St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Continued from 9th Page.

provinces are passing under the control
sr vaiious european powers; but the
prospect that the vast commerce wbioh
the necessity of our citizens and the
Necessity of our staple productions for
ohinese use has built up in those regions
may not be prejudiced through any ex-
SSiuslve treatment by the new occupants
nas opVlated the need of our country be-
coming an actor In the scene.
fo msstanwhlie, there may be just ground
" uiSquletude In view of the unrest nd
.ev ~ VI the old sentiment of opposition
anu prejudice to an alien people which
perVades certain Of the Chinese nrov.
inces. AS In the case of the attaciks ,,,on
our citizens In Szechuan and at Kntien
~ 1850, the United States minister h % g
oeen instructed to secure the fullest
aie"sure OF protection for any menaced
n nii ,e IN this and to demand in case
y, .aMiess injury to person or propertv
case. oPiiote 10 the
oo 0ur relations with Great Britain have
Assa,'tis on the most friendly footing.
80 70 our request, the protection
.,iu,' LEANS and their interests in
spanish jurisdiction was assumed nv, ttn
diplomatic and consular representotivaa
OF Great Britain, who fulflled thair AZ
licate and arduous trust With Tat M
zeal, ellcitlng high commentator
IL VIII give me especial satisfa ctio, ~
l snail be authorized to communicate
you favorable conclusion of the nend-
ing negotiations with Great Britain with
respect to the Dominion of Canada II
Is the earnest wish of this government
10 remove all source Of dscord and ir
rltation In our relations with the neigh
Doring Dominion. The trade between
the TWO countries Is constantly increas
ing, ana 1t Is important to both coun-
tries that all reasonable facilities should
De granted for its development.
me question of reciproccal CONNER
cial relations with Greece. including the
restoration of currants to the free list
is under consideration.
Pending the consideration by the SEN
ate OF the treaty signed June 49, 1897. by
the plenipotentiaries Of the United
States and of the republic Of Hawaii,
providing for the annexation of the isl.
ands, joint resolution to accomplish
the same purpose by accepting the Of
Tered cesslon and incorporating the
ceded territory into the union. was
adopted by the congress and approved
July Z, 1898. l thereupon directed the
U. S. S. Philadelphia to convey Rear
Admiral Miller to Honolulu and in
trusted to his hands this important
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 an
propriate arrangements for transferring
the sovereignty of the islands to the
United States. This was simply, but
impressively, accomplished on Aug. 10
last, by the delivery of a certified COPY
OF the resolution to President Dole. who
thereupon yielded up 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, hay-
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
transportation of destitute American
seamen in these countries under our con-
sular regulations will in consequence
terminate. II is prcner therefn-a that
new legislation should be enacted upon
this subject in order to meet the changed
conditions.
The claims of owners of American
sealing vessels foa seizure, 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-
pecialy charged to press for just set
Element 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 1895, as well as for the rec
ognition of older claims Of equal just
ness.
After more than two years from the
appointment of consul Of this country
to Erzeroum, he has receiver his exc
quater.
The commercial arrangement made
with France on May 2S. 1898. went into
effect on June following. 1t his relieved
n portion of our export trade from seri-
Gus embarrassment. Further negotia-
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 Spain,
are in progress under both sections of
the tariff act.
Negotiations to the same end with Ger
many have been set on foot. Meanwhile
no effort has been relaxed to convince
the imperial government of the thor
oughness of our inspection of pork prod
ucts for expectation and it is trusted that
the efficient administration of this meas
ure by the department of agriculture will
be recognized as guarantee of the
healthfulness of the food staples we send
abroad to countries where their use is
arge and necessary.
The experiences of the last year bring
forcibly home to us sense of the bur-
1ens and the waste of war. We desire
In common with most civilized nations.
10 reduce to the lowest possible point the
damage sustained in time of war by
peaceful trade and commerce. It should
be our object to minimize so far as prac-
licable this inevitable loss and disturb
ance. This purpose can probably best
be accomplished by an international
agreement to regard all private property
1T sea as exempt from capture or de-
by the forces Of beligerent
powers.
The secretary of the treasury reports
nat the receipts of the government from
all sources during the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1898, including s64,751,2 1923 re-