The Portland daily press., 1898-12-06

aces before merging it's powers IN those
y lne newly formed United StaIes OF
central America has granted an optional
concession to another association TO pc
come effective ON the expiration OF the
present grant It does not appear what
surveys have been made or what route
10 proposed under this contingent grant,
90 that an examination of the feasibility
OF It's plans is necessarily not embraced
ID the report of the canal commission.
All these circumstances suggest the
urgency of some definite action by the
cong resses at this session If the labors
OF the past are to be utilized and the link
ing of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by
a practical waterway is TO be realized
Ihat the construction of such a maritime
highway is now more than ever indis-
penSable to that intimate and ready in
accommodation between our eastern
and western seaboards demanded by the
annexation of the Hawaiian islands and
the prospective expansion of our inf1u-
ence and commerce in the Pacific, and
lnat our national policy now more i'm
perauvely than ever calls TO- its control
by this government, are propositions
which doubt not the congress will duly
appreciate and wisely act upon.
Inc United States has not been an in
olHerent spectator of the extraordinary
events transporting in the Chinese en-
plre, whereby portions of its maritime
provinces are passing under the control
OF various European powers; but the
prospect that the vast commerce winch
the necessity of our citizens and the
necessity of our staple productions Tor
chinese use has built up in those regions
may not be prejudiced through any ex-
elusive treatment by the new occupants
mas obviated the need of our country be-
coming an actor in the scene.
Meanwhile, there may be just ground
for disquietude in view of the unrest and
revival of the old sentiment of opposition
ana prejudice to an alien people which
pervades certain of the Chinese prov
inces- AS In the case of the attacks upon
our citizens in Szechuan and at Kutien
In 1885, the United States minister has
been instructed to secure the fullest
measure of protection for any menaced
american in this and to demand in case
OF laWless injury to person or property,
instant reparation appropriate to the
case.
Our relations with Great Britain have
continued on the most friendly footing.
Asserting to our request, the protection
Of Americans and their interests In
Spanish Jurisdiction was assumed by the
diplomatic and consular representatives
OF Great Britain, who fulfilled their de-
Acate and arduous trust with tact and
zeal, eliciting high commentator.
1t Will give me especial satisfaction II
1 snail be authorized to communicate to
you favorable conclusion of the pend
ing negotiations with Great Britain with
respect to the Dominion of Canada. 1t
is the earnest wish of this government
to remove all source of discord and ir-
ritation In our relations with the neigh
boring Dominion. The trade between
the two countries is constantly increas-
ing, and it is important to both coun-
tries that all reasonable facilities should
be granted for its development.
The question of reciprocical CONNER
cial relations with Greece. including the
restoration of currants to the free list,
Is under consideration.
Pending the consideration by the sem
ate of the treaty signed June 16, 1897, by
the plenipotentiaries of the United
States and of the republic of Hawaii.
providing for the annexation of the ISL
ands, a joint resolution to accomplish
the same purpose by accepting the Of
fered cession and Incorporating the
ceded territory into the union. was
adopted by the congress and approved
July Z, 1898. I thereupon directed the
U. S. S. Philadelphia to convey Rear
Admiral Miller to Honolulu, and in
II SlGu " Ills udllQS LILIES iii pOi Ietiit
legislative act, to be delivered to the
president of the republic of Hawaii. with
whom the admiral and the United States
minister were authorized to make APP
propriate arrangements for transferring
the sovereignty of the islands to the
United States. This was simply, but
inpressively, accomplished on Aug IL
last, by the delivery of a certified copy
of the resolution to President Dole, who
thereupon yielded ur to the representa-
tive of the government of the United
States the sovereignty and public prop
erty of the Hawaiian islands.
The attention Of congress is called to
the fact that our consular officers, hav-
ing ceased to exist in Hawaii, and being
about to cease in other countries coming
under the sovereignty of the United
States, the provisions for the relief and
TRANSFORMATION of destitute American
seamen in these countries under our con-
sular regulations will in consequer
terminate. 1t is proper, therefore. th..t
new legislation should be enacted upon
this subject in order to meet the changed
conditions.
The claims of owners Of American
sealing vessels foa seizures by Russian
cruisers in Behring sea are being pressed
to settlement
The newly accredited envoy of the
United States to the Ottoman porte car
ries instructions looking to the disposal
of matters in controversy with Turkey
for number of years. He is es-
pecially charged to press for just set
tlement of our claims for indemnity by
reason of the destruction of the prop
erty of American missionaries, resident
in that country during the Armenia
troubles of 1885, as well as for the rec
ognition of older claims OF equal just
ness.
After more than two years from the
appointment of a consul of this country
to Erzeroum, he has receiver ms exc
quater.
The commercial arrangement mace
with France on May rs, 1898. went into
effect on June following. It his renewed
portion of our export trade from serl-
Gus embarrassment Further negotla-
lions are now pending with view TO the
increase of trade between the two coun-
tries to their mutual advantage Ne
gotiations with other governments IN
part interrupted by the war with spar !,
are in progress under both sections OF
the tariff act.
Negotiations to the same end with Ter
many have been set on foot. Meanwhiie
no effort has been relaxed to convince
ILL.,