The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-12-19
A Lengthy State Paper by
President Harrison.
A Vigorous Foreign Policy is Eosen-
tial TO Maintain the Dignity
of Our Government.
Our Relations with Chile, the
Bering sea Matter and the
New Orleans Massacre
are Discussed.
a Plea for the Abolition OF tho "Gerry-
mander' in Politlcs-Ihe Tariff, Reel
proclty, Pensions and other Inn
portnnt subjects Receive
Attontion-Synopsls of De-
partment Reports.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Tho following

is the Presidents message:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives;
The reports of the hea Is OF the several exeou-
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 comprehen.
sve view of the administrative work of ths
last fiscal year relating to internal affairs II
would be Of great advantage II these re-
ports could have an attentive Derusal by
every member Of congress and by all who take
an interest in public affairs. Such u perusal
could not fail TO excite higher appreciation of
the vast labor and conscientious effort which
are given to the conduct of our civil admins.
tration.
The reports will, believe show that every
question has been approached, considered and
decided from the standpoint OF public duty and
upon considerations affecting the public inter
-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 on unusual
number of important negotiations and by dip
lomatc results OF a notable and highly bene
fetal character Among these are the recip
rocal trade arrangements which have been con-
cluded in the exercise OF the powers conferred
OF Brazil. with Spain for its west India bosses
sions, and with San Domingo. Like negotia-
tions with other countries have been much ad.
vanced and II Is hoped that before the close Of
the year further dehnitive trade arrangements
of great value will be concluded.
THE SEAL FISHERIES DISPUTE.
In view of the reports which had been re.
ceived as to the diminution of the seal herds in
the Berng Sea, deemed it wise to propose to
her majesty's government in February last that
an agreement for n closed session should be
made, pending the negotiations for arbitration
which then $ emed to be approaching favor
iDle conclusion After much correspondence,
and delays for which this government was not
responsible. an agreement was reached and
signed on the Il tn of June by which Great
Britain undertook, from that date and until
May |, 1892, to prohibit the killing by her sub
iects OF seals in the Berng Sea, and the govern
ment of the United States during the same pc
riod, to enforce its existing prohibition against
pelagic sealing and to limit the catch by the Fur
Seal company upon the island tU 1900 skins. II
this agreement could have been reached earlier
in response to the strenuous endeavors of this
government 1t would have bcen more effective
but, coming even as late us 1t did, 1t unques
tionably resulted in greatly diminishing the
destruction of the seals by the Canadian seal
cries In my last annual message stated that
the basis OF arbitration proposed by her maies
ty's government for the adjustment OF the long
pending controversy as to the seal fisheries was
mot acceptable. / am glad now to be able 10
announce that the terms satisfactory to
this government. have Leen agreed upon and an
agreement to the arbitrators is all that Is
necessary to the completion OF the convention.
In view OF the advanced position which this
government has taken upon the subject of in
Jernational arbitration, this renewed expression
OF our adherence to this method for settlement
of disputes such as have arisen in the Bering
Sea will, doubt not, meet with the concur
renee OF Congress.
OUR BOUNDARIES.
Provision should be made for q Joint demar-
cation OF the frontier line between Canada and
the United States wherever required by the
increasing border settlements, ana especially
for the exact location OF the water boundary in
the straits and rivers.
/ should have been glad to announce some
favorable disposition of the boundary dispute
between Great Britain and Venezuela, touching
the western frontier of British Guiana, but the
friendly efforts of the United States in that
direction have thus far been unavailing. This
government will continue to express its con-
Germ at any appearance of foreign encroach.
mt frria ulrFar
tive control of American states The determin-
alton of disputed boundary is easily attaina.
ble by amicable arbitration, whore the rights of
the respective parties rest as here, on his.
toric facts, readily ascertainable.
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 enectually urge the removal
of such determinations against meats.
1t is gratifying to be able to state that Ger
many, denmark, Italy, Austria and France. in
the oider named have opened their ports to
INSPECTED American pork products. The
moval of these restrictions In every instance
was asked for and given solely upon the ground
shat we had now provided meat inspection
that should be accepted adequate to the
complete removal of the dangers repl or fan
cied, which has been previously urged. The
state department, our ministers abroad and
the secretary of agriculture have co-operated
with unfagging and intelligent zeal FOR the ac
complishment of this great result The out
with Germany, looking to equitable trade
concessions in consideration OF the continued
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 solicitude The in.
formation we possessed was too meager to en-
able US TO form satisfactory judgment OF the
SnuseS ieauinR 10 2 tne tethporary assumption OF
government did not fail to express to him its
anxious solictude for the peace of Brazil and
for the maintenance of the free political insti.
tutions which had recently been established
there, nor to offer our advice that great moder
alton should be observed in the claah OF parties
and the contest for leadership. These coun
sells were received in the most friendly spirit
and the latest information is that constitu-
tional government has been reastablished
without bloodshed.
THE NEW ORLEANS LYNcHNe.
The lynching at New Orleans in March last
of eleven men Of italian nativity by mob OF
citizens was most deporable and discredit-
able incident. 1t did not. however have its
origin in any animosity TO the Italian people,
nor In any disrespect to the government of
Italy, with which our relations were of the most
friendly character The fury OF the mob was
directed against these men as the supposed
participants or accessories in the murder of a
city oficer do not allude to this as Iuitigat
ing In any degree this otfense against law and
humanity, but only as affecting the interna
once represented by the Italian minister that
several OF those whose lives had been teken by
the mob were Italian subjects, ana demand
was made for tho punishment OF the partci
pants and for an indemnity to the families OF
those who were killed. II is to be regretted
that the manner in which these claims
wero presented was not such as to promote
calm discussion OF the questions involved; but
this may we'll be attributed TO the excitement
and indignation which the crime naturally
evoked. The views OF this govern ment
as TO its obligations to foreigners domi-
cled here were fully stated In the correspond
'ence, as well us Its purpose to make an investi
cation OF the affair with q view to determine
whether there we're present any circumstances
that could, under such rules OF duty as we had
tndionted create an obligation upon tho United
plenipotentiary OF Italy at this capital has re-
Harded the further correspondence, but IL Is not
doubted that friendly conclusion Is attatnable.
Some suggestions growing out OF this un
happy incident was worthy OF the attention OF
congress IL would. believe, be entirely com.
petent for congress to make ofienses against the
treaty rights of foreigners domiclled in the
United States equitable in tho federal courts
This has not, however been DONE and the
federal officers and courts have no power in
such oases 10 intervene either for tho protec
tion OF . foreign citizen or for the punishment
OF hts alnyerp. II seems TO mo to follow In this
state OF Law, that tho oficers OF the state
shRrged with police and judicial powers Ia such
-casesmuBl, Ia she consideration OF intornation-
al questions, growing out OF such incidents, be
vegareed In such sense by federal agents as to
make this government answsreblO for their acts
In eafes whore II would be answerAble II the
United States had not tho constitutional power
70 define and punish crimes against treaty
Nights.
THE ITATA INCIDENT.
The civil war In Chile, which began In Janu-
ary last was continued, but fortunately with
tnfrequcnt and not important armed collisions,
until August - when the congressional forces
ad NFttle ntana anH aff dv