Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-12-11
SPIRlT OF IEFFERsON
Ca.ai,rs Tova. JngElIllaoa oousT1, W. Va.
TUESDAY MoRN1Na. pEcENBER i. 1881.
TIte Message t,t Brte1i.

I
of the United States presents briefly and il
an admirably clear manner the facts an,
measures requiring consideration at th
hands of the national legislature. Our for
eigl relations are satisfactory. The war be
tween China aud Japan is deplored, and il
view of the dangers it brings upon Ameri
can residents in the East the President de
clares that he would not hesitate to heeS
any intimation that his friendly aid for tn,
honorable termination of hostilities woult
be acceptable to both belligerents." Restric
tions upon the importationo of American fooC
products into Belgium aud Germany ar
noted, as also tho unreasonable and unjust
fines imposed by Spain upon American yes
sells trading with Cuba and Porto Rico
Under the award of the Paris tribunal o
arbitration S425, GOO has been agreed upor
as the sum to be paid as damages to British
subjects on account of seizures of vessels IL
Bering sea, and Congress is asked to appro.
pirate that amount. Thus far only France
and Portugal have assented to the regula,
tions agreed upon with Great Britain
With Russia ntodus uiyendi has been reach
ed in respect to stealing interests in the
Norlh Pacific. Germany having protested
against the provision of the tariff act i'm.
posing discriminating duty of one-tenth OF
a cent pound on sugars coming from coun-
tries paying an export bounty thereon,
claiming that such duty is in violation Of
the treaty of 1928 with Prussia, the Presi-
dent warmly recommends the repeal of so
much of the recent tariff act as continues
the discrimination first introduced in the
Mckinley act. Such repeal, it is added, is
in the interests of the commerce of both
countries, and is further desirable ITO avoid
even the accusation of treaty violation"
The Bluefelds incident is discussed at
some length. BY the treaty of 1860 Great
Britain granted Nicaragua sovereignty over
the Mosquito Coast country, STIMULATING for
the retention by the Mosquito Indians of a
limited form of ofself-goyernment. Recently
Nicaragua suppressed the native government
attempting to substitute for it "an imprac-
ticable composite administration" Ulti-
mately, after various conflicts, Nicaragua
has established local government at Blue
fields. The rightful sovereignty of Nicara-
qua over the Mosquito country is not chal-
lenged But wrongs were committed upon
a number of American citizens which were
the occasion of remonstrances.
Samoa is shown to be in very disordered
state, consequent upon the faulty character
of the "entangling alliance" for its govern.
ment entered into by the previous admins
trstion. The government set up by Ger.
many, England and the United States, act
ing together under the Berlin treaty, has
been unsatisfactory TO the natives. Civil
wars are constantly inprogress, causingmuch
expense TO the three powers concerned. 1t
is accordingly recommended that Congress
considers the proprfety of our withdrawal
from its engagements with the other powers
on terms not preiudical to our existing
rights.
The receipts of the government from all
sources of revenue during the fiscal year
ended June 80, 1894, amounted to S872, ,s02,- :
49S.29, and its expenditures to S442, sos, 1853
81, leaving a deficit of $50 500, ,26O.5S 1t
is estimated that upon the basis of the pres
ent revenue laws the receipts of the govern.
ment during the current fiscal year ending
June 80, 1895, will be $424, ,427, ,74s44 and
its expenditures s444. .74S, resulting in a
deficit of $50, 100000.
The strength of the army on September
80, 1894, was 2, 2,135 officers and %, ,765 enlist.
ed men. While no considerable increase in
the army is demanded by recent events, the
policy of seacost fottifcation has 80 far de-
veloped as to suggest that the effective
strength of the army be now made at least
equal to the legal strength.
1t is noted in the report of the Attorney
General that the Supreme Court is overcom-
ing rapidly the arrears fits business and it
is suggested that Congress will do well to
give an additional circuit judge to each cir.
cult. The President further recommends
the abolition of the fee system as measure
of compensation to federal officers the en-
largement of the powers of United States
at least in the Territories,
the allowance of writs of error in criminal
cases on behalf of the United States and the
of degeees in the crime of
murder.
The receipts of the Postofice Department
during the year amounted to SIC, ,0s0, ,479.O4
and the expenditures to So, 1924; ;4I415.-
This deficiency is regarded as unnecessary,
being due to an abuse of laws regulating
rates upon second class mail matter
IF pretended newspapers, trashy novels and
other publications of like character were
made to pay proper rates, and if the free dis.
seed through the mails were
abolished, the income thus gained would
suffice, it is thought. to permit the carriage
of legitimate papers and periodicals free of.
cost.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows gratifying progress in the coustruc.
ton of our new navy aud presents with
much earnestness plea for the authorizes
ton of three additional battle-ships and ten
or twelve torpedo boats. The President ac-
cordihgly recommends that provision be
made for the construction of additional bat
tIe-ships and torpedo boats, and also the
of reserve supply of guns for
the auxiliary feet. The transfer of the work
OF the coast survey to the Navy Department
is urgently recommended.
The report of the Secretary of the Inte