Warren sheaf., 1891-12-17
PRESIDENTS Nd &.
Comprehensive Synopsis u 1Thif
Important Document.

Reciprocity, Our Relations with Italy,
s. Chilli and Other Foreign Nasions-Tho
Michigan Electoral NIethod-Other
Domestic Questions.
COMMUNICATED TO CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. President
Harrison submitted his third annual
message to congress ut noon to-day.
The state Department.
Referring to the work OF the state depart.
ment during the last year he says that 1t has
been characterized by an unusual numbe r of
important negotiations and by diplomatic re-
suits of notable and highly beneficial charac
ter. Among these are the reciprocal trade ar
rangements which have been concluded with
the republic Of Brazil, with Spain for its West
India possessions and with San Domingo
Like negotiations with other countries have
been much advanced, and 1t Is hoped that be-
Of great value will be concluded.
Tho Behring Sea Fisheries.
Abiding to the long pending controversy be-
tween this country and Great Britain, over the
Behring sea seal fisheries. the president an.
that terms OF arbitration satisfactory
that IN agreement as to the, arbitrators is all
that is necessary to the completion of the con
ventiOn.
Open Ports for Pork Products
The president congratulates the country on
the effective working of the law of the last
congress providing system OF inspection for
our meat intended for export, and states that
Germany, Denmark, Italy, Austria aud France
have opened their ports to imported American
pork products
Referring to the lynching at New Orleans in
March last Of eleven men OF Italian nationals
ty by mob Of citizens, the president deplores
porary absence Of the minister plenipotentiary
Of Italy at this capital has retarded further
between this government and
the government Of Italy. but he does not doubt
The Gillian Imbroglio.
The president reviews the late civil war in
Chilli at some length, touches briefly upon the
seizure, escape and surrender of the Itata, and
says: THE instructions to our naval officers
and to our minister at Santiago, from the first
them the most impartial treatment, and abso-
lutte non-interference. am satisfied that these
instructions were observed and that our rep
resentatives were always watchful to use their
influence impartially in the interests Of hu-
manity, and on more than one occasion did so
effectively. No official complaint o. the con-
duct OF our minister or OF our naval Of.
sented to this government Contin-
uing. the president details at length
the attack on the sailors OF the Baltimore in
Valparaiso on October Is, resulting in the
death of two seamen and the serious injury Of
seven or eight others, and says: 1.-The atten-
tion OF the Chilian government was at once
called to this affair, and statement OF the
facts obtained by the investigation We had con.
Quoted was submitted, accompanied by a re-
quest to be advised OF any other or quail flying
facts In the possession of the Chilian govern
ment that might tend to relieve this affair OF
the appearance OF an insult to this government.
The Chilian government was also advised that
If such qualifying facts did not exist this gov
ernment would confidently expect full and
thot the renV Of the 70 ce tor
foreign affairs of the provisional gov
ernment was couched in an offensive
government is now awaiting the result OF IN
which has been conducted by the
criminal court at Valparaiso 1t is reported
unofticially that the investigation is about
will soon be communicated to this government,
together with some adequate and satisfactory
response to the note by which the attention Of
Chill was called to this incident; If these just
expectations should be disappointed or further
needless delay intervene l will, by special
message. bring this matter again to the atten.
tion of cong .ess for such action as may be nee
essary."
The Nicaragua Canal
Referring to the Nicaragua canal, the presi-
dent says: II deem it to be d matter OF the
highest concern to the United States that this
canal connecting the waters OF the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans and giving TO us a short
water communication between our ports upon
those two great seas should be speedily con-
structed and at the smallest practicable limit
Of cost. The gain in freights to the people. and
the direct saving to the government Of the
United States in the use of it's naval vessels,
would pay the entire cost OF this work within a
that the bonds of the canal company be guar
anteed by the United States government and
says: "A guaranty of the bonds OF the canal
company to the amount necessary to the com
n a Snly oo orrs,,
as not to involve any serious risk OF ultimate
loss.'
International Copyright.
International copyright has been secured in
accordance with the conditions of the, act of
March 2, 1891. with Belgium, France Great
Switzerland, the laws OF those countries per
mltting to our citizens the benefit of copyright
on substantially the same basis as to their own
citizens and subjects. With Germany q spe-
cial convention has been negotiated upon this
subject which will bring that country within
the reciprocal benefits OF our legislation.
The Tariff.
Coming to the tariff the message continues:
1.-THE general interest in the operations OF the
treasury department has been much augmented
during the last year by reason OF, the conflict
ing predictions which accompanied and fol-
lowed the tarif and other legislation of the
last congress affecting revenues as to the re-
suit of this legislation upon ne treasury and
upon the country. 1t Is not my purpose TO en-
ter at any length into discussion of the legis-
latton to which have referred, but a brief eX-
animation of the statistics Of the treasury and
q general glance at the state OF business
throughout the country will, I think, satisfy
any impartial inquirer that its results have
the evil prophesies of its oppo-
nentS and in q large measure realized the hope
full predictions Of its friends"
The president then goes on to show that in
twelve months ended September 80 1891, the
total value of our foreign commerce Imports
Al oY hi vnoTl ,Sa1o
was the largest in the history OF the United
States by over el0O 0o0 ,0GU The imports during
the period named were $1l,00),0oo in excess of
those for the twelve months preceding. ST we
turn says the president, Ito exports Of mer-
chandise the statistics are full OF qualification.
:Ine value OF such exports OF merchandise for
was s92s,o9l,ls6 while for the corresponding
previous twelve months it was $50 III, us, an
increase OF s62 9140a1. which is nearly three
times the average annual increase OF exports OF
the government. There is certainly nothing in
the condition of trade-foreign or domestic
there is nothing in the condition Of
our our, people Of any class to suggest
legislation bears oppressively upon the people
or retards the commercial development of the
nation. think there are conclusive evi.
great industries which viii, within few
years, give employment to several hundred thou.
sand American workmen and women In view
OF the somewhat OVercrOWded condition OF the
labor market Of the United States, every patri-
otic citizen should rejoice at such result
The Silver Question.
Referring to the silver question the president
says: Il am still of the opinion that the free
coinage OF silver under existing conditions
would d1sastrt usly affect our business interests
at home and abroad. We could not hope to
maintain an equality in the purchasing power
OF the gold and silver dollar in our own markets,
and In foreign trade the stamp gives no added
value to the bullion contained in cOins The
producers Of the country, its farmers
and laborers. have the highest interest
that every dollar. paper or coin, issued by the
government shall be as good as any other. II
there Is one less valuable than another it's sure
and constant errand will be to pay them for
their toll and for their crops. To place bust.
ness upon silver basis would mean q sudden
and severe contraction Of the currency, by the
withdrawal of gold and gold notes, and such
an unsettling Of all values as would produce
q commercial panic cannot believe
that people SO strong and prosperous
as ours will pr AlOte such q policy I be
lieve it s the earl4 st desire Of great majority
of the people, as it is mine, that full coin use
shall be made of silver just as soon as the co.
operation of other nations can be secured and
a ratio fixed that will give circulation equally
to gold and silver. The business of the world
requires the use Of both metals, but I do not
see any prospect OF gain, but much Of loss by
giving up the present system, in which full
use is made OF gold and large use Of silver fol
one In which silver alone will circulate Sucb
m OF f,<