The Oregon mist., December 13, 1895, Image 1

E OREGON M
VOL. 12.
ST. HELENS, OREGON, FRIDAY; DECEMBER 13, 1895.
NO. 51.
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Calmly Oltlitera.
JiulM,,.. Dean Hlniii'tiBnt , Ilnlnlnr
Clprk ,JhLom W-wl, VarmHilH
Hlierllf .I'Iiiui. K. Poaii, lluliiliu
Tr-iwiir-r K. at. Wharton ( i.hn.ibm City
HMt. "I School. ,,,J. l, Walt., Xi'Uonc
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lnmuilMlinra H u Ht-liuoitovur, VeMioiila
l'KOrKHHlONAL.
T. 1, Cl.ttKTnN.
It. Ali.r.i.
AM. EN it CI.KKTON,
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
MT.IIKI.KSH, . OKH.IIOK.
Notaries Public, Convavanclng Mil Collectloo.
- j)H. ii. r. cmr,-
rilVSICIAN AMI) SURJKOT.
HI. Helens, Oregon.
jyt. i. K. HAM.,
PHVSiriA.V AND 8UUOKON.
Clatokatile, Columbia county, Or
N. MKHKKVK,
Hnrveyor and Civil Engineer
: UKI.ENA, 0KKOON.
IViimtv Hiirvi-viir. Mml Surviving. Town
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ORIENTAL HOTEL
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AT RKAKtlNAM.K RATKH.
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afl'ont.. Kvurvtlilii. dean. A hr i.l your l
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ST. HELENS LIVERY STABLES
TIIOS. LtKH'KU, l"r"Tititr.
Horses Hoarded and Cared l:or,
TURNOUTS ON SHORT NOTIOI.
PT. IIKI.KNS, : : OKKHON
Wo
' E. MeNEILL, Keceler.
TO THE
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Two Transcontinental Routes
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY
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: For Kitll Detail" CM on or Address
W. H. HUKLUURT,' '
General Frnltibt anil !'. Agt. PrHand,
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others are wetting
time bvoldrjmcrsea.
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poultry puhuch.
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mechanically tha belt
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Jaautfrca. Addr. . M
O.A.SfJOW4StCO.
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PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
Foreign Relations and
. Financial Question.
the
RETIREMENT OK GREENBACKS
rrupuaad a, tha Hula Itemed for tha
1're.eut Kl.cal and flUMiiolal III
' " of tha Countr,
WfliililUKton, Duo. 8. PreHldeut
Ulovoluud'a drat meamiga to the Vittj
fourth oougretii wtta proaoutod to aud
road lit the two houaea today. It la at
(ollowi:
Tha proauut Kaaomblage of the leal.
lative bruuch of our goverumont ooonra
at a time wbeu the iutoreati of our poo
pie aud the neod of the oonutry give
aapouial proinluouoe to the ooudiUon
Of our furelgu reUtlona and the ex
igtmoloa of our national fluauoea. The
ruporU of the hoadi of the government
dupartmeuU folly and plaiuly exhibit
whMt hat been aooompliabod within the
toope of their roapeotive dutiea, and
promt auuh reooinmendationa for the
betturmeut of our ocuntry'a oouditioua
aa patrlotio and intelligent labor and
obaorvation inggeat.
I therefore deem my executive duty
adequately performed, at thia time, by
presenting to oongreaa the important
phaaea of our situation, aa related to
our intoroourae with foreign nationa,
jud a statement of the flnaneial prob
lem! whiob ooufront us, omitting, ex
oept as they are related to these topioa,
any reference to departmental opera
clous. I earnestly invite, however,
not only the careful consideration, but
the severely oritioal aorntiny of the
xmgress aud my follow oountrymen to
the reports oonoerning these depart
mental operations. If justly and fairly
examined, they will furnish proof of
Msiduous aud painstalciug oare for the
publio welfare.
I press tbe recommendations they
aontaln npon the respectful attention
if those charged with tho duty of leg-
slation. because I believe their adop
tlon would promote the people s good,
FINANCIAL QUESTION.
1 Dlseuulun of tha Situation and Home
Hsoommandatloaa.,
j As we turn to a review of our na
tional financial situation, we are im
oodiatoly aware that we approach a
lubject of domestic oonoern more im
portant tbau any other which can en
gage our attention, and oue, at present,
m such a perplexing aud delioate pre
dioameut as to require prompt aud wise
treatment We may well be enoour
igod to earnest effort in this direction
wheu we recall the steps already taken
toward improving our economic and
Juanolal situation and when we ap
preciate how woll th way bas been
prepared" for further progress by an
aroused and intelligent popular inter
est in these subjoota.
liy command of the people a customs
revenue system, designed for the pro
tection aud benefit of favored classes,
at tbe expense of the great mass of our
Douutrymeu, aud which, wntie in
effloieut for the- purpose of revenue,
inrtailed our trade relations aud im
peded our entrance to the markets of
die world, baa been superseded by a
tariff policy, which, in principle, is
based upon a denial of the right of tbe
government to obstruct tbe avenues of
our people's cheap living, or lessen
their oumfort and oontentment for the
ake of according especial advantages
to favorites, and whioh, while enoour
iging our Intercourse and trade with
atber nations, reoognises the fact that
Amerioan self-reliance, thrift and in
.tenuity oau build op our country's in
dustries aud develop its resouroes more
iurely than enervating paternalism.
The oompulrory purchase ana ooin-
age of silver by the government, un
checked and unregulated by business
conditions and heedless of our our-
renoy needs, which for more than fif
teen yeara diluted our circulating med
ium, undermined oontideuoe aoroaa in
jur fiuanoial ability, aud at last cul
minated in distress and panic at borne,
baa been recently stopped by tbe re
peal of laws whiob forced thia reckless
scheme upon the oountry. The things
thus accomplished, nocwicnstanawg
their extreme importance and benofioent
effects, fall far short of onring the
monetary evils from whioh we suffer
. iM m ..li
as a result or tong inuuig-juw u -
vised financial expedient ,
The currency denominated united
States notes, and commonly Known as
greeeubaoks, was issued in large vol
ume during tne late oivn war auu .
intended originally to meet the exi
gencies of that period, it win oe
een by a reference to the debates in
oongreaa at tne time tin. .ma wdio
passed, authorizing me ieaua u w
uotes, that tneir aavooawa ueumrcu
they were intended tor on.y wiujiw
try use and to meet ine omragouuj u.
the war. In almort, u not an tne
laws relating to them, some provision
was made ooutemplatiug their volun
tary or tiompulsory retirement. A
large quantity of them, however, were
kept on foot and mingiea witn ine
ourrency of the country, so that at the
olose of the year 1874 they amounted
to 1881,090,073. immediately aiier
that date, and In January, 1878, a law
was passed providing for tne resump
tion of speoie payments, by whioh the
jeoretary of the treasury was required,
whenever additional circulation w.
issued to national banks, to retire
fTnirnri States notes equal in amount to
80 por cent of suoh additional bank oir-
oulatlon until auou uukjo
to 1300,000,000. This law further
providod that, on and after the first
day of January, 1870, the United
States notes then outstading should be
redeemed in ooin, and in order to pro
vide and prepare for inch redemption
the secretary of the treasury was au.
tborizud, not only to use any surplus
revenues of the government, but to is
sue bonds of the United States and dis
pose of them for coin, and to use the
proceeds for the purposes oontomplated
by tbe statute.
In Miy, 1878, and before the day
thus appointed for the redemption and
retirement of these notes, another stat
ute was passed forbidding their fur
ther cancellation aud retirement
Borne of them bad, however, been
previously redeemed and canoellod
upoa the issue of additional national
bank circulation, as permitted by the
law of 1876, so that the amount out
standing at the time of the passage of
the act forbidding their further retire
ment was 184(1,(181,016.
The law of 1878 did uot stop at dis
tinct prohibiting, but contained in ad
dition the following express provision:
"And when any of said notes may
be redeemed, or be received into the
treasury, under any law from any
source whatever, and shall belong to
the United Htates, tlioy shall not be
retired, oaucelled or destroyed, but
they shall be reissued aud paid out
again and kept in circulation."
This was the condition of affairs
January 1, 1870, whioh bad been fixed
upon four years before as the date for
entering upon the redemption and re
tirement of all these notes and for
which such abundaqt means bad been
provided.
The government was put in the an
omalous situation of owing the lend
ers of its notes debts payable in gold
on demand, which could neither be re
tired by reoeiving such notes in dis
charge of obligations due the govern
ment, nor cancelled by actual payment
in gold. It was forced to redeem with
out redemption and to pay without ac
quittance. There had been issued and sold 195,-
500,000 of the bonds authorized by the
resumption aot of 1875, the proceeds
of which, together with other gold in
tbe treasury, created a gold fund deem
ed sufficient to meet tbe demands
which might be made upon it for tbe
redemption of outstanding United
States notes. This fund, together with
such gold as might be from time to
time in tbe treasury available for tbe
purpose, bas been since our gold re'
Bnd l0o,000,000 has been re
garded as an adequate amount to ac
complish its object This fund
amounted, January 1, 1879, to 1114,
103,800, and though, thereafter, con
stantly fluctuating, it did not fall be
low that sum until July, 1803. In
April, 1898, for the first time sinoe its
establishment, this reserve amounted
to less than $100,000,000, containing
at that date only (97,011,830.
In the meantime, in July, 1890, an
aot bad been passed directing larger
government monthly purchases of sil
ver than had been required under pre
vious laws, and providing that in pay
ment for such silver, treasury notes of
the United States should be issued,
payable on demand in gold or silver
ooin at the discretion of the secretary
of the treasury. It was, however, de
clared in the aot to be "the establish
ed policy of tho United States to main
tain tbe two metals on a parity with
each other, upon the presout legal ra
tio, or such ratio as may be provided
bylaw."
In view of this declaration it was
not deemed permissible for the secre
tary of the treasury to exercise discre
tion in terms conferred on him by re
fusing to pay gold on those notes when
demanded, because by snob discrimina
tion in favor of the gold dollar the so-
called parity of the two metals would
be destroyed and grave and dangerous
oonsequenoes would be precipitated by
alurraing or aooentuating tne constant'
ly widening disparity between their ac
tual valuos under the existing ratio.
It thus resulted that the treasury uotes
issued in payment of silver purchases,
under the law of 1800 were necessarily
treated aa gold obligations at the op
tion of the holder.
The note on November 1, 1893,
when the law compelling the monthly
purchase of silver was repealed,
amounted to more than $155,000,000.
The uotes of this description now out
standing, added to the United States
notes still undiminished by redemption
or cancellation, constitute a volume of
gold obligations amounting to nearly
$500,000,000. Those obligations are
the instruments, whioh, ever since we
have bad a gold reserve, have been
used to deplete it
The reserve, as has been stated, had
fallen in April, 1898, to $97,011,830.
It has from that time to the present,
with very few and unimportant up
ward movements, steadily decreased,
except it has been temporarily replen
ished by the sale of bonds. Among
the onuses for this oonstant and uni
form shrinkage in this fund may be
mentioned the great falling off in ex
ports under the operation of the tariff
law, until recently in force, whioh
orippled our exchange of commodities
with foreign nations, aud necessitated
to some extent the paymout of our bal
anoe in gold. ' The unnatural inflexion
of silver into our oountry and the in
creasing agitation for its free and un
limited ooinage, whioh have created
apprehension as to our disposition or
ability to continue gold payments, the
consequent boarding of gold at home,
and the stoppage of investments of for
eign oapital, as well as the return of
our securities already sold abroad, and
the high rate of foreign exohange,
whioh induced the shipment of our
gold to be drawn against, is matter
of speculation.
In oonsequeneo of these conditions
the gold reserve, on February 1, 1894,
was reduced to $85,488,877, having
lost more than $31,000,000 during the
preceding nine months, or since April,
1898. Its replenishment being neoes
sary, and no othor manner of accom
plishing it being possible, resort was
had to the issue and sale of bonds,
provided by the resumption aot of
187S. Fifty millions of these bonds
were so'd, yielding $H8,033,295.71,
which was added to tbe reserve fund
of gold then on hand. As a result of
this operation this reserve, whioh had
suffered oonstant and large -withdraw
ala in tbe meantime, stood, March 0,
1894, at the sum of $107,446,803. It
depletion, however, was immediately
therafter so aooelerated that on June
80, 1894, it had fallen to $04,878,025,
thus losing, by withdrawals, more
than $42,000,000 in five months, and
dropping slightly below its situation
when tho sale of $50,000,000 in bonds
was effected for its replenishment
This depressed condition grew worse,
and November 24, 1894, our gold re
serve, being reduced to $57,0(19,701,
it became necessary to strengthen it.
This was done by another sale of
bonds, amounting to $50,000,000, from
whiob there was realized $58,638,600,
with which the fund was increased to
$111,421,021 December 4, 1804.
Again disappointment awaited the
anxious hope for relief. There was not
even a lull in the exasperating with'
drawuls of gold. On the contrary, they
grew larger and more persistent than
ever. Between December 4, 1894, and
early in February, 1895, a period of
scarcely more than two mouths after
the second reinforcement of our gold
reserve by the sale of bonds, it bad lost.
by such withdrawals, more than $09,
000,000, and had fallen to $41,840, 181.
Nearly $45,000,000 bad been with
drawn during the month immediately
preceding this situation.
In anticipation of pending trouble I
had, January 28, 1895, addressed a
communication to oongress, fully set'
ting forth our difficulties, and danger
ous position, and earnestly recommend
ing that authority be given the secre
tary of the treasury to issue bonds
bearing a low rate of interest, payable
by their terms in gold, for the purpose
of maintaining a sufficient gold re'
serve, and also for the redemption and
oonoellation of outstanding United
States notes and treasury notes issued
for the purchase of silver under the
law of 1890. This recommendation
did not, however, meet with legislative
approval. In February, 1805, there'
fore, tbe situation was exceedingly
critical. With a reserve perilously
low and a refusal of congressional aid
everything indicated that the end of
gold payments by tbe government was
imminent The results of prior bond
issues had been exceedingly unsatisfac
tory and the large withdrawals of gold,
immediately succeeding their publio
sale in open market, gave rise to a rea
sonable suspicion that a large part of
the gold paid into the treasury upon
sales was promptly drawn out again
by the presentation of United States
notes or treasury notes and found its
way to the bands of those who had
only temporarily parted with it in the
purchase of bonds.
In this emergency, and in view of
its surrounding perplexities, it became
entirely apparent to those upon whom
the struggle for safety was devolved,
not only that our gold reserve must,
for the third time in less than thirteen
months, be restored by another issue
and sale of bonds bearing a high rate
of interest and badly suited to the pur
pose, but that a plan must be adopted
for their disposition promising better
results than those realized on previous
sales. An agreement was therefore
made with a number of financiers and
bankers wherby it was stipulated that
the bonds desoribed in tbe resumption
aot of 1876, payable in coin thirty
years after their date, bearing interest
at the rate of 4 per oent per annum,
and amounting to $02,000,000, should
be exchanged for gold receivable by
weight, amounting to a little more
than $65,000,000. This gold was to
be delivered in such installments as
would complete its delivery within
about six mouths from the date of the
ooutraot, and at least one-half of this
amount was to be furnished from
abroad. It was also agreed by those
supplying this gold that during the
oontinuanoe of the contraot they would
by every means in their power protect
the government against gold withdraw
als. The contraot also provided that
if oongress would authorize the issue
of bonds payable by their terms in gold
and bearing interest at the rate of 3
per oent per annum they might within
ten days be substituted at par for the 4
per oent bonds described in the agree
ment On the day the oontraot was
made the terms were communicated to
oongress by special executive message,
in whioh it was stated that more than
$16,000,000 would be saved to the gov
ernment if gold bonds bearing 8 per
oent interest were authorized to be sub
stituted for those mentioned in the oon
traot " " "'. 'i .- ...
Congress having deolined to grant
the necessary authority to secure this
saving, the oontraot, unmodified, was
oarried out, resulting in a gold reserve
amounting to $17,071,830 July 8, 1805.
The performance of this oontraot not
only restored the reserve, but checked
for a time the withdrawal of gold and
brought on a period of restored confi
dence and suoh peace and quiet in bus
iness oiroles as were of the greatest
possible benefit in every interest whioh
affects our people. .
I have never bad the slighetest mis
giving oonoerning the wisdom or pro
priety of this arrangement, and am
quite willing to auswer for my full
share of the responsibility for its pro
motion. I believe it averted disaster,
the imminenoe of whioh was fortunate
ly not at the time generally understood
by our people.
If a fixed and stable standard is
maintained, suoh as the magnitude and
safety of our commercial transactions
and business require, the use of money
itself is conveniently minimized.
Every dollar of fixed and stable value
has, through the agency of oonfident
oredit, an astonishing oapaoity of mul
tiplying itself in fiuanoial work.
Every unstable and fluctuating dollar
fails aa a basis of oredit and in its use
begets gambling speculation and un
dermines the foundations of honest en
terprises.
I have ventured to express myself on
this subject with earnestness and plain'
ness of speech because I cannot rid my
self of tbe belief that there lurks in
the proposition for the free coinage of
silver, so strongly approved and so en
thusiastioally advocated by a multitude
of my oountrymen, a serious menace
to our prosperity and an insidious
temptation of our people to wander
from tbe allegiance they owe to publio
and private integrity. It is because
do not distrust the good faith and sin
cerity of those who press this scheme
that I have imperfectly, but zealously
submitted my thoughts upon this mo
mentous subject
I oaunot refrain from begging them
to re-examine their views and beliefs in
tbe light of patriotic reason and famil
iar experience, and to weigh again and
again the consequences of such legisla
tion as their efforts have invited. Even
the continued agitation of the subject
adds greatly to the difficulties of a dan
gerous nnancial situation already
foroed upon us.
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Questions at Issue Between Tble
and
Other Governments.
By mandatory tariff legislation, in
January last, the Argontiue Republic,
recognizing tbe value of tbe large mar
ket opened to the free importation of
its wools undor our last tariff act, has
admitted certain products of the United
States to enter at reduced duties. It
is pleasing to note that tbe efforts we
have made to enlarge the exchanges of
trade on a sound basis of mutual bene
fit, are in this instance appreciated by
the oountry from which our woolen
factories drew their needful supply of
raw materials.
The missions boundary dispute be
tween the Argentine Republio and
Brazil, referred to the president
of tbe United States as arbitrator dur
ing the term of my predecessor, and
whioh was submitted to me for deter
mination, resulted in an award in fa
vor of Brazil, upon the historical and
documentary evidence presented; thus
ending a long-protracted controversy,
and again demonstrating the wisdom
and desirability of settling interna
tional boundary disputes by recourse to
friendly arbitration.
Negotiations are progressing for a
revival of the United States and Chil
ean claims commission, wnose worx
was abruptly terminated last year by
the expiration of the stipulated time
within which amends could be made.
Chile is a step of great interest and
importance, both in its direct conse
quences upon her own welfare, and as
evincing the ascendency of sound finan
cial principles in one of the most in
fluential of the South American repub
lics. Chinese outbreaks.
The olose of tbe momentous struggle
between China and Japan, while re
lieving the diplomatic agents of this
government from the delicate duty
they undertook, at the request of both
countries, of rendering such service to
the subjects of either belligerent
within the territorial limits of the
other as our neutral position permit
ted, developed a domestic condition in
the Chinese empire which has caused
much anxiety and called for prompt
and careful attention. Either as a re
sult of a weak control by the central
government over the provincial admin
istrations, following a diminution of
the traditional governmental authority
under the stress of an overwhelming
national disaster, or as a manifesta
tion, upon good opportunity, of the
aversion of tbe Chinese population to
all foreign Ways and undertakings,
there have occurred, in widely sepa
rated provinces of China, serious out
breaks of the old fanatical spirit
against foreigners, which, unchecked
by the local authorities, if not actually
connived at by them, have oulminated
in mob attacks on foreign missionary
stations, causing muoh destruction of
property, and attended with personal
injuries as well as loss of life. Al
though but one American citizen was
reported to have been actually wound
ed, and although the destination of
property may have fallen more heavily
upon the missionaries of other nation
alities than our own, it plainly be
hooves this government to take the
most prompt and decided action to
guard against similar, or, perhaps,
more dreadful calamities befalling tbe
hundreds of Americans in that oountry.
The demands of the United States
and other powers for the degradation
and punishment of the . responsible
offloials of the respective oities aud
provinces who, by neglect or otherwise,
had permitted uprisings,' and for the
adoption of stern measures by the em
peror's government for the proteotiion
of the life and property of foreigners,
were followed by the disgraoe and dis
missal of certain provincial offloials
found dereliot in duty, and the punish
ment by death of a number of those
adjudged guilty of participating in the
outrages.
China will not forget either our
kindly aervioe to her oitizens dnring
her late war, nor the further faot that,
while furniBhiug all the facilities at
our oommaud to further the negotia
tions of a peaoe between her and Ja
pan, we Bought no advantages, and
Interposed no counsel. The govern
ments of both China and Japan have
in special dispatches, transmitted
through their respective diplomatic
representatives, expressed in a most
pleasing manner their grateful appreci
ation of our assistance to their citizens
during the unhappy' struggle and of
the value of our aid in paving the way
to their resumption of peaceful rela
tions. - -
Tha Waller Ineldent In France.
The onstomary cordial relations be
tween this oountry and France have
been undisturbed, with the exoeption
that a full explanation of tbe treatment
of John h. Waller by the expedition
ary military authorities of France still
remain to be given. Mr. Waller, for
merly United States consul at Tama
tive, remained in Madagascar after bis
term of office expired, and was, appar
ently, successful in procuring -business
concessions from the Hovas, of greater
or less value.
After the occupation of Tamative
and the declaration of martial law
by the Frenob, he was arrested
upon various charges, among them
that of oommunioating military in
formation to the enemies of France;
was tried and convicted by a military
tribunal and sentenced to thirty years'
imprisonment Following tbe course
justified by abundant precedents, this
government requested from that of
France the record of the proceedings of
tbe French tribunal, which resulted in
Mr. Waller's condemnation. This re
quest bas been complied with to the
extent of supplying copy of the of
ficial record, from which appear tbe
constitution and organization of the
court, the charges as formulated and
the general course and result of- the
trial, and by which it i shown that
the accused was tried in open court
and was defended by oounsel; but the
evidence adduced in support of the
charges, whiob waa not received b tbe
French minister for foreign affairs till
the first week in October, bas thus far
been withheld, tbe French government
taking tbe ground that its production
in response to our demand, would es
tablish a bad precedent Tbe efforts
of our ambasssdor to secure it, how
ever, though impeded by recent changes
in the Frenoh ministry, have not been
relaxed, and it is confidently expected
that some satisfactory solution of the
matter will be shortly reached. Mean
while it appears that Mr. Waller's con
finement bas every alleviation whioh
the state of his health and all the other
ciroumstanoes of the case demand or
permit ,
An agreeable contrast to the differ
ence above noted, respecting a matter
of common ooncern where nothing is
sought except such a mutually satis
factory outcome as the true merits of
the case require, is the recent resolu
tion of the Frenoh chambers favoring
the conclusion of a permanent treaty of
arbitration between tbe two countries.
An invitation has been extended by
France to the government end the peo
ple of the United States to participate
in a great ' international exposition at
Paris in 1900, as a suitable commem
oration of the close of this, the world's
marvelous century of progress. I
heartily recommend its acceptance, to
gether with such legislation as will ad
equately provide for a due representa
tion of this government and its people
on the occasion.
Serenity of Germany.
Our relations with the states of the
German empire are, in some aspects,
typical of a condition of things else
where found in countries whose pro
ductions and trade are similar to our
own. The close rivalries of oompeting
industries, the influence of the delusive
doctrine that the internal development
of a nation is promoted and its wealth
increased by a policy, which in under
taking to reserve its home markets for
tbe exclusive use of its own producers,
necessarily obstructs this class in for
eign markets, and prevents free access
to the products of the world; the desire
to retain trade in time-worn ruts, re
gardless of the inexorable laws of new
needs and changed conditions of de
maud and supply, and our own halting
tardiness in inviting a free exchange
of commodities, and b; this means im
peril ing. our footing in the external
markets naturally open to us, have
created a situation somewhat injurious
to Amerioan export interests not only
in Germany, where they re perhaps
most noticeable, but in adjacent coun
tries.
Tha rrotectlon of tho Sealing; Herd..
Our relations with Great Britain,
always intimate and important, have
demanded, during the past year, a
greater share of consideration than is
usual. Sevcr.il vexatious questions
were left undetermined by tbe decision
of the Behring sea arbitration tribunal.
Tbe application of the principles laid
down by that august body has not been
followed by the results they were in
tended to accomplish, either because
tbe principles themselves lacked in
breadth and definitness, or because their
exeoution has been more or less imper
fect Muoh oorrespordenoe has been
exchanged between the two governments
on the subjeot of preventing the ex
terminating slaughter of seals.
The insufficiency of tbe British pa
trol of Behring sea, under the regula
tions agreed on by the two govern
ments, has been pointed out, and yet
only two British ships have been on po
lice duty during this season in these
waters. Tho need of a more effective
enforcement of existing regulations, as
well as the adoption of suoh additional
regulations as experience has shown to
be absolutely necessary to carry out
the intent of the awards, have been
earnestly urged upon ne British gov
ernment, but thus far without effeotive
results. In the meantime, the deple
tion of the seal herds by means of pel
agic hunting has so harmfully prog
ressed, that, unless their slaughter is
at onoe checked, their extinction,
within a few years seems to be a mat
ter of absolute certainty.
Yaneauelan Boundary Dispute.
It being apparent that the boundary
dispute between Great Britain and the
republio of Venezuela oonoerning tbe
limits of British Guiana, was approach
ing an acute stage, a definite statement
of the interest aud polioy of the United
States, as regards the controversy,
seemed to be required, btith on its own
account and in view of its relations
with the friendly powers directly con
cerned. In July last, therefore, a dis
patch was addressed to our ambassa
dor at London for communication to
the British government, in which the
attitude of the United States was fully
and distinctly set forth. The general
oonolusions therein reached and formu
lated are in substance that the tradi
tional and establibsed policy of this
government is firmly opposed to
foroible increase by any European
power of its territorial possessions on
this continent; that this polioy is as
well founded in principle as it is -strongly
supported by numerous prece
dents; that as a consequence, the
United States is bound to protest
against the enlargement of area of
British Guiana in derogation of the
rights and against tbe will of Vene
zuela; that, considering tbe disparity
in strength of Great Britain and Vene
zuela, tbe territorial dispute between
them can be reasonably settled only by
friendly, impartial arbitration, and
that the resort to such arbitration
should inlolude the whole controversy,
and is not satisfactory if one of the ,
powers concerned is permitted to draw
an arbitrary line through the territory
in debate, and to declare that it will
submit to abritration only the portion
lying on one side of it In view of
these conclusions, the dispatch in ques
tion called upon the British govern
ment for a definite answer to the ques
tion whether it would not submit the
territorial controversy between itself
and Venezuela, in its entirety, to im
partial arbitration. The answer of the
British government has not yet been
received, but is expected shortly, when
further communication on the subjeot
will probably be made to congress.
Lynching of Italian. In Colorado.
The deplorable lynching of several
Italian laborers in Colorado was nat
urally followed by international repre
sentations, and I am happy to say that
the best efforts of the state, in whioh
the outrages occurred, have been put
forward to discover and punish the au
thors of this atrocious crime. The de
pendent families of some of the unfor
tunate viotims invite, by their deplor
able condition, gracious provision for
their needs.
Japan has furnished abundant evi
dence of her vast gain in every trait
and characteristic which constitute a
nation's greatness. We have reason
for congratulation in the fact that the
government of the United States by the
exchange of liberal treaty stipulations
with tbe new Japan, was the first to
recognize her wonderful advance, and
to extend the consideration and con
fidence due to her national enlighten
ment and progressive character. .
Klcaragua'e Internal Trouble.
' In last year's message I narrated,' at
some length, the jurisdictional ques
tions then freshly arisen in the Mos
quito Indian strip of Nicaragua. ; Since
that time, by the voluntary act of the
Mosquito nation, the territory reserved
to them has been incorporated with
Nicaragua, tbe Indians formally sub
jecting themselves to be goverencd by
the general laws and regulations of the
republio, instead of by their own cus
toms and regulations, and thus avail
ing themselves of a privilege secured
to them by the treaty between Nicara
gua and Great Britain of January 28,
1860. .
After the extension of uniform Nica
raguan administration to the Mosquito
strip, the case of tbe British vioe-wn- -suL
Hatch, and of several countrymen,
who had been summarily expelled
from Nicaragua and treated with con
siderable indignity, provoked a claim
by Great Britain upon Nicaragua ' for
pecuniary indemnity, whioh, upon
Nicaragua's refusal to admit liability,
was enforced by Great Britain. While
the sovereignty and jurisdiction of
Nicaragua was in no way questioned
by Great Britain, the former's arbi
trary conduct, in regard to British sub
jects, furnished the ground for this
prooeeding.
V Relation. With Ruaala.
The coronation of the czar of Russia,
at Moscow, in May next, invites the
ceremonial participation of the United
States, and in accordance with usage
and diplomatic propriety, our minister
to the imperial oourt has been directed
to represent our government on thisoo-.
easion.
Correspondence is on foot touching
the practioe of Russian consuls within
the jurisdiction of the United States to
interrogate oitizens as to their raoe
and religions faith, and upon ascer
tainment thereof to deny to Jews au
thentication of passports or legal docu
ments for use in Russia. Inasmuch as
suoh a proceeding imposes a disability,
whioh, in the case of a succession to
property in Russia, may be found to
infringe the treaty rights of our oiti
zens, and which is an obnoxious in
vasion of our territorial jurisdiction, it
has elicited fitting remonstrance, the
result of whioh, it is hoped, will re
move the cause of oomplaint ;
The pending claims of sealing vessels
of the United States, seized in Russian
waters remain unadjusted. Our re
cent convention with Russia establish
ing a modus Vivendi as to imperial
jurisdiction in suoh oases has prevent
ed further difficulty of this nature. ;
; In conclusion, I specially entreat the
people's representatives in oongress,
who are oharged with the responsibil
ity of inaugurating measures for the
safety and prosperity of our oonunon
oountry, to promptly and effectively
consider the ills of our oritioal plight.
I have suggested a remedy which my
judgment approves. I desire, however,
to assure oongress that I am pre
pared to oo-operate with them in per
fecting any other measure promising
thorough and praotioal relief, and that
I will gladly labor with them in every
patriotio endeavor to further tbe inter
ests and guard the welfare of our ooun
trymen, whom, in our respective places
of duty, we have undertaken to serve.
Gbovkb Clxtslavd.
There is no work of genius which has
not been the delight of mankind, no
word of genius to which the human
heart and soul have not, sooner or later,
responded. LowelL