New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

cor.rol of the Nicaragua Canal to the United
States and reciprocity treaties with Spain and
Santo Domingo. Mr. Cleveland was opposed TO
Government aid 20 the Nicaragua Canal, and
be opposed reciprocity on the alleged ground
tina, free admission Of West lndla sugar con-
templated too large a reduction OF the revenue.
Hostility 10 American shipping interests was
manifested early in the year by secretary
Villas who refused TO apply the appropriation or
100000 made al tho last session toward en-
courag.ng American steamers 10 carry the for
eign mails on the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere
Mr. Villas sent for the representatives OF the
American steamship lines and tried TO eXtort
from them confession that lobby and money
had been used to secure The appropriation HIS
imputatiOns were Indignantly denied. Failing
70 secure a scrap Of proof, he then resolved TO
take the responsibility. He offered TO pay the
sea and inland hostages, a compensation so alb
surdly inadequate that no steamship line would
accept it, Several lines withdrew the privileges
OF their steamers from the Government
Another incident was the discovery early IN
the summer Of 1885, that Mr. Garland. the new
Attorney General, had used the facilities OF MS
Office 10 gain an advantage for telephone COM
pany in which he was a stakeholder, IN lts con-
test with the Bell telephone. Congressional
Investigation Of this took place the following
winter. which failed TO prove the Attorney-Gen-
erals innocence.
THE DEMOCRATIC POLICY
The XLIXth Congress met for its first ses-
sion December l. 1855. adjourning August s.,
1856 II was thus made up:
Senate-Republicans, A.: Democrats, "a.
Total. IT.
House-John G. Carlisle. Of Kentucky DEM.
Speaker Republicans, 140 Democrats, lS3;
Greenback Labor, = Total, 32o.
President Cleveland's Message to this Con-
gress, his first, remarkable for its difuse-
ness length, the vague commonplace which
hid his meaning in many cases in fog OF long
words. and the indefniteness of its statements
OF the Presidents position on many important
public topics. The President reported that he
had withdrawn from the Senate several com
mercal treaties, and especially a treaty with
Nicaragua, negotiated under President Arthur,
for the construction of an interoceanic canal
under the control and at the expense OF the
United States The Nicaragua treaty he should
withhold. he did not believe in the acquisition
Of foreign territory The canal, when built,
must be open to all nations Sngularly. the
President fit to commend the Tehuantepec
Route for canal in his remarks on this sub
ject AS for the reciprocity treaties with Spain
and SantO Domingo, based on mutual exefnp-
tion Of certain classes of goods from customs
duties. he declared that they contemplated, by
the free admission of West India sugar. too
large reduction in the revenue. The Presi-
dent alluded 10 the riots Of 1SS5 in the West
against the Chinese: he declared that all the
power Of the Government would be employed
70 maintain faith with China under the treaties
remedial measures which Congress should sub
NIT to him. Attention was called to the fact
that the laws made no provision for an Ameri-
can renouncinS his citizenship; even fraudu-
lent naturalization could not be cancelled.
There should be law defining the right Of
alien dOnlicile in the United States. The Presi-
dent reported that under the act of June 70,
1874, removing certain burdens American
shipping, Belgium, Denmark. Germany, Portu
ga Sweden and Norway had asked for the
same privilege under the most fovCIed nation
treaties This claim had far been refused.
The president asked for larger compensation
for diplomatic officers abroad He reported a
surplus OF $63 4t3 0pO in the Treasury and
asked for reduction in the rates of duty,
taxes which were Indirectly paid by the pco-
pie" the reduction however 10 protect the
interests Of labor He also asked for lower
duty on the work Of Ann rican artists abroad
An extraordinary omission occurred in this
part Of the Message; the President was silent
concerning the fact that the report Of the Score
starry OF The Treasury estimated that there would
b. d deficiency Of $24 100000 in the revenues Of
The current fiscal year. With reference to silver
the President said that S21J, 1J9, 600 OF standard
silver dollars had been coined u which only $50
10000 were in circulation. Fearful that the
country would be placed under silver standard
the people were already boarding gold There
was now enough silver coin. he said to supply
The needs u the people and he paid unex-
pected tribute 70 Republican administrations by
saying that the silver dollars had been main
tanned az par only by careful management and
unusual eXpedientS" aided by fortunate cOndl-
uons ana a confidence that the course Of the
Government would be- changed. Fifty-eight per
cent 81 the customs were in 1SS., being paid In
silver ana popular distress was making itself
manifest. The President recommended suspen-
SION OF the compulsory coinage Of silver. The
fteshent favored an Increase Of the Navy He
declared mat the action Of Secretary Whitney
concerning The Dolphin had met with his appro-
patton. az well as the action Of Secretary Villas
~ Islushs 10 contract. under the law OF Con-
60, 10Y carrying the foreign mails. The Presi-
~ - ASKED repeal II certain land laws. He said
ma arg quantity II public land had gone
n.'D me hands 81 large holders and the available
puDnc CONAN was disappearing He favored