The Yale expositor., 1894-12-07
To the congress of the United States:

the duty or making laws for the benefit
Of generous and free people impressive
ly suggests the exacting obligation and
memorable responsibility involved In
their task. At the threshold of such la
Dor now to be undertaken by the congress
of the United States and in the discharge
Of an executive duty enjoined by the con-
stitution, l submit this communication
containing brief statement Of the condi-
ton of our national affairs and recon-
mending such legislation as seems to be
necessary and expedient. The history of
our dealings with other nations, and our
relations with them at this time add-
tionaly demonstrates the advantage OF
consistently adhering to a firm but just
foreign policy, free from envious or am
bilious national schemes and character
ICED by entire honesty and sincerity.
Our Foreign Affairs.
The president speaks of the firm neu-
trality of the United States in the Bra
lillian revolution as having prevented Sc
rious complications in that country and
as having aided in an early ending of
that war. our negotiations with Chill
regarding our claims against that govern
ment are still unsettled. A new treaty
with China is only awaiting a ratifica-
the China-Japan war but little is said by
the president, except TO remark that he
had iRtended to exert his good offices al
the beginning of the trouble in Corea, but
the opening of actual hostilities defeated
the purpose. Dep.orinS the destructive
war between the two most powerful OF
the eastern nations and anxious that our
commercial interests in those countries
may be preserved and that the safety of
our citizens there shall not be Jeopar-
died, l would not hesitate to heed any
inumation tnat our friendly aid for the
honorable termination of hostilites would
be acceptable to both be4ltgerents. lie
refers to the relations with France ana
the death of Carnot and of the car Of
Russia; the exclusion of meat and cattle
from Germany and the German protest
against the provision in the customs tarlH
act which imposes dlsGrltIlinat,tlg uuty
ing from countries paying an export bouh-
~ thereon, and the claims that the eX-
action of such duty Is In c cor, raven, on
1925 with Prussia, and recommends the
repeal of so much of the statute as Inn
poses that duty. Referring 10 me BerinS
agreement, the president says the united
States will pay TO Great Britain $4,000 in
full satisfaction for all claims which may
be made for damages growing out OF the
controversy. Only France ana Portugal
have sgnified a Willingness TO abide by
the regulations Of the Paris tribunal. Pre-
liminary surveys Of the Alaskan boundary
and a preparatory eXamination OF the
question of protection of food fish in the
waters of the United States and the do
minion OF Canada are In progress, Inc Inc
boundary differences between British
Guiana and Venezuela. In Hawaii the or
ganization of a government In place OIL
the provisional government which fol-
lowed the deposition of the queen mas
been announced with evidence OF Its ell
fective operation. The recognition usual
in such cases has been accorded the new
government. Our relations with Japan
could probably be broadened, as the peo-
pie OF that empire are seeking closer IN
tercourse with US. \ new treaty or com
merce and navigation should be promul-
gated with Mexico.
Prominent among the questions Of the
year was the Bluefields incident, in what
IS known as the Mosquito Indian strip,
bordering on the Atlantic Ocean and with
in the jurisdiction Of Nicaragua; BY the
treaty of 1860 between Great Britain and
Nicaragua, the former government eX-
preesly recognized the sovereignty of the
latter over the strip, and limited form
of government was guaranteed TO the
Mosquito Indians. The so-cTlled native
government, which grew to be largely
made up Of aliens, for many years dis
puted the sovereignty of Nicaragua over
the strip, and claimed the right to main
tain therein practically independent
municipal government. Early In the past
year efforts of Nicaragua to maintain SOW
ereignty over the Mosquito territory led
to serious disturbances eliminating in the
suppression of the government and the at
tempted substitution of an impracticable
composite administration, in wnicn Near
aqua and the alien residents were to
participate. Failure was followed by an
instruction which for time subverted
Nicaragua, eXpelling her officers and re-
storing the old organization. This in
turn gave place to the existing local gov
eminent, established and upheld by Mic
aragua. Although the alien interests ar
rayed against Nicaragua in these trans,
actions have been largely American and
the commerce of that region for some
time has been and still is chiefly con-
trolled by our citizens, we cannot for that
no riuhtful
of Nicaragua over this important part of
her domain. He refers to the Punishment
of two Americans and their subsequent
pardon, by reason of consular interven-
non. and regrets the failure of justice
by which the murderer of Wilson Was
permitted to escape from Nicaragua. The
Nicaraguans have receded from their
anti-canal position.
modus v.vendi has been arranged
with Russia Regarding the sealing ques-
ton. and Russia is urged to grant recip-
rocal equality of treatment for our great
life insurance companies whose opera
tons have been extended throughout
Europe. Unreasonable and unjust fines
Imposed by Spain on the vessels and COM
merce of the United States have demand
ed from time to time during the last
twenty years earnest remonssrance on
the part of our government. In the imme-
dia.e past exorbitant penalties have been
Imposed upon our vessels and goods by
customs authorities of Cuba and Porto
Rico for clerical errors OF the most trivial
character In the manifests or oills OF
pel as persons undesirable and danger
Gus, Armenians naturalized in the United
states and returning to Turkish juris-
diction. Numerous questions in this re-
lation have arisen. While this govern
ment acquiesces in the asserted right OF
expulsion II will not consent that Armen-
ians may be imprisoned or otherwise pun
ished for no other reason than having &C
duired without imperial consent America 4
citizenship.
The present government Of Samoa has
proved a failure. and is only maintained
in power by the American, British and
German warshDs our participation in
che establishment of this government
agains. the wishes of the natives was in
plain defiance OF the conservative teach
ings and warnings of the wise and
natroitic men who laid the foundations
II our free institutions, and / invite the
Judgment OF congress on the propriety of
items bv this government looking to the
vyithdrawal from It's engagements with
che other powers on some reasonable
terms not prejudclal to any OF our exist
ing rights.
Uncle Sans Money Matters.
The secretary of the treasury reports
that -le receipts Of the government from
all sources of revenue during the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1894. amounted TO
S376. S02 49S % and its expenditures to SliS.-
so, 75s ST. leaving a deficit OF 500, SO3,2jO IS.
There was decrease of $l5.0526H 6S In
the ordinary expense Of the government
as compared with the fiscal year 1893