The bee., 1898-12-08
Lengthy and Weghty Document Strong and
Statesmanlike Dealing with the War and it's
! Victory and the Mighty Questions that Con
front the Country.

change of messages over connecting cables
may be regulated on a fair basis of uni
formity. The world has seen the postal
system developed from incongruous indie
pendent and exclusive service into a we'll
ordered union, of which all countries find
the manifold benefits. It would be strange
were the nations not in time brought to
realize that modern civilization, which
owes so much of its progress to the an
Inhalation of space by the electric force,
demands that this all-important means of
communication, heritage of all peoples,
be administered and regulated in their
common behalf. A. step In this direction
was taken when the International con-
vention of 1884, for the protection Of sub
marine cables, was signed and the day
is, i trust, not far distant when this
medium for the transmission of thought
from land to land may be brought within
the domain of international concert as
completely as in the material carriage of
commerce. and correspondence upon the
face of the waters that divide them.
THE PAGE CLAIM ADJUSTED.
The claim of Thomas Jefferson Page
against Argentina, which has been pend
Ing many years, has been adjusted. The
sum awarded by the congress of Argen-
tina was N,2l2.35.
WITH AUSTRIA-HUN-
GARY.
The sympathy of the American people
has justly been offered to the ruler and
the people of Austria Hungary by reason
him in the assassination OF the empress
queen of that historic realm.
On the 10th of September 1891, a con-
flict took place at Latimer, Pa, between
a body of striking miners and the sheriff
of LuZernc county and his deputies. in
which % miners were killed and A wound
ed, of which ten of the killed and Y of
garian subjects. This deplorable event
aroused the solictude of the
government, which, on
nd
wounding involved the upjustihable mis-
use of authority, claimed reparation for
the sufferers. Apart from the searching
on the of ac tSe
federal executive took appropriate steps
to learn the merits of the case, in order
of friendly power. The sher-
in and his deputies, having been indicted
for murder, were tried and acquitted af-
ing of hundreds of witnesses, on the
ground that the killing was In the line of
their official duty to uphold law and pre-
sentative of the department OF justice at
tended the trials and reported its course
fully. With all the facts in its posses
tns expects To 10 rea Sac
with that of Austria Hungary. notwlth-
standing the renewed claim of the lat
for indemnity for its injured subjects.
Despite the brief time allotted for prep
aration, tAe exhibits of this country at
the universal exposition at Brussels, in
1897, enjoyed the singular distinction of a
gard to the number and classes of arti-
cles entered, than those of other coun-
tries. The worth Of such a result In
supply the worlds markets is obvious.
Exhibitions of this international charac-
ter are becoming more frequent as the ex-
changes of commercial countries grow
more intimate and varied. Hardly year
passes that this government is not in
vited to national participation at some
shdrt notce To- permt Of reco UIsen 20 on co ooo
gress for the power and means to do so.
My predecessors have suggested the adj
visibility of providing, by a general enact
accepting such invitations and for rep
resentatiOn of this country by commits
sion. This plan has my cordial approval.
BELGIAN RESTRICTION ON AMERI-
CAN CATTLE.
1 trust the Belgian restriction on the
importations of cattle from the United
States, originally adopted as q sanitary
will at an early date be salts
hardship and discrimination so as to adj
NIT live cattle under due regulation OF
their slaughter after landing. l am hope
full, too, of favorable change in the Bel
gian treatment of our preserved and salt
ed meats. The growth OF direct trade be-
tween the two countries, not alone for
Belgian consumption and Belgian prod
ucts. but by way of transit from and to
other continental states, has been both
encouraging and beneficial. No effort will
be spared to enlarge its advantages by
seeking the removal Of needless impede
ments, and by arrangements for increased
exchanges.
EVENTS IN CENTRAL AMERICA.
The years events in Central America
deserve more than passing mention.
A menaclng rupture between Costa
Rica and Nicaragua was happily COM
posed by the signature of a convention
between the parties. with the concur
renee of the Guatemalean representative
as mediator the act being negotiated
and signed on board the United States
steamship Alert, then lying in Central
American waters. 1t is believed that the
of that vessel contributed towards this
outcome.
In my last annual message the situa-
ton was presented with respect to the
diplomatic representation of this govern
ment in Central America, created by the
association of Nicaragua, Honduras and
Republic of Central America, and the
delegation of their international func-
lions to the diet thereof. While the repre-
sentative character of the diet was rec
ognized by my predecessor, and has been
confirmed during my administration by
receiving its accredited envoy and grant
under its authority, that reorganization
was qualified by the distinct understand
ing that the responsibility Of each of the
the United States remained wholly UNI
affected.
A NEEDFUL PRoVISo.
This proviso was needful, inasmuch as
the compact of the three republics was,
at the outset, an association whereby
delegated TO a tripartlte commission
rather than a federation possessing CEN
tralized powers Of government and adj
ton and the relation of the United
States to the several republics, a change
in the representation of this country In
central central America ,s was neither recon.
congress, thus leaving one OF our ENJOYS
accredited as heretofore separately to
two states of the Greater Republic. Me
state, Costa Rica, which was not a party
TO the compact while our other envoy
was similarly. accredited to the union
state of Guatemala. The result has been
that one has presented credentials only
to the president OF Costa Rica, the other
ment of Guatemala.
UNITED STATES OF CENTRAL
AMERICA.
Subsequently the three associated repub-
lies entered into negotiations for making
the steps forecast in the original compact.
for them a federal constitution under the
name of the United States of Central
America, and provided for a central fed
eral government and legislature. Upon
ratification by the constituent states, the
list OF November last was fixed for the
new system to go into operation. Within
a few weeks afterwards the plan was Sc
verely tested by revolutionary movements
arising, with consequent demand for
unity of action on the part of the mill
tary power of the federal states to sup
press them. Under this strain the new
union seems to have been weakened
through the withdrawal OF It's more Inn
portant members. This government was
not officially advised of the installation
of the federation, and has maintained an
attitude of friendly expectancy, while In
no wise relinquishing the position held
from the outset that the responsibilities
of the several states toward us remained
unaltered by their tentative relations
among themselves.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The Nicaragua canal commission. under
the craftsmanship of Rear-Admiral John
@. Walker. appointed July "a, 1897, under
the authority OF provision In the sun
dry civil act of June 4 OF that year, has
nearly completed its labors, and the re-
suits of its exhaustive inquiry into the
proper route, the feasibility and the cost
of construction Of an inter-oceanic canal
by a Nicaraguan route will be laid before
you. the performance OF Its task the
commis.- n received all possible courtesy
and assistance from the governments OF