congress-
THE TROUBLES IN BRAZIL.
The recent political disturbances in Brazil
have excited regret and solfcitude. The in
formation We possessed was too meager to en-
able us to form satisfactory Judgment of the
causes leading to the temporary assumption of
supreme power by President Fonseca but this
snxious solicitude for the peace of Brazil and
for the maintenance of the free political insti-
there nor to offer our advice that great moder-
alton should be observed in the clash of parties
and the contest for leadership. These coun-
sels were received in the most friendly spirit,
and the latest Information is that conStitu-
tional government has been reestablished
without bloodshed.
THE NEW ORLEANS LYNCHING.
The lynohing at New Orleans in March last
of eleven men of Italian nativity by mob of
able incident. 1t did not. however have it's
origin in any antmosity to the italian people,
tho 80
Italy, with which our relations were of the most
friendly character The fury of the mob was
| participants or accessories in the murder of a
| city officer. do not allude to this as mitigat-
| ing in any degree this ohense against law and
| humanity, but only as affecting the tnterna-
| tional questions which grew out of it. 1t was
once represented by the Italian minister that
several of those whose lives had been taken by
the mob were italian subjects, and a demand
was made for the punishment of the partici-
| paHEs and for an indemnity to the families OF
| those who were killed. It is to be regretted
that the manner in which these claims
were presented was not such as to promote a
| this may well be attributed to the excitement
| and indignation which the crime naturally
s'te0 as to its Obligations to foreigners @ domi
ciled here were fully stated in the correspond
ence, as well as its purpose to make an investi
! cation of the affair with q view to determine
whether there were present any circumstances
that could under such rules of duty as We had
indicated, create an obligation upon the United
States. The temporary absence of a minister
plenipotentiary of Italy at this capital has re
oTSta5 51g t5at 9reGT
Some suggestions growing out of this un.
happy incident was worthy of the attention OF
congress. It would, believe, be entirely com
petent for congress to make offenses against the
treaty rights of foreigners domiciled in the
This has not, however, been done, and the
federal officers and courts have no power IL
such eases to intervene either for the proteo
of his slayers. 1t seems to me to follow in thi;
state of law, that the ofacers of the state
charged with police and Judicial powers in sucf
cases must. in the consideration of information
al questions, growing out OF such incidents, bt
regarded in such sense by federal agents as t
make this government answerable for their act
in cases where it would be answerable If thu
United States had not the constitutional powe
to define and punish crimes against treat!
rights.
THE IrArA INCIDENT.
The civil war in Chile, which began In Janu
ary last, was continued, but fortunately will
infreQuent and not Important armed collisions
until August gS when the congressional force
gagement, captured the city. President Bal
maceda at once recognized that his cause wa
lost, and 3 provisional government was speedi
ly established by the victorious party Gu
minister was promptly directed to Recognize
and put himself in Communication with thi
ished its de faoto character, which was done
During the tendency Of this civil contes
this government to extend belligeren
rights to the insurgents and to CIV
audience to their representatives. Th1
was declined and that policy was pursue
throughout, which this government, whe
Wrenched by civil war, so strenuously insiste
upon on the part Of European nations. TIL
Itata, an armed vessel commanded by navs
/ ofncer of the insurgent feet, manned by it
sailors and with soldiers board, was seize
= under process of the United States court Q
! San Diego Cal for violation of our neutra
| tty laws. While in the custody of an oficer {
| the court the vessel forcibly wreSted frol
his control, and put to sea. 1t would have bee
inconsistent with the dignity and seltrespet
I of this government not to have insisted that tn
: Itata should be returned to San Diego to abid
y the Judgment of the court. This was so clet
to the junta of the congressional party, estal
lished at IQuique, that before the arrival OF I'll
Itata at that port the secretary OF foreign r
lations of the provisional government decide
to read Admiral Brown commanding the Unite
States naval forces, communication, fro