Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03
President Cleveland Advises Congress
as to National Affairs.
HE ADVOCATES THE POPGUN BILLS
Bonds Cannot Be Depended Upon
to Support the Gold Reserve.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM

TIC the Congress of the United States:
The assemblage within the nations legis-
lative halls OF those charged with the duty
OF making laws for the benefit of a gener-
Gus and free people impressively suggests
the exacting obligation and inexorable re-
sponsibility involved in their task. AT he
threshold Of such labor now to be under
taken by the Congress of the United States
and in the discharge of an executive duty
enjoined by the Constitution, submit this
Communication containing brief state
ment of the condition of our national af-
fairs and recommending such legislation as
seems to me necessary and cxpedient.
International Relations.
The history of our recent dealings with
other nations. and our peaceful relations
with them at this time, additionally dem
onstrate the advantage of consistently ad-
herring to firm but just foreign policy,
free from envious or ambitious national
schemes and characterized by entire hon
esty and sincerity.
During the past year. pursuant to a law
of Congress- commissioners were appointed
to the Antwerp Industrial exposition.
Though the participation of American ex-
hibitors fell far short of completely illus
trating our national ingenuity and indus
trial achievements, yet 1t was quite credit
able in view of the brief time allowed for
preparation.
have enieav,red to impress upon the
Belgian government the neel,essness and
po5Itivc harmfuiness of It's restrictions
upon the importation of certain Of our food
products. and have strongly urged that the
rigid supery ision and inspection under our
laws are amply sufficient TO prevent the
expectation from this country Of diseased
cattle and unwholesome meat.
af he .,i.- in,
Brazil has been followed by general preva-
lence of peace and order: 1t appearing at
an early stage Of the ins direction that its
course would call for unusual watchfulness
on the part of this government, our naval
force in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro was
strengthened. This precaution / am satis-
fled tended to restrict the issue to n simple
trial of strength between the Brazilian
government and the insurgents. and to
avert complications which ut times SEEM
ed imminent. Our firm attitude of neu-
trality was maintained to the end. The
insurgents received no announcement of
eventual asylum from our commanders,
and such opposition as they encountered
was for the protection of our commerce
and was clearly justified by public law.
A serious tension of relations having
arisen at the close of the war between
cape of the insursent admiral. Da Cana.
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.
Although the government of Brazil was
duly notified that the commercial arrange
ment existing between the United States
and that country, based on the third sec-
tion of the tariff ac. of 1890, was abro-
gated on August 2S, 1894. by the taking
effect Of the tariff law now in force that
government subsequently notified us of
its intention to terminate such arrange
ment on the lst day of January, 1885, In
the exercise Of the right reserved In the
agreement between the two countries.
1 invite attention to the correspondence
between the Secretary of State and the
Brazilian minister on this subject.
The commission organized under the con-
ventioD which we had entered into with
Chile for the settlement of the outstand-
ing claims of each government against
the other adjourned at the end of the Pc
riod stipulated for It's continuance, leav-
ing undetermined number of American
cases. which had been duly presented.
These claims are not barred and negotia-
tions are in progress for their submission
y a new tribunal.
As to China and Japan.
On the 18th of March last a new treaty
with China in further regulation OF emf
grafton was signed at Washington. and on
August 13 1t received the sanction Of the
Senate.
. Ratification on the part of China and
formal exchange are awaited to give effect
to this mutually beneficial convention.
A gratifying recognition of the uniform
fp1T toward
foreign states was manifested by the CO.
Incident request OF the Chinese and Japan
ese gSxernmentS that the agents of the
United states should, within proper limits,
afford protection to the subjects of the
other during the suspension of diplomatic
relations due to a state of war. This deli
cate office was accepted, and nisappre-
hension. which gave rise to the belief that
In anording this kindly unofficial protec-
ton our agents would exercise the same
authority which the withdrawn agents of
the beIligerents had exercised. was prompt
Iy corrected. Although the war between
China and Japan endangers no policy of
the United States, 1t deserves our gravest
consideration, by reason of its disturbance
of our growing commercial interests In the
two countries, and the increased dangers
which may result to our citizens domictled
or sotourning in the interior of China.
Acting under stipulation In our treaty
with Corea (the first concluded with
western power) 1 felt constrained at the
beginning OF the controversy TO tender our
good offices TO induce an amicable arrange
ment or the initial difficulty growing out Of
the japanese demands for administrative
reforms In Corea, but the unhappy pre-
cipitation OF actual hostilities defeated this
kindly purpose.
Deploring the destructive war between
the two most powerful of the eastern
nations, and anxious that our commercial
interests in those countries may be pre-
served. and that the safety of our citizens
there shall not be Jeopardized. 1 would not
hesitate to heed any intimation that our
friendly aid for the honorable termina ton
of hostilities would be acceptable to both
telligerents.
a convention has been finally concluded
for the settlement by arbitration of the
prolonged dispute with Ecuador. growing
out or the proceedings against Emilio
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