Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-12-08


ested in the construction and control of
an interoceanic canal by this route re
uuire the maintenance of the status quo
until the canal commission shall have
reported and the United States congress
shall have had the opportunity to pass
finally upon the whole matter during
the present session without prejudice
by reason of any change in the exist
ing conditions.
An Optional Concession.
Nevertheless 1t appears that the gov
ernment of Nicaragua, as one of it's
last sovereign acts before merging it's
powers in those of the newly formed
United States of Central America, has
granted an optional concession to an
other association, to become effective
on the expiration of the present gran.
1t does not appear what surveys have
been made or what route is proposed
under this contingent grant, so that an
examination of the feasibility of it's
plans is necessarily not embraced in the
report of the canal commission All
these circumstances suggest the urgen-
cy OF some definite action by the con-
| gress at this session if the labors of the
past are to be utilized and the linking
of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by a
practical waterway is to be realized
That the construction of such mari.
time highway is now more than ever in
| dispensable to that intimate and ready
| intercommunicatlon between our east
ern and western seaboards demanded
by the annexation of the Hawaiian Is
lands and the prospective expansion OF
our influence and commerce in the Pa
ciic and that our national policy now
more impera lively than ever calls for
it's control by this government are
propositions which | doubt not the con-
gress will duly appreciate and wisely
act upon.
The United States has not been an in.
different spectator of the extraordinary
events transpiring in the Chinese en-
pire, whereby portions of its maritime
provinces are passing under the con
troll of various European powers, but
the prospect of that vast commerce
which the energy of our citizens
and the necessity of our staple produc-
tions for Chinese uses has built up in
those regions may not be prejudiced
through any exclusive treatment by the
new occupants has obviated the need
of our country becoming an actor in
the scene.
An Equitable Claim.
Our position among nations, having a
large Pacific coast and a constantly ex-
panding trade with the farther orient,
gives us the equitable claim to consid-
Grafton and friendly treatment in this
regard and 1t will be my aim to sub
serve our large interests in that quarter
oy all means appropriate to the con-
slant policy of our government. The
territories of Kiaochau of Wei-Hai-
Wei and of Port Arthur and Talenwan
leased to Germany, Great Britain and
Russia respectively for terms of years.
WILL 1t is announced be open to inter-
national commerce during such alien
occupation, and If no discriminating
treatment of American citizens and
their trade be found to exist or be here
after developed the desire of this gov
ernment would appear to be realized.
Inc measures taken to protect Amer
leans in China are mentioned, and the
president then details the later aspects
of the Colombia Italian difficulty. Amer
lean representation at the Paris exposi-
ton is the next subject, and Commits
sioner Peck's work is detailed. The
president, after speaking of the COM
merclal arrangement with France and
the pending one with Germany, says:
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 represent
atiVes of Great Britain, who fulfilled
their delicate and arduous trust with
tact and zeal, eliciting high commenda-
tion. / may be allowed to make fitting
allusion to the instance of Mr. Rams
den. her majesty's consul at Santiago
de Cuba, whose untimely death after
distinguished service and .untiring eff
fort during the siege OF that city was
sincerely lamented.
1t Will give me especial satisfaction
If shall be authorized to communicate
to you favorable conclusion of the
pending negotiations with Great Britain
in respect to the Dominion of Canada
IT is the earnest wish of this govern
ment to remove all sources of discord
and irritation in our relations with the
neighboring Dominion. The trade be-
tween the two countries is constantly
increasing, and it is important to both
countries that all reasonable facilities
should be granted for it's development.
Annexation of Hawaii.
The annexation of Hawaii is now dis
cussed. The president says, after de-
failing the taking over of the islands
and the appointment of the Hawaiian
commission:
The commissioners having fulfilled
the mission confided to them, their re-
port will be laid before you at an early
day. 1t is believed that their recon-
mendations will have the earnest con-
sideration due to the magnitude of the
responsibility resting upon you to give
such shape to the relationship of those
mid-Pacific lands to our home Union as
will benefit both in the highest degree
realizing the aspirations of the COM
munity that has cast its lot with us
and elected to share our political her
itage, while at the same time justifying
the foresight of those who for three
quarters of a century have looked to
the assimilation of Hawaii as natural
and inevitable contamination, in har-
mony with our needs and in fulflment
of our cherished traditions
Under the provisions of the joint res
olution the existing customs relations