The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-06
"A DEMOCRATIC MESSAGE.

AIessage to the Congress OF the United
States:
The assemblage within the national
legislative halls of those charged with
the duty of making laws for the benefit
of generous and free people impressive
iy suggests the eXacting obligation and
ineXorable responsibility involved in their
task. At the threshold of such labor
now to be undertaken by the congress
of the Unied States, and in the discharge
of an executive duty enjOined by the
a AcOnstitution, | submit this communica-
1tion containing a brief statement of the
condition of our nations affairs, and
recommend sch legislation as seems to
be necessary and expedient.
FOREIGN POLICY.
The history of our recent dealings
with other nations, and our peaceful
relations with them at this time, addi-
tionally demonstrated the advantage of
consistently adhering to firm but just
foreign policy, free from envious or am
bilious national schemes and character
lied by ertire honesty and sincerity.
During the past year, pursuant to law
rsSpointed to the Antwerp industrial ex-
position, though the participation of
\ American exhibitors fell far short of
Ecompletely illustrating our national in
ys,anuity and industrial achievements,
1t it was quite creditable in view of
ne brief time allowed for preparation.
= l have endeavored to impress
upon the Belgian government the
needlessness and positive harmful
ness of its restrictions upon importa-
tons of certain of our food products and
have strongly urged that the rigid super
vision and inspection under our laws
are amply sufficient to prevent the ex-
poitation from this country of diseased
cattle and unwholesome meat
A The termination of the civil war in
Brazil has been followed by the general
prevalence of peace and order. 1t ap-
pearing at an early stage of the insurec-
ton that its course would call for un-
usual watchfulness on the part of this
government, our naval force in the har-
Dor of Rio de Janeiro was strengthened.
This precaution, l am satisfied, tended
to restrict the issue to simple trial OF
strength between the Brazilian govern
neat and the insurgents, and to avert
complications which at times seemed
imminent, our firm attitude OF neu-
trality was maintained to the end. The
insurgents received no encouragement OF
eventual asylum from our commanders
and such opposition as they encountered
and was early justified by public law,
serious tension of relations having
arisen at the close of the war between
Brazil and Portugal by reason of the
escape of the insurgent admiral DeGama
and his followers, the friendly offices
Of our representatives to those countries
were exerted for the protection of the
subjects of either within the territory OF
the other. :,
"A Although the government of Brazil
it'vas duly notified that the commercial
u arrangements existing between the
IcJnited 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
now in force, that government suDse-
auently notified us Of its intention to
terminate such arrangement on the !st
Jay of January, 1895. In the exercise
ef the right reserved in the agreement
between the two countries L invite at
tention to the correspondence between
the secretary of state and the Bra
lillian minister of this subject,
The commission organized unoer agree
uent which we had entered into with
Ch;I; for the settlement of the outstand-
ing claims of each government against
tbe other. adjourned at the end OF the
neriod stipulated for its continuance,
leaving undetermined a number OF amer
ican cases which had been duly presented
These claims are not barred ana negotl'
atiOns are in progress for tneir suonlio
sion to a new tribunal:
On the 18th of March last new treaty
with China in further regulation OF eml,
grafton was signed at Washington, and 6, on .
August 13 it received the sanction OF the
<Eenate. Ratification on the part OF
China and formal exchange are, awaited
to give effect to this mutually benehclal
/ convention. :eo,,,
- A gratifying recognition of the uniform
imnartiality of this country towards all
foreign states was manifested by the co,
incident request of the Chinese and Japan
ese governments that the government OF
the United States should within proper
limits afford protection to the subjects OF
the other during the suspension of diplo-
matic relations due to state OF war
This delicate Office was accepted and a
misapprehension. which gave rise TO the
belief that II affording this kindly, unoiil-
R,r;aI protection our agents would eNcf
y cisn rhe same authority which the with
a drawn agents of the brliigerents had eX;'
ercised. was promptly corrected. A.
though the war between China and Ia,
nan cndaneers no policy of the United
Stnfas If deserves our graycst consider