Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-12-07

day:
To the Congress OF the United states:
The asscmhage within the nations Legislative
halls OF those charged with tie duty of making
laws for the benefit Of a generous aud free peo-
pie, impressiYeiy suggests the eXecting obliga-
tlon and ineNorablc responsibility involved In
their task. At TIE Threshold OF such labor now
20 De undertaken by the congress OF the United
States and iu tie discharge OF an executive duty
en Iined boy the stitution. | submit this com
mlnication containing brief statement OF the
condition Of orr national anuirs and recommend
Ing such legislation as seems 10 necessary
and expcdeut.
Our Foreign Relations.
The history OF recent dealings with other
nations and our peaceful relations with them at
this time additionally demonstrate the advantage
or consistently adherlng to nrm but Just for
eign policy. free from snvious or ambitious
tional schemes and characterized by entire hon
esty and sincerity
During the past year, pursuant to law OF
Grsss, commissioners were appointed to the Ant
w"rp industrial exposition. Though the partici-
patton Of American exhibitors fell far short Of
completely illustrating national ingenuity
and Industrial achievements yet IL was quite
cresitable in view OF the brief time allowed for
preparation.
! have endeayored 20 impress upon the Bel
gisn government the nCedessness and positive
harmfulness of its restrictions upon the iuporta
tion Of certain OF food products, and have
strongly urged that the rigid supervision and
Inspection under our laws are amply sufficient
10 prevent the expectation from this country Of
diseased cattle and unwholesome meat.
The termination OF the civil VI Brazil
has been followed by the general prevalence
or peace and order. II appearing az early
stage of the insurrection that its course would
cell for unusual watchfulness on the part Of
this government, our naval force In the harbor
Of Rio de Janelro strengthened. This pre-
caution, / satisfied, tended 10 restrict the
10 friI al ff str not ltfKy fha
Brazilian government and the insurgents and 20
avert complications which times seemed
Imminent. Our firm attitude OF neutrality was
maintained 10 the end. The Insurgents received
no encouragement ~ eventual asylum from our
commanders and such opposition as they
couhtcred was for the protection ~ our COM
nerce and was fully justified 10y public law.
serious tension OF relations having arisen
81 the close of the war between Brazil and
Portugal, by reason OF the escape Of the in
suryeat admiral. Ia Cana, and his followers
the friendly Offices Of representatives TO
those countries were exerted for the protection
or the subjects Of either within tie territory
Of the other
Although the government OF Brazil was duly
notified that the commercial arr, ngement e1-
listing between the United states and that coun-
try based on the third section OF the tarn act
OF 1890 was abrogsted Aug. %. 1894 by
the taking erect OF the tariff law now IN force.
that government subsequently notified US Of its
attention 70 terminate such arrangement on the
exercise
rght reserved In the agreement between the
two countries. | invite attention 20 the CORE.
spondenee between the secretary OF state and
the Brazilian minister on this subject.
The commission organized under the
csn which had entered into with Chill! FOR
the settlement OF outstanding claims OF each
government against the other, adjourned al the
tnd OF the period stipulated for its continu-
hnce, leaving undetermined a number OF Ameri-
can cases which had been duly presented These
~ air
progress for their submission 10 a tribunal
The 18th OF March last the new treaty with
China, In further regulation. was signed at
Washington. on Aug ~ IL received the sanction
Of the senate. Ratification on the part Of China
and formal exchange are awaited 10 give effect
70 this mutually beneficial convention.
China and Japan.
gratifying recognition Of the uniform I'm.
Partially OF this country towards all foreign
states manifested by the coincident re.
quests OF the Chinese and japanese governments
that the agents OF the United Ststes should
within proper limits AFFORD protection 10 the
subjects Of each during the suspension Of diplo-
matte relations due TO a state of war This
delicate Office was accepted. aud a misapprehen-
sion which gave rise 20 the belief that iu Afford
Ing this kindly unofficial protection our agents
would exercise the same authority which the
Withdrawn agents 81 the bel igerents had exer.
CIsed, was promptly corrected. Although the
war between China and japan enlangers no
policy Of the United states II deserves our
gravest considerable by reason ~ It's disturb
Ence Of our growing con Heryal irf trests in the
two countries and te irc.eg.ei dangers wAi-l
may result TO our citizens donTcied or so'ourn.
ing In the interior OF China. Acting under
stipulation IN treaty with Corea ( the arst
concluded with Western power ! felt con.
strained at the beginning Of the controversy TO
tender good ofnces TO induce an smicable
arrangement OF the initial difficulty growing out
OF the Japanese demands for administrative re-
forms in Corea but the unhappy precipitation
Of actual hostiities defeated this kindly sur-
pose.
Deplorng the destructive war between tho
two powerful Of the Eastern nations and
snNiOus that our commercial interests In those
countries may be preserved and that the safety
OF citizens there shall not be ieopardized. I
would not hesitate to heed any intimation that
our friendly aid for the honorable termination
OF hostilities would be acceptable TO both bell
ligerents
A convention has been finally concluded for the
settlement by arbitration Of the prolonged dis
pute with Ecuador, growing out OF the proceed
ings against Emile Santos. naturalled citizen
OF the United states.
Our relation with the republic OF France
tinue TO be such AS should exist between nations
long bound together by friendly sympathy
and similarity In their form OF government The
recent cruel assassination OF the president IT
this sister republic called forth such universal
expressions Of sorrow and coincidence from our
the depth and sincerity OF our attachment. The
resolutions passed by the senate and house ~
representatives on the occasion, have been COM
municated 20 the widow Of President Canot.
Differences with Germany.
Acting on the reported discovery OF Texas Re-
yer in cargoss OF American cattle, the German
prohibition against importations Of live stock
and fresh meats from this country has been roe
vived II 10 hoped that Germany will he-
come convinced that the prohibition is AS need
less as II is harmful 10 mutual interests.
The German government has protested against
that provision Of the customs tariff act which
poses a discriminating duty OF one-tenth OF l
cent a pound sugar. coming from countries
paying an export bounty thereon claiming that
the eKactiOa Of such q duty II In contraventioa
OF Articles and TX Of the treaty OF 1928 with
Prussia. Ia the interests OF the commerce of
both countries and 10 avoid even the accusation
Of treaty violation. I recommend the repeal OF so
much of the statute a. imposes that duty, and
invite attention to the accompanying report of