The Helena independent., 1894-12-04
AFFAIRS OF STATE.
The Presidents Message Read at the Open.
Ing Session OF Both Houses Of
Congress.
RESUME OF THE YEARS HISTORY



legislative halls OF those charged with
the duty OF making laws for the bene-
ut or a generous and free people i'm
pressiNely suggests the exacting obll-
cations and inexorable responsibility
involved In their task. Al the threshold
OF such labor now TO be undertaken by
the congress OF the United Stntes, and
In the discharge of an executive duty
enJolned by the constitution | submit
TINS communication, containing n brief
statement Of the condition OF our ma
tional affairs and recommending such
legislation as seems TO me necessary
and cxpedient.
The history of our recent dealings
with other nations, and our peaceful
relations with them at this time. ad-
dltionally demonstrate the advantage
Of consistently adhering TO a firm but
Just foreign policy, free from envious
or ambitious national schemes. and
characterized by entire honesty and
sincerity. During the past year. pur-
suant to n law Of congress, commission
ers were appointed to the Antwerp in
dustrial exposition. Though the par
ticipatlon of American exhibitors fell
far short of completely illustrating our
national ingenuity and industrial
achievements, yet 1t was still creditable.
III view OF the brief time allowed for
preparation,
have endeavored to impress upon
the Belgian government the needless
ness and positive harmfulness of its
restrictions upon the importation OF
certain OF our food products and have
strongly urged that the rigid super
vision anu inspection under our laws
are amply sufficient To prevent the ex-
portation from this country of diseased
cattle and unwholesome meat.
The termination of the civil war in
Brazil has been followed by the gem
eral prevalence of peace and order. 1t
appearing at an early stage of the in
surrection that its course would call for
unusual watchfulness on the part of
this government, our naval force In the
harbor OF Rio Janeiro, was strength
ened. This precaution ! am satisfied
tended To restrict the issue TO a simple
trial OF strength between the Brazilian
government and the insurgents, and
20 avert complications which at times
seemed imminent. our firm attitude
OF neutrality was maintained TO the
end. The insurgents received the en-
| couragement of eventual asylum from
our commanders. and such opposition
as they encountered was for the pro-
lection of our commerce and was clear
ly justified by public law. A serious
tension OF relations having arisen at
the close of the war between Brazil and
Portugal by reason of the secape OF the
insurgent admiral. DE CANA, and his
following the friendly offices of our
representatives to those countries were
exerted for the protection of the sub
jects OF either within the territory of
the other.
Although the government of Brazil
was duly notified that the commercial
arrangement existing between the
United States and that country. based
on the third section OF the tariff act of
1890. was abrogated on Aug. 2S, 1894, by
the taking effect of the tariff law
In force. that government subsequently
notified us of It's intention 10 terminate
such arrangement, and on the first day
of January, 1895, In the exercise of the
right reserved in the agreement be-
tween the two countries. | invite at
tention to the correspondence between
the secretary of state and the Brazilian
minister on this subject.
The commission organized under the
convention which we had entered into
with Chile for the settlement of the
outstanding claims of each government
against the other adjourned at the end
of the period stipulated for its con-
tinuance. leaving undetermined mum.
ber OF American cases which had been
duly presented. These claims are not
barred and negotiations are in progress
for their submission to a tribunal.
The 18th OF March next the new treaty
with China In further regulation was
signed at Washington and on Aug l3
Il received the sanction OF the senate,
Ratification on the part of China and
formal exchange are awaited to give
effect 10 this mutually beneficial con-
vention.
A gruifyi = recognition OF the uni
form impartiality OF this country to-
wards all foreign states was mnntfest-
ed by the concldent request OF the
Chinese and Japanese governments
that the agents Of the United States
should within proper limit, afford pro-
lection to the subjects OF the other, dur
ing the suspension OF diplomatic rela-
! tions due to state OF war. This deli
cate Office was accepted and "A misappre-
hension which gave rise to the belief
that In affording this kindly unofficial
protection our agents would exercise the
same authority which the Withdrawn
agents of the belligerents had exercised
was promptly corrected. Although the
war between China and Japan cndan-
gers no policy OF the United states II
deserves our gravcst consideration by
reason of Its disturbances OF our grow
| ing commercial interests In the two
countries, and the Increased dangers
which may result TO our citizens domi-
ciled or soiourning i'm the interior of
| China Acting under stipulation In
our treaty with Korea tthe first con
cluded with "A western powcrl felt CON
strained at the beginning OF the con-
! troversy tu tender our good offices To
| Induce AN amicahlc arrangement OF the
| initial difficulty growing out Of the Jap
anesc demands for administration re-
form In Korea, but the unhappy partlc-
Ipntlon Of actual hostilitics defeated this
| Kindly purpose. Dcploring the destruc-
tive war between the two most powerful
81 the eastern nations. and anxious
that our commercial Interests I'm those
countries may be preserved and that
The snfcty ~ ouT citizcus there shall
not he Ieopnrdized. | would not hesl-
| tntc la heed any Information that our
friendly aid for the honorable termi-
nation OF hostllties would be accept
able To- both hclllgcrcnls.
convention has boon finally con-
cludcd for the settlement by arbitration
OF the prolonged dispute with Ecundor
growing out of the proceedings against
Emilio Gnntca a nnturnllzed citizen Of
the United states
our relations with the republic Of
France continue to be such ns should
exist between nations ~ long bound to-
gcther by friendly sympathy and sim
llarity in their form Of government
The recent cruel nHHnsslnutlon of the
president OF this aiatcr republic called
| forth such universal expressions OF Hor-
-...l.L.I.l..... IL..Lla Ian4nl.