Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-12-09
The Presidents Message.
Continued

CIT ieSIsldtureS OF civilized countries
attending. 1t was provided that the
next meeting should be in 1904 at st.
Louis, subject to our congress extend
ing an invitation. Like The Hague
tribunal, this interparliamentary union
is one Of the forces tending toward
peace among the nations of the earth,
and it is entitled to our support.
trust the invitation can be extended.
Early In July, having received intel
ligence, which happily turned out to be
erroneous, Of the assassination Of our
vice consul at Beirut. dispatched a
small squadron to that port for such
service as might be found necessary on
arrival. Although the attempt on the
life of our vice consul had not been
successful, yet the outrage was symp-
tomato of state of excitement and
disorder which demanded immediate
attention. The arrival of the vessels
had the happiest result. A feeling of
security at once took the place Of the
former alarm and disquiet. Our Off
GERS were cordially welcomed by the
consular body and the leading mer
chants. and ordinary business resumed
its activity. The government Of the
sultan gave a considerate hearing to
the representations of our minister; the
official who was regarded as RESPONSE
BILE for the disturbed condition of af
fairs was removed. Our relations with
the Turkish government remain friend
ly. Our claims founded on inequitable
treatment Of some of our schools and
missions appear to be In process of
amicable adjustment.
The signing of new commercial
treaty with China, which took place at
Shanghai on the 9Th of October. is a
cause for satisfaction. This act, the
result of long discussion and negotia-
ton, places our commercial relations
with the great oriental empire on a
more satisfactory footing than they
have ever heretofore enjoyed. 1t pro-
vides not only for the ordinary rights
and privileges of diplomatic and con-
sular officers. but also for an important
extension of our commerce by increas-
ed facility of access to Chinese ports
and for the relief of trade by the re-
moval Of some of the obstacles which
have embarrassed it in the past.
l trust that the congress will con-
tinue to favor in all proper ways the
Louisiana Purchase exposition. This
exposition commentaries the LOuisi-
ana purchase. which was the first great
step in the expansion which made us a
continental nation. The expedition of
Lewis and Clark across the continent
followed thereon and marked the be-
ginning of the process of eXplora ton
and colonization which thrust our ma
tiOnal boundaries to the Pacific.
The acquisition of the Oregon coun-
try. including the present states of
Oregon and Washington. was Il fact of
immense Importance in our history,
first giving us our place on the Pacific
seabOard and making ready the way
for our ascendency in the commerce
of the greatest OF the oceans. The'ce
tennial of our establishment upon the
western coast by the expedition of
Lewis and Clark is to be celebrated at
Portland Ore. by an exposition in the
summer of 1905. and this event should
receive recognition and support from
the national government.
l call your special attention to the
territory of Alaska. The country is
developing rapidly. and it has an as
sured future. The mineral wealth is
great and has as yet hardly been tap
ped. The fisheries. if wisely handled
and kept under national control, will
be business as permanent as any 9th
er and of the utmost Importance to the
people. The forests. if properly guard
ed, will form another great source of
wealth. Portions of Alaska are fitted
for farming and stock raising, although
the methods mus be adapted to the
Proper land laws should be enacted
and the survey of the public lands i'm
mediately begun. Coal land laws
should be provided whereby the coal
land entryman may make his location
and secure patent under methods kin
dred to those now prescribed for home
stead and mineral entrymen. Salmon
hatcheries, exclusively under govern
ment control. should be established.
The cable should be extended from
Sitka westward. Wagon roads and
trails should be built and the building
of railroads promoted in all legitimate
ways. Lighthouses should be built
along the coast. Attention should be
paid to the needs of the Alaska In
dams. Provision should be made for
an officer. with deputies. to study their
needs. relieve their immediate wants
and help them adapt themselves to the
new conditions.
l recommend that an appropriation
be made for building lighthouses in
Hawaii and taking possession of those
already built. The territory should be
reimbursed for whatever amounts it
has already expended for lighthouses.
The governor should be empowered to
suspend or remove any official appoint
ed by him. without submitting the
matter to the legislature.
Or our insular possessions, the Philip
pines and Porto Rico, it is gratifying
to say that their steady progress has
been such as to make 1t unnecessary
IN Snpnd much time i'm diScuSsinO Them