The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-22

1898. and provided for additional revenues
bv duties on wool and lumber and addi
tional duties on woolens and sugar. II ais,
inadc horizontal increase OF duties oyor
u dozen other schedules. In the senate Tho
finance committee reported substitute for
the Dill providing for the free coinage OF
geld and silver at the minis at the ratio
OF is to l. Thus the issue was made for
the approaching political campaign.
The house also passed bill providing for
mo sale OF bonds to secure gold to nrot act
The redemption fund of the treasury.
The foregoing are the matters of chief
interest OF financial nature since March
4. 1898; 'i"'sn
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The history made by the state DEPART
ment the past four years is evea srnre
dramatic than the financial legislation n,
congress or the Financial policy of the nd.
ministration. One Of the first acts of the
new president was to withdraw from the
senate the treaty of annexation negotiated
with tho revolutionary government of Ha.
wall. Mr.. Blount Of Georgia, was sent 10
the Islands with some sort of commits.
sion enjoining him TO make a special re.
port to the president. Acting on that re-
port, Mr.. Cleveland appointed the Hon, AL
bert Willis Of Kentucky the American re-
preventative at Honolulu, with instruc
tons to restore the deposed queen. Liliuo-
kalani to the throne on condition that she
agreed to pursue a certain line of policy.
rms she iiatly refused 10 do. and Mr.. Will
lis thenceforth dealt with the revolution
airy government. Spirited debates were
had in both houses of congress over the
matter, and at one time II seemed IA
though the Hawaiian question would be a
leading issue in the campaign of 1895.
The award of the Paris Tribunal, called
to adjudicate the dispute between the
United States and Great Britain over the
seal fisheries of Behring sea, was a diplo-
matte and legal victory for the latter coun-
try However, that is n matter for further
negotiation between the two nationalities.
Tho proposed subsidy TO the Maritime
company, Incorporated by Nicaragua for
the construction of canal across Central
America. whereby the waters of the East
and the West may be Joined, has been
before congress in one shape or other dur
ing tho whole of the administration, and
is likely TO be before congress during the
whole of the next administration.
During the past four years conventions
have been concluded with foreign States
adjusting various matters Of International
concern. such as the Venezuelan claims.
eNlradltion with Russia. universal postal
union. extradition with Norway, New
foundland postal agreement Mexican water
boundary. British sealing claims. agree
ment with Russia as to fur seals aud
others.
When congress convened in December,
1895. the president, in his annual message,
asserted the Monroe doctrine with force
ana vigor that none other OF the executives
had ooualed. The boundary dispute be-
tween Venezuela and British Guiana was
the text OF this phase OF the message. and
for many days there was grave apprehen-
SION OF war between the two great English
speaking people. Army and navy circles
were delighted. while stock exchanges were
IN gloom. Congress promptly passed a bill
creating the Venezuelan boundary commis-
sion. which held its meetings in Washing
ION ana collected n great mass OF testi-
mony bearing on the subject. The commits
sion is composed of very eminent citizens.
with one OF the justices Of the supreme
judiciary at its head. Fortunately the Brit
ish ministry recognized that the Monroe
doctrine so-caled. was the conception of
one of the most brilliant statesmen Eng
land ever produced. and Lord Salisbury
promptly agreed to arbitrate the dispute.
In March. 1896, after virulent debate,
the house of representatives adopted a
resolution censurlng Thomas f. Bayard.
American ambassador to the court of ST.
James, for public utterances of his in
England.
In June, 1895, the president issued a
proclamation announcing civil disturb
ances in the Island Of Cuba and declaring
tho neutrality Of the United States in the
struggle between the Cuban insurgents
and the Spanish crown, Since then Cuba
has been a fruitful theme of debate in
both houses Of congress but no definite
action has yet been had.
The state department has concluded a
convention with Great Britain whereby 4
is agreed to arbitrate the dis gree ment
over The boundary line between Alaska
and British Columbia This became a
matter of grave import when II was as
certainod that the title 10 Immense re-
gions of god-bearing territory was in
volved.
In January. 1896, congress expressed alb
horrence of the Armenian outrages, with
which the powers of Europe have had so
much diiii ulty in dealing, Perha-s he
most important work Of the stare depart
ment during the administration is the
treaty providing for general arbitration
of all international dispntes. neeotist d
with Great Britain, and now pending in
the senate. A great deal VIII be tcard
for and against it In the next few months.
The foregoing are the chief events with
which the state department has dealt
the past four years.