Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-15
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
THE REMAINDER OF THAT INTER.
ESTiNG DOCUMENT.
An Able Review of the National
Condition, and suggestions for
Improvement in Some Matters.

The constitutional duty which re-
qIires the President from time to time
to give to Congress information OF the
State OF the Union and to recommend
to their consideration such matters as
he shall judge necessary is fittingly
entered upon by commenting to Con-
gress careful recommendation of the
detailed statements and well.supported
recommendation contained in the re.
ports of the departments who are
chiefly charged with the executive
work OF the government. In an ef-
fort to abridge this communication, as
much as is consistent with its pur-
pose, | shall supplement brief refer
ence with the contents OF the depart
mental reports by the mention OF such
executive business and incidents as
are not embraced therein, and by such
recommendations as appear to be at
this particular time appropriate.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
While our foreign relations have not
at all times during the past year been
entirely free from preplexing, yet no
embarrassing situations remain that
will not yield to the spirit of fairness
and love of justice, which, joined with
consistent tirmness, characterize a
truly American policy.
ARG BRAZIL BOUNDARY DISPUTE.
My predecessor having accepted the
office of arbitrator of the long-standing
boundary dispute, rendered to the
President by the Argentine Republic
and Brazil, it has been my agreeable
duty to receive the special ENJOYS
commissioned by these States to lay
before me the evidence and argument is
in behalf of their respective govern
ments.
THE BRAZILIAN REVOLUTION.
The outbreak of domestic hostilities
in the republic of Brazil found the
United States alert to watch the in
terests OF our citizens in that country,
with which we carry on important
commerce. Several vessels of our new
navy are now, and for some time have
been, stationed at Rio de Janeiro.
The struggle being between the estab-
lished government, which controls the
machinery Of administration, and with
which we maintain friendly relations,
and certain officers of the navy en-
pioying the vessels of their command
in an attack upon the national capital
and chief seaport, and lacking, as it
does the elements of divided admins
tration. l have failed to see that the
insurgents can reasonably claim recog-
milton as belligerents. Thus the po-
sition OF our government has been
that OF an attentive, but impartial OBJ
server of the unfortunate conflict.
Emphasizing our fixed policy of i'm
partial neutrality in such a condition
OF affairs as now exists, 1 deemed it
necessary to disavow, in a manner not
to be misunderstood, the unauthorized
action of the late naval commander in
those waters in saluting the revolted
Brazilian admiral, being indisposed to
countenance an act calculated to give
gratuitous sanction to the local insur-
rectiOn.
THE CHILIAN CLAIMS.
The convention between our govern.
ment and Chill, having for its object
the settlement and adjustment of the
demands of the two countries against
each other, has been made effective by
the organization of the claims COM
mission provided for. The two gov.
ernments failing to agree upon the
third member of. the commission, the
good Offices of the President OF the
Swiss republic were invoked as pro-
vided in the treaty, and the selection
of the Swiss representative in this
country to complete the organization
was gratifying to the United States
and Chill.
The vexations question of so-called
legation asylum for offenders against
the state and its laws was presented
anew in Chill by the unauthorized
action of the late United States
minister in receiving in his official
residence two persons who had failed
in an attempt at revolution and
against whom criminal charges were
pending, growing out of a former
abortive disturbance. The doctrine of
asylum as applied to this case is
sanctioned by the best precedent, and
when allowed tends to encourage
sedition and strife. Under no cir
cumstances can the representatives
OF this government be permitted, under
the ill-defined fiction of extra terrific
rialty, to interrupt the administration
OF criminal justice in the countries to
which they are accredited. A temper
ate demand having been made by the
Chilean government for the correction
OF this conduct, in the instance men,
toned, the minister was instructed no
longer to harbor the offender.
POINTS AT ISSUE WITH HAYTI.
During the past year, an American
citizen employed in q subordinate
commercial position in Hayti, after
suffering protracted imprisonment on
an unfounded charge OF smuggling,
was finally liberated upon Justices
examination. Upon urgent represen-
tation to the Haytian government,
suitable indemnity was paid to the
sufferer.
By a law of Hayti sailing vessel
having discharged her cargo is refused
clearance until the duties on such
cargo have been paid. The hardship