The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-12-09

annual message.
Having been invited BY Belgium 10
participate in q congress held 1T Brus-
sells, to revise tie provisions of the
general act of July 2, 1890, for the re-
precision OF the African slave trade. to
which the United States was a sigma
tory party, this government pre-
ferred not to be represented by a
plenipotentiary, but reserved the right
OF accession to the result. Notable
changes were made, those especially
concerning this country being in the
line of the increased restriction of
the %deleterious trade in spirituous
liquors with the native tribes, which
this government has from the outset
urgently advocated. The amended
general act will be laid before the
senate, with a view to its advice and
consent.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The contract of the Maritime Canal
company, of Nicaragua, was declared
forfeited by the N~icaragunn govern
ment o the 10th of October, on the
ground of non-fulfllment within the
ten years term stipulated in the con-
tract. The Maritime Canal company
has lodged a protest against this nc
ton, alleging rights in the premises,
which appear worthy of considerations.
This government expects that Near
aqua will afford the protestunts a full
and fair hearing upon the merits OF
the case.
The Nicaragua canal commission
which had been engaged upon the
work of examination and survey for a
| chin canal r.nYtn rn,pv. e. N:op, ., ~.
having completed It's labors and
made its report, was dissolved
on May 81, and on June 10,
a new commission, known as
the Isthmian canal commission.
was organized under the terms of the
act approved March 3, 1899, for the
purpose of examining the American
isthmus with a view to determining
the most practicable and feasible
route for n ship canal across that 18TH
mus, with ITS probable cost, and other
essential details. =
dency of Rear Admiral John G.. Walk
er, U. S. N. (retired), entered prompt
ly upon the work intrusted to it, and
is now carrying on examinations in
Nicaragua along the route Of the Pan
sAASe Az II III bu1l l1Olt III !
lantic, in the neighborhood of the At
ratio river, to the bay of Panama, on
the Pacific side. Good progress hns
been made, but under the law a COM
prehensive and complete investigation
is called for, which will require much
labor and considerable time for its
accomplishment. The work will be
prosecuted as eNpeditiously as posi-
bic and a report made at the earliest
practicable date.
The great Importance of this work
cannot be too often or too strongly
pressed upon the attention of the con-
gress. In my message of a year ago.
l expressed my views of the necessity
of a canal which would link the two
great oceans, to which | again invite
your consideration. The reasons then
presented for early action are even
stronger now.
Relations with Chile.~
r. pleasing incident in the relations
of this government with that of Chile
occurred in the generous assistance
given to the warship Newark when
in distress in Chilean waters. Not
alone in this way has the friendly dis
position of Chile found expression.
That country has acceded to the con-
v~ention for the establishment of the
bureau of the American republics, in
which organization every independent
state of the continent now shares.
The exchange of ratifications of n
convention for the revival of the Unit
ed States and Chilean claims commits
sion and for the adjudication of
claims heretofore presented but not
determined during the life Of the pre-
vious commission has been delayed
by reason of the necessity for fresh
action by the Chilean senate upon the
amendments attached to the ratifica-
ton of the treaty by the United States
senate. This formality is soon to be
accomplished.
Uncle Sam aud China.
In view of disturbances in the popu-
lous provinces of northern China,
where are many of u citizens, and
of the imminence of disorder near the
capital and toward the %seaboard, a,
guard of marines was landed from
the Boston and stationed during last
winter in the legation compound at
Picking. With the restoration of order
this protection was withdrawn.
The interests of our citizens in that
vast empire have not been neglected
during the past year. Adequate pro-
lection has been secured for our mis-
sionaries and some injuries to their
property have been redressed.
American capital has sought and
found various opportunities of COM
peting to carry out the internal inn
provements which the imperial gov
eminent is wisely encouraging, and to
develop the natural of the
empire. Our trade with China has con-
tinued to grow, and our commercial
rights under existing treaties have
been everywhere maintained during
the past year, as they will be in the
future.
The extension of the area open to
international foreign settlement at
Shanghai and the opening of the ports
of Marking, Tsing-Tao (Kiao Chao)
and Ta-Lien-Wan to foreign trade
and settlement will doubtless afford
American enterprise additional facil-
tiles and c fields, of which it will
not be slow to take advantage.
In my message to congress of De-
cember 5, 1898, | urged that the rec
ommendation which had been made to
the speaker of. the house of represent
atives by the secretary of the treasury
on the 14th of June, 1893, for an APP
preparation for a commission to study
the commercial and industrial condi-
tons in the Chinese empire and report
as to the opportunities for, and OBJ
%stacles to, the engagements of mar
kets in China for the raw products
and manufactures of the United
States, should receive at your hands
the consideration which its import
ance and timeliness merited, but the
congress failed to take action.
now renew this recommendation,
as the importance of the subject has
steadily grown since it was first sub
mitted to you, and no time should be
lost in studying for ourselves the re-
sources OF this great field for Amer.
lean trade and enterprise.
Controversies With Canada.
In my last annual message I referred,
70, the pending negotiations with Great
Britain In respect to the Dominion Of
Canada. BY means OF an executive agree
ment g Joint high commission has been