The Forrest City times., 1893-12-08
THE MESSAGE.

president from time to time 10 give to the con gress. information Of the state of the Union. and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and ex- pedient is fittingly entered upon by commend ing 10 the congress a careful examination of the detailed statements and well-supported recommendations contained in the reports of the heads of departments who are chiefly charged with the executive work of the govern ment. In an effort to abridge this communfca- ton as much as is consistent with it's purpose. shall supplement a brief reference to the con tents of these departmental reports by the mention of such executive. business and incl dents as are not embraced therein. and by such recommendations as appear to be at this par ticular time appropriate.
 State Department,
 While our foreign relations have no, at all times during the past year been entirely free from perplexity no embarrassing situation re- mains that will not yield to the spirit of fair ness and love Of justice, which, joined with consistent frmness, characterize truly Amer ican foreign policy.
 The president devotes considerable space to review of our,relations with our neighpors in Central and South America. the West Indies and Europe. reverting incidentally to the Congo state and the praiseworthy efforts at civilization in that quarter. and also notes the concern of the United States for the mainte- nance Of the territorial integrity of the repub- lie of Liberia. or more than passing interest is his refe; e;ence to the Samoan islands of which he says;
 MEXICO.
 Our relations with Mexico continue to be of that close and friendly nature which should always characterize the intercourse Of two neighboring republics.
 The work Of relocating the monuments mark ing the boundary between the two countries from Paso Del Norte to the Pacific is nearly completed. The commission recently organ lLed under the conventions Of 1884 and 1883. 1t is expected will speedily settle disputes grow ing out of the shifting currents of the Rio Grande river east of Fl Paso.
 SAMOA.
 Led by a desire 10 compose differences and contribute to the restoration of order in Samoa, which for some years previous had been the scene of conflicting foreign pretensions and native strife. the United States, departing from its policy. consecrated by a century of ob servance entered four years ago into the treaty of Berlin thereby becoming jointly bound with England and Germany to establish and main tain Malietoa Laupepa as king of Samoa. Early in the fife of this triple protectorate the native dissensions it was designed to quell revived. Rivals defied the authority of the new king, re- fusing to pay taxes and demanding the election Of ruler by native suffrage. Mataafa. an aspirant to the throne, and a large number ot his native adherents. were in open rebellion in one of the islands. Quite lately. at the request of the other powers, and in fulfllment of its treaty obligations, this government agreed to unite in a joint military movement of such dimensions as would probably secure the surrender of the insurgents without was accordingly put under orders for Samoa but before she arrived. the threatened
 
 attack upon the insurgent camp Mataafa was defeated and number Of his men killed. The British and German naval vessels present sub seQuently received the surrender of Mataafa and his adherents. The defeated chief and ten of his principal supporters were deported to a German island Of the Marshall group where they are held as prisoners under the joint sponsibility and cost of the three powers.
 THE HAwAuN ISLANDS.
 It is hardly necessary for me to state that the question arising from our relations with x.nff hnxy -nA Just prior to the installation of the present ad- mlnistration the existing government of Ha- waii had been suddenly overthrown, and treaty of annexation had been negotiated be- tween the provisional government of the is- lands and the United States and submitted to the senate for ratification. This treaty I with drew for examination and dispatched Hon James A. Blount. of Georgia, to Honolulu as a special commissioner to mako an impartial in- vestigation of the circumstances attending the change of government and Of all the condi- tions bearing upon the subject of the treaty. After a thorough and exhaustive examination, MT Blount submitted to me his report. show ing beyond all question that the constitutional government of Hawaii had been subverted with the actual aid Of our representative to that government and through the intimidation caused by the presence of an armed naval force of the United States which was landed for that purpose at the instance of our minister Upon the facts developed 1t seemed to me the only honorable course for our government 10 pursue was 10 undo the wrong that had been done by those represent tng us. and to restore as far as practicable the status existing at the time of our forcib ole in- tervention, With view of accomplishing this result within the constitutional limits of ex- ecutive power, and recognizing all our obliga- tions and responsibilities growing out of any change of conditions brought about by our unjustihable interference. our present minister at Honolulu has re- eeived appropriate instructions to that end Thus far no information of the accom- ceived from him. Additional advices are soon expected. and when received they will promptly be sent to congress. together with all other information at hand. accompanied by special executive message fully detailing all the facts necessary to a complete understand ing Of the case. and presenting Q history of all the material events leading up to the present situation.
 INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
 By a-eoncurrent resolution passed bv the senate February If. is91. and by the house of representatives on the Sd of April following zbe president was requested to invite from time to time. as it 0. casions may arise. nego- Tinted States tas or may have diplomatic re- lations to the end that any differences or dis putes arising between the two governments which can not be adjusted by diplomatic peaceably adjusted by such means. April ls ls91. the International American conference Of Washington. fy resolution, expressed the wish that all controversies hetween the republics of America and the nations Of Europe might he settled by arbitration and recommended that the government or each nation represented in that conference should communicate this wish to all friendly powers. A favorable response has been received from Great Britain in the shape of a resolution adopted by parliament, July i6 last, cordially sympathizing with the purpose in view. anu expressing the hope that her malesty's gov. ernment will lend ready cooperation to the government of the United States upon the basis of the concurrent resolution above quoted.
 DIPLOMATIC AFFAIRS
 Since the passage of the act of March 3, 1893. authorizing .the president to raise the grade of our envoys to correspond with the rank in which foreign countries accredit their agents here Great Britain. France Italy and Germany