The free press., 1895-12-19
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Mr.. Cleveland Reviews the AZ
fairs of the Country.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONGRESS-

Lengthy Statement of the Financial Sit
nation -Grecnbacks Only a Makeshift
and Should Be Retired-This Country
viii Insist That the Venezuelan Dispute
shall Be Submitted to Arbitration.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1895.
Message to the Congress Of the United
States:
The present assemblage of the legisla.
tive branch of our government occurs at
time when the interests of our people
and the needs of the country give es.
pecial prominence to the condition OF
our foreign relations and the exigencies
of our national finances. The reports of
the heads of the several administrative
departments of the government fully
and plainly exhibit what has been &C.
c0mplished within the score of their re.
spective duties and present each recon-.
mendations for the betterment of our
country's condition as patriotic and in.
te|iigent labor and observation suggest.
therefore deem my executive duty
adequately performed at this time by
presenting to the congress the import.
mt phases of our situation as related to
our intercourse with foreign nations,
and a statement of the financial prob.
lem which confronts us, emitting, ex-
cept as they are related to these topics.
any reference to department operations.
earnestly invite, however, not only
the careful consideration but the Sc.
verely critical scrutiny of the congress
and my fellow countrymen to the re-
ports concerning these departmental
operations, If justly and fairly exam.
ined they will furnish proof Of assidu-
Gus and painstaken care for the public
welfare, I press the recommendations
the contain upon the respectful attention
Of those charged with the duty of leg
islation, because believe their adop.
tien would promote the peoples good.
By amendatory tariff legislation in
January last, the Argentine republic.
recognizing the value of the large mar
ket opened to the free importation of
Its woods under our last tariff act, has
admitted certain products of the United
States to entry at reduced duties. 1t is
pleasing to note that the efforts we have
made to enlarge the exchanges of trade
on sound basis of mutual benefit are
In this instance appreciated by the coun-
try from which our woolen factories
draw their needful supply Of raw ma
erial.
Argentine Boundary Dispute.
The missions boundary dispute be-
tween the Argentine republic and Bra
| I'll, referred to the president of the
United States as arbitrator during the
term Of my predecessor, and which was
submitted to me for determination, re-
suited in all award in favor of Brazil
upon the historical and documentary
evidence presented, thus ending a long
protected controversy and again demon
strating tho wisdom and desirability of
settling international boundary disputes
BY recourse TO friendly arbitration. Ne
gotiations are progressing for revival
Of the United States and Chilian claims
commission, whose work was abruptly
terminated last year by the expiration
Of the stipulated time within which
awards could be made.
The resumption of specie payments
BY Chill is step Of great interest and
Importance both in its direct conse.
quences upon her own welfare and as
evincing the ascendancy of sound tinan.
clal principles in one of the most infiu.
ential of the South American republics.
The Chinese-Japanese War.
The close of the momentous struggle
between China and Japan, while reliev.
ing the diplomatic agents of this govern
ment from the delicate duty they un.
dertook at the request of both countries,
Of rendering such service to the sub
jects of either belligerent with the
territorial limits of each other as
our neutral position permitted, de-
veloped domestic condition in
the Chinese empire, which has
caused much anxiety and called for
prompt and careful attention. Either
asa result of weak control by the CEN
nal government over the provincial ad-
Illustrations, following diminutlon
Of traditional governmental authority
under the stress of an overwhelming
national disaster or as a manifestation
upon good opportunity of the aversion
Of the Chinese population to all foreign
ways and undertakings, there have oc.
cured in widely separated provinces OF
Chlna, serious outbreaks of the old fanat'
zeal spirit against foreigners, which,
unchecked by the local authorities, II
not actually connived at by them, have
resulted in mob attacks on foeign mis-
nonary stations, causing much destruc'
non of property, and attended with per-
sonal injuries as well as loss of life
Although but one American citizen
was reported to have been actually
wounded, and although the destruction
Of property may have fallen more heav-
ny upon the missionaries of other ma
honalities than our own, it plainly be-
hoved this government to take the most
prompt and decided action to guard
against similar or perhaps more dread.
ful calamities Detailing the hundreds OF
American mission stations which have
grown up throughout the interior OF
China under the temperate rule OF toll
eration, custom and imperial edict. The
demands of the United Statas and other
powers for the degradation and punish
ment of the responsible officials OF the
/ respective cities and provinces, who by
Neglect or otherwise had permitted up
nsings, and for the adoption OF stern
/ measures by the emperor's government
f. = u =