The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-05

Client body Of trained American seamen, the
promotion OF rapid and regular mail commu-
n~ication between the ports Of other countries
and our own md the adaptation OF large and
swift American steamships to naval uses In
time Of war are public purposes of the highest
concern. Tho enlarged participation OF our
people In the carrying trade, the new and in
creased market that will be opened for tho
products OF our farms and factories. and the
fuller and better employment OF our mechanics
will result from n liberal promotion OF our for
eign and insure the widest possible
diffusion OF benefits to all the States and TO all
our people,
In his second annual message Mr.. Harrison
repeated his previous recommendations with
regard to the development OF American steam
ship lines. He pointed out that the r~eciproc-
ity clause Of the Tariff bill THE Mckinley bill
will be largelylimited. and It's benefits retarded
and diminished. II provision is not contem-
poraneously made to encourage the establish
ment OF first. class steam communications be-
tween our ports and the ports OF such nations
as may meet our overtures for enlarged COM
mercial exchanges. The steamship carrying
the mails stately and frequently. and Offering
to passengers uncomfortable. safe and speedy
transit is the first condition OF foreign
trade. 1t carries the order OF the
buyer, but not all that Ia ordered
or bought. 1t gives to the sailing vessel
such cargoes "a are not urgent or perish
able, and. indirectly. at least. promotes that
important adjunct OF There Is now,
both in this country and in the nations OF Gem
trail and 30 nth America. a state OF expectation
and confidence as to increased trade that will
give a double value to your prompt action upon
this question" Elsewhere in the same message
wa rand. 'Thp South Atlantic md Gulf norta
occupy a very favored position toward the new
and important which the reciprocity
clause of the Tariff act and the Postal Shipping
bill are designed to promote. Steamship
lines from these ports to some northern
port Of South America will almost GER
tainIy effect a connection between the
railroad systems Of the continents long
before any continuous line of railroads
can be put into operation. The verv large ap-
preparation made at the last session for the
harbor OF Galveston was justified. as it seemed
to me. by these considerations. The great
Northwest will feel the advantage OF trunk
lines to tho South as we'll rs to the East and OF
the new markets opened for their surplus food
products and for many OF their manufactured
products In his third annual message. Mr..
Harrison had occasion to touch upon a ques-
ton which had already given our Executive
much trouble. although it was not to call forth
III MI " SUM- yNt'o W SOllC
Il should have been glad" he said. on Dec. l.
1891. Ito announce some favorable disposition
OF the boundary dispute between Great Britain
and Venezuela touching the western frontier
of British Guiana. but the friendly efforts of
the United States In that direction have
been thus far unavailing. This Govern
ment will continue to express its concern
at any appearance OF foreign encroachment on
territories long under the administrative con-
tsoI - Ar,ar;,nn Stntaa Tla jota rpat-otio ~ |
a disputed boundary is easily attainable by
amicable arbitration whore the rights Of the
respective parties rest. as here. on historic
facts readily ascertainable." In the same mes |
sage will be found a calm but firm reference
to the outrage committed in the streets OF VAL
paraiso on a number OF sailors belonging to the
United States steamship Baltimore. so far
as ! have yet been able to learn. no other ex-
PLANTATION of this bloody work has been suG-
gested than that 1t had its origin In hostility to
those men as sailors OF the United States. wear
ing the uniform Of their Government. and mott |
any individual act or personal animosity. The
attention OF the CHILEAN Government was at
once called to this affair. and a statement OF
the facts obtained by the investigation we had
conducted was submitted. accompanied by a
request to be advised Of any other or qualify |
ing facts in the possession OF the CHILEAN Gov |
eminent that might tend to relieve the affair
VI lie dpptdIuIlCco vi dh luSultI W Iui5 uoNcIH- |
ment. The CHILEAN Government was also ad-
vised that If such qualifying facts did not exist
this Government would confidently expect full
and prompt reparation. 1t Is to be regretted that
the reply Of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs
OF the Chilian Provisional Government was
couched in an offensive tone. To this no re-
spouse has been made. This Government is now
awaiting the result OF an Investigation which
has been conducted by the criminal court at
W. loo a. IA In N.f tD@ M a liz NIaN IA |
investigation Is about completed. and it is ex-
pected that the result will soon be communi-
Gated to this Government. together with some
adequate and satisfactory response to the note
by which the attention OF Chill was called to
this incident. II these Just expectations should
be disappointed or further needless delay
should intervene. l will by a special message
bring this matter again to the attention Of Con-
gress for such action as may be necessary"
1t was in this message that President Har-
rison suggested a constitutional amendment
defining the method OF choosing Presidential
electors. We can quote only a portion OF his ex-
tended remarks upon the subject: The meth
cd OF appointment by the States OF electors Of
President and Vice President has recently at
tracted renewed interest by reason OF q de-
parture by the State OF Michigan from the
method which had become uniform In all the
States. Prior to 1882. various methods had
been used by the Inherent states. and even by
the same State. In some. the choice was made
by the Legislature; in others. electors were
chosen by districts. but. more generally. by
the voters OF tho whole State upon a
general ticket. The movement toward the
adoption OF the last-named method had an
early beginning and won't steadily forward
among the States until. In 1882. there remained
but a single State South Carolina) that had not
adopted 1t. That state anil the civil war con-
tinued to choose 10 electors by a vote Of the
Legislature. but. after the wal. changed It's
methods and conformed to the practice OF the
other States. For nearly sixty years. all the
States save one huNs appointed their electors
by a popular vote upon a general ticket. and