The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-07
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE To 58TH CONGRESS 6

forces OF belligerent powers The United
States government has for many years
advocated this humane and benehcent
principle. and Is now In a position. 10 re-
commend II TO other powers without the
imputation OF selfish motives there
fore suggest for your consideration that
the executive be authorized 20 corresppud
with the governments OF the principal
maritime powers with a view OF incor-
porating into the permanent law OF civil
lied nations the principle OF the exemption
OF all private property at sea, not con-
traband OF war. from capture or destruc-
ton by beligerent powers"
cordially renew this recommendation
The Supreme court. speaking on Dec.,
IL. 1899. through Peckham, J., said:
.Tt Is. we think. HISTORICALLY accurate
TO say that this government has always
been, In it's views. among the most adj
vanced of the governments OF the world
I'm favor of mitigating, as 10 all nom
combatants, the hardships and horrors OF
war. To accomplish that object IL has
always advocated those rules which
would I'm most cases do away with the
right to capture the private property OF
an enemy on the high seas"
advocate this as a matter OF humanity
and morals. II Is anachronistic when pri-
vate property IS respected on land that
1t should not be respected at sea. More /
over, Il should be borne I'm mine that
shipping represents. internationally speak
ing, a much more generalized species OF
| private property than is the case with
ordinary property on land-that IS. prop
erty found at sea is much less apt than il
the case with property found on land
really to belong TO any one nation. Under
| the modern system OF corporate owner~
ship the flag of a vessel often differs from
the flag which would mark the nationals
ity OF the real ownership and money con-
troll Of the vessel: and the cargo may be-s
| long TO individuals OF yet a different ma,
tionality. Much American capital is now
invested in foreign ships; and among for
| eign nations II often happens that the
capital of one is largely. invested in the
| shipping OF another. Furthermore as a
practical matter. IL may be mentioned
! that while commerce destroying may
! cause serious loss and great annoyance,
i IL can never be more than a subsidiary
factor I'm bringing TO terms a resolute
foe. This is now well recognized
by all OF our naval experts. The
/ fghting ship. not the commerce de-
I stroyer Is the vessel whose feats add
i renown TO a nations history, and estab-
Iish her place among the great powers OF
the world
Last year the Interparliamentary Union
for International Arbitration met at
l ftennd, SIX nuUuTeu HltIlDcTS OL THO
/ ferent legislatures OF civilized countries
] attending. 1t was provided that the next
\ meeting should be I'm 1904 at St Louis.
| subject to our congress extending an in
! vitation Like the Hague tribunal this
Interparliamentary union Is ono OF the
forces tending towards peace among the
nations or the earth. and 1t islentitled TO
| our support j trust the invitation can
| be extended.
RELATIONS WITH TURKEY.
Early In July. having received intelli-
gence. 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 SER
| vice as might be found necessary on ar
rival. Although the attempt on the life
OF our vice consul had not been success-
full, yet the outrage was symptomatio OF
a state of excitement and disorder, which
demanded immediate attention. The ar
rival OF the vessels had the happfest re-
suit A feeling of security at once took
the place of the former alarm and dis
| quiet; our officers were cordially well
coined by the consular body and the Lead
ing merchants. and ordinary business re-
sumed It's activity The government oe
the sultan gave a considerate hearing to
the representations of our minister; the
official who was regarded as responsible
for the disturbed condition OF affairs was
removed. Our relations with the Turkish
government remain friendly: our claims
founded on inequitable treatment of some
of our schools and missions appear to be
I'm process OF amcable adjustment.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
The signing of new commercial treaty
with China. which took place at Shang-
satisfaction. This act. the result OF long
discussion and negotiation, places our
commercial relations with the great ORR
entail empire on a more satisfactory foot
ing -than-they have ever heretofore en-
joyed. IL provides not only for the or
dinary rights and privileges or diplo-
matte and consular officers. but also Tor
an important extension of our commerce
by increased facility OF access to Chi
ness D0Fts, and for the relief OF trade
by the removal OF some of the obstacles
which have embarrassed IL in the past.
The Chinese government engages. on fair
and equitable conditions, which will prob
ably be accepted by the principal COM
mercial nations. to abandon the levy or
"lken" and other transit dues through
out the empire, and TO introduce other de-
sirable administrative reforms. Larger
facilities are to be given to our citizens
who desire to carry on mining enter
prises I'm China. We have secured for
| our missionaries a valuable privilege, the
recognition of their right TO rent and
lease in perpetuity such property as their
religious societies may need I'm all parts
of the empire And what was an ina,ss ,ss
development of our commerce In Man.
churia, China, by treaty with us. has
opened to foreign commerce the cities OF
Mukden, the capital of the province OF
Manchurla. and Antung. an important
port on the Yalu river, on the road to
Corea. The full measure OF develop
ment which our commerce may rightfully
expect can hardly be looked for until the
settlement of the present abnormal state
OF things In the empire, but the founda-
tion OF such development has at last been
laid
COST OF CONSULAR SERVICE.
I call your attention to the reduced cost
In maintaining the consular service for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1893. as
shown In the annual report OF the au-
| ditor for the state and other departments.
as compared with the year previous. For
the year under consideration the excess
OF expenditures over receipts on account
OF the consular service amounted 70
26,l25.12, as against sse, $50 Tor tne year ear
ending June %, 1902, and Sl47.Oiol6 for tne
year ending June 20. 1901. This Is the
80 I.r "a ~