Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-07

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4-The following
Is the message Of President Cleveland
as transmitted to congress:
To the congress of the United States:
The constitutional duty which requires the
president from time to time to give to the con
Eress Information of the ta te of the union, ana
recommend TO their consideration such meag-
pres as he shall Judge necessary and expedicnt
is httingly entered upon by cOmmending to the
Congress careful eXamina ton Of the deLailed
statements and well supported recommends
lions contained in the reports of the heads of
depar tments, who are chiefly charged with the
executive work Of the government In an eff
fort to abridge this communication as much as
IS consistent with its purpose shall supple
fnent brief reference to the contents of these
departmental reports by the mention of such
SXecutlV business and incidents are not
embraced therein and by such recommends
tons as appear to be at this particular time
appropriate.
Peaceful Foreign Relations.
While our foreign relations have not at all
times during the past year been entirely free
from perplexity, no embarrassing situations
remain that will not yield to the spirit of fair
ness and love of justice, which, joined with con-
slstenl hrmness' characterize truly American
foreign policy.
Argentine and Brazil Boundary Question.
My predecessor having accepted the Office of
arbitrator of the long standing missions bound
cry dispute, rendered to the president of the
Argentine Republic and Brazil, it has been nv
agreeable duty TO receive the special enyoys
commissioned BY those states 10 lay before me
evidence and arguments in behalf of their re-
SpectiVe governments
The Brazilian InsurrectIon.
The outbreak OF domestic hOstlities In the
republic OF Brazil found the United States alert
70 watch the interests of our citizens in that
country, with which we carry on important
commerce. Several vessels OF our new navy
are now ana for some time have been stationed
at RIO de JanefrO. The struggle being between
the established government, which controls the
machinery OF admins tration and with which
we maintain friendly relations and certain
officers of the navy employing the vessels Of
their command in an attack upon the
national capital and chief seaport and
lacking as IT does the clements OF di.
that the insurgents can reasonably claim recog.
milton as belligerents. Thus far the position OF
but impartial observer OF the unfortunate con-
dict. Emphasizing our fixed policy of impair
Nal neutrality in such condition Of affairs as
pow exists, l deemed II necessary to disayow
IN a manner not to be- misunderstood the un-
authorized action OF our late naval commander
IN those waters In saluting the reYolted Brazil
ian admiral, being indispoSed to countenance
an act ca culated to give gratuitous sanction to
the local instruction.
Gillian Claim Question.
The convention between our government and
Chili, 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 commission pro-
yided :or The two governments failing to agree
upon the third member Of the commission
Nhe good offices OF the president of the Swiss
iepubhc were invoked, as provided in the
treaty, and the selection OF the Swiss repre-.
sent tive In this country to complete the organ
tzation was gratifying alike to the United
States and Chilli The YeXatious question of So
Sailed legation asylum for offendefs against he
etate ana It's laws was presented anew In
Chill by the unauthorized action OF the late
United States minister in receiving into his Of
nclal residence two persons who had Just
failed in an attempt al revolution and
against whom criminal charges were pending
growing opt Of former abortive disturbance
The doctrine o. asylum az applied to this case
"a not sanctioned by the best precedehts and
when allowed tends to encourage sedition and
strife Under no circums tances can the repre-
sentauVes OF this government be permitted
9nder the ill-defned fiction of extra territorial
{ty, TO interrupt the administration of criminal
Sustice In the countries to which they are &C
credited. A temperate demand having been
made by the CHILEAN government for the correc-
tlon of this conduct in the instance mentioned
Pie minister was instructed no longer to har-
Dor the offenders.
! Chinese Registration.
The legislation of last year. known as the
Eeary law, requiring the registration of all
Chinese laborers entitled TO residence in the
United States, and the deportation of ali not
complying with the provisions Of the act within
the time prescribed met with much opposition
from Cinnamon In this country. Acting upon
the advice of eminent counsel that the law was
nqcons tltutional the great mass OF Chinese
9borers, pending judicial inquiry as to its val.
{dtty, in good faith declined to apply for the
Y
4 test case upon pro, eeding by habeas
Corpus was brought before the supreme court,
AID on May Is, 1898, decision was made by
that tribunal sustaining the law. 1t is believed
that under the recent amendment of the act
Extending the time for registration the Chi
nese laborers thereto entitled who desire to re-
tde In this country will now avail themselves
Of the renewed privilege thus afforded OF estab-
fishing by lawful procedure their right to re,
main. and that thereby the necessity OF en-.
forced deportation may to great degree be
avoided
The Murder of Missionaries in China.
Ii has devolved upon the United States min
lister at Pekin, as dean of the diplomatic body
tnd In the absence OF a representative OF
Sweden and Norway, to press upon the Chinese
government reparation for the recent murder
Of Swedish missionaries at Sung-Pu. This
question is of vital interest to all countries
whose citizens engage in missionary work in the
interior
The Slave Trade In Africa.
BY article Il of the general act of Brussels,
signed July , 1870, for the suppression of the
slave trade and the restriction of certain in
furious commerce in the independent state Of
the Congo, and in the adjacent zone of Central
Africa, the United States and the other sigma
tory powers agreed TO adopt appropriate means
tor the punishment Of persons selling arms and
ammunition to the natives and for the con1sca-
tion of the inhibited articles
1t being the plain duty Of this government
70 aid In suppressing the nefartous traffic, i'm
pairing as. ii does the praiSeworthy and CIV
LIKING efforts now in progress in that region
feeommend that an act be passed prohibiting
the sale or arms ana lntOXlcAntS to the natives
IN the regulated zone by our citizens.
EStradition Treaties.
Costa Rica has lately testified its friendu
ness by surrendering to the United States, IN
the absence of convention of extradition, but
upon duly submitted evidence of criminality, q
noted fugitive from justice. 1t is trusted that
the negotiation of treaty with that country
to meet recurring cases of this kind will soon
be ACCOMPLISHED In my opinion treaties for
reciprocal extradition should be concluded
With all those countries with which the United
States has not already conventional arrange
meptS of that character.
have deemed it fitting to express TO the
governments of Costa Rica and Colombia the
kindly desire of the United States to see their
pending boundary dispute finally closed by
arbitration in conformity with the spirit Of the
treaty concluded between them some years
ego.
Our relations with the French republic con-
tinue to be intimate and cordial sincerely
hope that the extradition treaty with that
country, as amended by the senate, will soon be
operative.
While occasional questions affecting our
naluralized citizens returning 10 the land OF
their birth, have arisen in our intercourse with
Germany, our relations with that country cor
Hnue satisfactory
Great Britain.
The questions affecting our relations with
Great Britain have been treated In q spirit oil
<riendliness. Negotiations are in progress be-
tween the two governments with view to sucl
regulations agreed upon by the Behrlng Sc;
tribunal of arbitration practically effective
aud it is not doubted that Great Britain will
cooperate freely with this country 70
the accomplishment OF that purpose. Tn
dispute growing out of the dlscriminat
ing tolls imposed in the Wellan
canal, upon cargoes of cereals bound +
and from the lake ports of the United States
was adjusted by the substitution of NOR
equitable schedule of charges, and my prede
cessor thereupon suspended his proclamation
imposing discriminating tolls upon Britis