Perrysburg journal., December 12, 1891, Image 6

About Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965

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THE HEME.
A Lengthy State Paper by
President Harrison.
A Vigorous Foreign Policy is Essen
tial to Maintain tho Di-nity
of Our Government.
Our ltolntions "With Chile, tlio
Boring1 Sea Mutter nml tho
Now Orleans AInssacro
are Discussed.
Plon for tho Abolition of tlio "Clerrj
rounder" In Politics lho Tariff", Itecl-
proclty, Pensions nml Other tin
portnnt hulijrotn ltccclvo ,
Attention 'jnupsls of Vo
imrtmcnt Reports.
Washington, Dec 0. The following'
Is the President's message:
To tho Sonnto and Housoot Representatives:
Tho reports ot tho honJs of tho sovoral execu
tive departments required by law to bo sub
mlttod to mo. which aro herewith transmitted
and tho reports of tho socrolary of treasury
and altornoy general furnish a comprehen.
slro low of tho administrative work ot ths
Inst llscnl vear relating to Internal affairs. It
wculd bo of great ndvantngo it theso re.
ports could nave an attcntUo ncrusul by
evorj" mombor of congress and by all who toko
on Interest In public affairs. Such a porusal
could not fall to exolto n higher upprcclutlon of
the vast labor mul conscientious oflort, whlca
are given to tho conduct of our civil adminis
tration. Tho reports will, I believe, show that overy
Suostion has been approached, considered and
eclded from the standpoint of public duty und
upon considerations uflccltng tho publlo inter
ests nlono. Again I Invito to every branch of
tho service tho attention and scrutiny of con
Kress.
itFCirnoou, trade nPLAiioNs.
Tho work of tho state department during tho
Inst j ear has been characterized by on unusual
number of important negotiations und by dip
lomntio results of a uoinblo ana highly bene
flclol character. Among theso aro tho recip
rocal trade arrangements which huo been con
cluded, in the exercise ot tho powers conferred
by section 3 of the tarltl law, w 1th the republic
of Brazil, with Spain for Its West India posses
sions, and with San Domingo. Like negotia
tions with other countries have been much ad
vanced, and it Is hoped that bo oro tho oloso of
the year further donnttlve tradu arrangements
ot great valuo will bo concluded.
TltK SEAT, IISHKIUI-.S DISPUTE.
In view of tho reports which had been re
ceived as to tho diminution of tho seal hords In
tho Hiring Sea, I deemed it wise to propose to
her ma estv's govornmont in February last that
an ngrecmont for a closoJ session should be
made, ponding tho negotiations for arbitration
'Which thon s cined to be approaching a favor
bio conclusion After much correspondence,
and del.ijs for which this govoinment was not
responsible, un iigreoraoct was reached and
signed on tho l.'th of .Tune, by which Great
Ilritaln undertook, from that date and until
May I, ISM, to prohibit the killing by her sub
jects of souls in tlio Herlng Sea, and the govern
ment of tho United States during tho same pe
riod, to enforce Its oxlstlng prohibition against
pelagic scaling and to limit tho catch by tbo Fur
Seal company upon tho Island to T.rux) skins. If
this ogreoment could hnve Leeu reuchc-d curlier
in response to tho strenuous endeavors of this
government It would hnvo been more effective;
but, coming even us Ittous it did. It unques
tionably resulted in greatly diminishing the
destruction of tho seals t)j tho Cunud un seal
cries In my last annual message I stated that
tho basis of arb tratioa proposed by her majos
ty's gov ornment for tho adjustment of tho long
pending control ersy as to tho seal ilsherles wus
not acceptable. I am glad now to be able to
announco that the torms are satisfactory to
this gov eminent, hav o been agroed upon, and an
agreement us to the arbitrators Is nil thut is
necessary to the completion of tho convention.
Invicwot the advanced position vvnlch this
government has taken upon the subject of in
ternational arbitration, UUs renowed expression
otour udhcrenco to this method for settlement
of disputes such as hav o arisen in tho Bering
sea win, I uouot not, meoiwim tnc concur
rence of Congress.
OUIt BOUNDAHIES.
Provision should bo made, for a Joint demar
cation of the frontier Hno boiv. ecu Canada and
tho United States wherever required by the
Increasing border settlements, and especially
tor tho exact location of the water boundary In
the straits and river?.
OPENED TO AMERICAS) MEATS.
The law of the lust congress providing a svs
tern of inspection for our moats Intendod for
export and clothing tho president with power
to exclude foreign products from our market in
case tho country sending them should perpetu
ate, unjust dlscrtm'nallons uguinst any product
of the United Slates, placed this government
in a position to effectually urgo the removal
of such discriminations ngalust our meuts
It Isgratlfjlngto bo able to state that Qor
mii'iv. Henmnrk, Italy, Austria and Frunoe. In
the order named, hav o opened their ports to
Inspected American pork products. Tho re
moval of these restrlcilons In overv Instanco
vi uh asked for and given solely upon tho ground
that vvu bud now provided a meat inspection
thut shouid oo accepted us adequate to tho
complete removal of tho dangers, real or fan
cied, which has been previously urged. The
state depattment, our ministers abroad, and
tho secretin y of agriculture have cooperated
with unllnggtng nnd intelligent zeal for tho ac
complishment of this great roiult. Tho out
lines of an agreemont liavo been reached
with Germany, looking to equitable trade
concessions in consideration of tho continued
freo importation of hor sugars, but tho tlmo
has not jet arrived wuon this correspondence
can be submitted to congress.
the Tuonm.Ls in urvzil.
The recent political disturbances in Brazil
have excited regret and solicitude. The in
formation wo possessed w as too meager to en
ablo us to form a satisfa -lory Judgment of tho
causes leading to tho temporary assumption of
supremo power by President Fonseca, but this
government did not fail to express to him Its
unxlous bollcltudo for the peace of Urizll and
for the maintenance of tho free political Insti
tutions which had recently boeu established
there, nor to orfer our advice thut gicut moder
ation should bo observed In tho clash of parties
and tho contest for leadership. Theso coun
sels were received in tho most friendly spirit,
and tho lati st information is that constitu
tional government has been reestablished
without bloodshed
THE NbVV oru.r.NS lynching.
Tholjnchlng nt New Orleans in March last
of eleven men ot Italian nativity by a mob of
citizens was a most deplorable and discredit
able Inoldent, It did not howevor, huvo its
origin in any animosity to tho Italian people,
nor In any dlsrtspect to tho governmontof
Italy, with which our relations were of the most
friendly character. Tho fury of the mob vvus
dirt cted against these men as tho supposed
participants or accessor cs in tho murder ot a
cltyomcer. I do not ulludo to this as mitigat
ing in any degreo this offense against law and
humanity, but only ns affecting tho interna
tional questions which grow out of It. It was
onco represent d by tho Italian ralnlstor that
several ot those whoso lives had been taken by
the mob were Italian subjects, and u demand
was made for the punishment of the partlcl
pants and for in Indemnity to tbo families cf
those who wero killed. It is to be regretted
thai tbo manner in which theso o alms
wore preBemi d w as not such as to promote a
calm discussion of tbo questions Involved; but
this may well bo attributed to tho excitement
ana inaignation wuun tho crime naturally
ovoked. Tho views of this government
as to its obligations to foreigners domi
ciled hero were lully stated In the correspond
ence, as well s its purposo to muke an Int estl
gallon of tho afiair with a vlow to determine
wbothor there wcro present any circumstances
that could, under suth rules of duty us wo hud
indicated, oieat i an obligation upon tho United
fatutes. Tho temporary absence of a minister
Plenipotentiary of Italy ul this capital haB re
larded the further correspondence, but It Is not
doubted thut u friendly conclusion U altnlnuble.
borne suggestions growing out of this un
happy luoideut wus worthy of tho attention of
congress. It would, I believe, be entirely com
petent forcongress to makooffcuses against tho
treaty rights of foreigners domlcil d in the
United St ites cogiilzuble lntho loderul courts
This has not, how over, been done, und tbo
federal officers uud courts huvo no power in
jsuen cases io iniurvsue eiinerior me promo
tion ot a foielgu citizen or for the punishment
of his slayers. It soeins to mo to follow in this
state ot law, thut tho olllcers of the statu
charged with police und Jultclal powers in such
cases must, In the consideration of Internation
al Questions, grow pg out of sink Incidents, lie
regarded In tudi sense by fmicrnl agents us to
make this gov eminent answerable fortheiracts
In cases w hero It would be unswtrable It the
XI lilted E lutes had not the constitutional power
to daflno and punish crimes against treaty
rights.
THE ITATA INCIDENT.
Tho civil wnr In Chtlo, which began In Janu
ary last, was contlnuod. but fortunately with
Infrequent and not Important armed collisions,
until August S3, when tho congressional forces
landed near Valparaiso nad. after n bloody en
gagement, captured tho city. Prcsldont Ilal
ninccda at onco recognized that his causo was
lost, and a prov Istonul govornmont wns speedi
ly established by tho victorious party. Our
minister was promptly directed to rccognlro
nnd put hlmsolt In communication with this
Fovernment as soon ns it shonld havo cutnb
Ishod its do faoto character, which was done.
During tho pendency of this civil contest
frequent Indirect appeals wcro mido to
this govornmont to oxtend bolllgcrcnt
rights to tbo Insurgents nnd to glvo
nudlonco to tholr representatives. This
wns dcoltncd nnd that policy was pursued
throughout, which this government, when
wrenched by otvll war. so strenuously Insisted
upon on tho part of European nations. The
ltntn, nn armed vessol commanded by n naval
oillcorot tho Insurgent licet, manned by Its
sailors, nnd with soldlors on board, was seized
tindor process ot tho United States court nt
San Diego, Cal , for a violation of our neutral
ity laws Whllo it tno custody of an onicor of
the court tho vessel wns forcibly wrested from
his control, nnd put to sea It would havo been
inconsistent with tho dignity nnd self respect
ot this government not to havo Insisted that tho
Itatn should bo returned to S in Diego to abide
lho Judgment of tho court. This wns so clear
to the junta of tho congressional party, est ab
Ushod at Iqulquo, that, before tho arrival of tho
ltntn nt thut nort. the secretary of farultm re-
lntlons of tho provisional govornmont decided
to rend Admiral Drown commnndlngtha Unltod
Stntcs naval forces, a communication, from
which tho following Is nn extract:
'Tho prov Islonal government haslearnod by
tho cablegrams ot lho Associated Press that tho
transport ltntn detained In San Diego by ordor
of tho United States for taking on board muni
tlons of war nnd In possession of the marshal,
lolt tho port, c.irrjlng on board this official,
whu was landed nt a point near the coast and
thon continued hor voyage. If this
nous bo correct this govornmont would deplore
tho conduct of tho ltnta and. ns an evidence
that It Is not disposed to support or nvrrco to
the infraction ot the laws of tho United States,
tbo undersigned inkesndvantago of tho per
sonal relations jon havo been good enough to
maintain with him sinco jcur nr rival in this
port to doclnre to jou thut" us soon as she is
within reach of our ordors his government will
put tho llutn, with tbo arms nnd munitions she
took on board at San Diego, at lho disposition
of tho United States."
A trial In the district court ot tho United
States, for tho southern district of California
has recently resulted In a decision holding
among other things, that, Inasmuch ns tho Con
grcsstonal parly hud not b"en recognized as a
belligcrant, tho acts dono In its Intorest could
not bo n violation ot our neutrality laws. From
this judgment tbo Unltod States has appealed,
not that tho condemnation of the vessel Is u
matter ot importance, but that wo may know
whnt ths presont stnto of our law Is ; for. If this
construction of tho statuto is correct, there Is
obvious necessity for revision and amcudment.
During tho progress of thowur In Chile this
gov o nment tendered Its good offices to bring
about ii poaccful adjustment, und it was nt ono
tlmo hoped that a good result might be
reaction, but in this wo were disappointed.
The instructions to our naval olllcers and to
our minister nt Santiago, from the first to tho
last of this strugg t. enjoined upon them tho
most Impartial treitmont nnd absolute non
interference. I am sntistled that these instruc
tions wore obscrvod, thut our representatives
wero always watchful to use their influence
impirtlallv. in the Interest of humanity and on
more thun ono occasion, did so effectively. Wo
could not forgot, hotvover, that this govorn
mont was In diplomatic relations with tho
then established -government ot Chile as It is
now In such relations with tho successor ot
that government. lam quito sure that Presi
dent Monlt, who has under circumstances of
promise for tho peace of Chile been Installed as
president of that republic, will r.ot desire thut
in the unfortunate event of nnv revolt against
his authority tho policy of this government
should bo other thin thut which we have re
cently observed. No ofllclnl complaint of tho
conduct of o ir minister or of our naval officers
during the struggle has been prosenlod to this
government, ami it is u matter of regiet that
so many otour own people should huvo given
ear to unofli ial charges and complaints that
manifestly had their origin in rival interests
and in it wish to pervert the "relations
of tho United States with Chlio.
THE COLLArsB OP THE GOVKHNMENT OFBAL
MAChDA brought about a condition which lsunfortunoto
lv too familiar In tho history ot tbo
Central nnd South American states. With the
overthrow of tho Iialmaccda government, he
and many of his councillors nnd olllcers became
at once lugitives for their lives and uppealcd to
the commanding officers of tho foreign naval
vessels in tho harbor of Valparaiso and to tbo
resident foreign ministers nt Santiago for
nsj lum. This usylum wus freely giv en, accord
Ing to my information, by lho naval vessels of
several lorefgn powers and bysoverul of tho
legations at Santiago The American minister,
as well as bis colleagues, acting upon the
impulses of humanity, extended asylum to
political refugees whoso lives wore in peril I
have not been willing to direct the surrender of
such of theso prisoners as ai,i still In the Amor
can legutlon without suitable conditions It
Is believed that the government of Chile is not
in a position, in view of tho precedents with
which It Ins been connected, to broa-lly deny
tho right ot as) lum, nnd tho correspondence
has not thus fur presented nny such dcn.nl
Tho treatment ot our minister for a time was
such as to call for a decided protest, and It was
very gratifying to observe that unfriendly
mo isures, which were undoubtedly tho result
of tho prevailing oxcltcment, wero at onco re
scinded or suitably relaxed.
THE ASSAULT ON AMEIUCN SIUjORS AT VAu-
pmiaiso.
On the 10th of October an event occurred In
Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circum
stances and results as to very justly oxcite the
indignation of our people and to call for prompt
and decided action on ths part of tils govern
ment A considerable number of tho siilorsot
the United Stutcs stcamsiilp Baltimore then
In tho harbor of Valparaiso, being upon shore
leave and unarmed, wero assaulted by armod
men nearly simultaneously In different locali
ties in tho city. Ono petty officer was
killed outright and seven or eight sea
men wcro seriously wounded, ono of
whom has since died bo savngo nnd brutal
was tho assault that sovoral of our sailors
received more than two, nnd ono ns many as
olghteen stab wounds. An Investigation o tho
affair wus promptly mado by a board of officers
ot tho Ualtimoic and their report shows that
these assaults wero unprovoked thut our men
wero i onductlng themselves In a peaceable und
orderly manner, nnd thut some of tho police of
the city took part In tho assault nnd used their
weapons with fatal effect, while a few others
endeavored to protect our men.' Thirty six of
our sailors wero arrested, and soma of them,
whllo bo'ng taken to prison, wore cruelly
beaten and mu treated, Tho tact that thay
w ere all discharged, no criminal chargo be ng
lodged against any one of thom shows very
elourly that they woru Innocent of any breach
or tho peace. So far as I have boon
able to learn no other explanation of this
bloodv work has bean suggosled than that it had
Its origin in hostility to tnoso men as sailors of
tho United States, wearing the uniform of tholr
government, and not in uny individual actor
personal animosity. Tho attention of tho
Chilean government was at onco oslled to this
affair, nnd a statement of the facts obtained by
tho lnvostlgnllon wo bad conducted was sub
tnlltcd. accompanied by a request to bo advised
ol any other or qualifying facts in tho posses
sion ot tho Chilean government that might tend
to relieve this allalr ot tbo uppearanoo of an In
suit to this government. Tho Chilean govern
mentwas nlso advised thut if such qualify.
Ing facts did not exist this government
would conl.dcntly expect full nnd prompt
reparation. It is to bo regretted that
tho reply of the secretary for foreign affairs
of tho provisional government was coucheJ In
an oltem-lvo tone To this no response has been
made. This government Is now awaiting tlu
result ot an investigation wnicn nas been con
ducted by tho oriminul court at Valparaiso It
is ropo tod unofficially thut the Investigation is
about completed, and It Is expeoted that tho
result will soon bo communlcuted to this gov
ernment, together w ith some udequate satisfac
tory rcsponso to tho noto by which lho atten
tion ot Chile was called to this Incident If
these just expectations should bo disappointed
or further needless delay intervene, I will, by a
sneolul message, brlnir this matter again to tho
ut cnllon of congress for such notion a may be
nocessary. Tho entire corrcspondonco with the
government of Chile will ut un early date be
submitted to congress
THE BPANIHK EXPOSITION,
The government and 'pooplo ot Spain propose
to colobrato tho four hundredth anniversary of
the discovery of America by holding tho exposi
tion at Madrid, whlot will open on the Wih of
September and continue until tho .'list of De
cember, I till J. A cordial Invitation has boon ex
tondod to the United States to take jlartln this
commemoration, and. as Spain wns uno ot the
nrsi nations to express mu intention to par
tlclpato in the world's fair at Chicago, It would
bo very appropriate for this government to give
mio inviiuviou us iriuuuiy promotion.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
Tbo Into outbreak against foreigners In va
rious parts cf the Chlnoss empire has been a
cause of deep concern In vlow of tuu numerous
establishments nf our citizens In the Interior ot
that oountry This govt rnmont can do no loss
than Insist apou a coutlnuaueo ot tho protective
and punltary monsures whloh tho Ohlneso eT
ornment hns horotofore applied. No effort
will bo omlttod to protoct our citizens peace
nbly so ournlng In China, but rocont unofficial
information inalcntos that whnt wns at first ro-
?:nrdod as an outbreak of mob violence against
orolgnors has assumed tho largor form ot nn
Insurrection aja nst pnbllo order.
Tho Chinese govornmont has ilocllncd to ro
colvo Mr. lllnlr as tho minister ot tho Unltod
States on the ground thnt, ns a participant,
whllo a senator. In thn onnctmcntot the oxlst
lng legislation against tho Introduction ot Chi
nese laborers, ho hns becomo unfriendly nnd
objcctlonnblo to China. I havo felt constrained
to point out to the Chlnoso government tho un
tonnbloness of this position, which soems to
rest as much on tho unaccoplubillty ot our leg
islation as on that ot tho porson ohoson.
AIUUTRATION.
Tho arbitration treaty formulatod by tbo In
ternational American conference lapsed by
reason of tho failure to exchango ratlilcntlons
fully within tho limit of tlmo provided, but sov
oral of tho govornmonts concerned havo ox
pressed a desire tosavothls Important result
ot tho conference bv on oxtenslon of tho porlod.
It Is, In my Jutigmont, Incumbent upon tho
United Stntos to consorvo tho Initiative It has
taken In this monsuro by ratifying the Instru
ment nnd bv advocating tho proposed exten
tlon of jo tlmo for oxohango. Theso vlows
have boon ma Jo known to the other signatories
HEaAUDIMl JEWISH I'RItSKCimON IN IttlsSIA.
This gov ornment hns found Decision to ox
pross, In n friendly spirit, but with much earn
ostuoss, to tho government ot tlio czar. Its
serious concern because of tho harsh measures
now being onforccd against tho llobrows In
Russia. By tho revival of antl somitlo laws,
long In abeyance great numbers of those unfor
tunuto people havo beon constrained to aban
don thoir homes nnd lcavo tho umpire bv reason
of tho Impossibility of tlndlng subslstonco
w ltntn tho p.vlo to which It Is sought to conttno
them. The Immigration of thebo people to tbo
United Stntcs -many other countries being
closed to thorn -Is larg-ly Increasing and
likely to assume proportions which may muko
It difficult to Und home and employ
ment forthem hero und to seriously nffeoc tho
labor mnrkot. It Is estimated thntovcrono
in lllon will be forced from Kussia within a few
ors. Tho Hobrow Is novor iv beggar; ho his
always kept tho law often under severe and
opprosstvo civil restrictions It is nlso true
that no race, soct or class hns more fully cared
fortts own than tho Hobrow raco Uut tho
sudden transfer of such a multitude under con
dltlons that tend to strip them of thulr small
accumulations und to elopross their enorgles
and coumgo, is neither good for them nor for us.
The banishment, wbother by direct tlecroo or
by not loss ccrta n indirect methods, or so largo
a number of men and women Is not a local
qutstion. Adecrco to leave one country is. in
tun nature of things, an oruorto enter anntuer.
This consideration, as woll ns the suggestions
of humanity, furnishes amplo ground for mo re
monst unces which we h ve presented to Kus
sla, whllo our historlo friendship for thtt gov
ernment can not fail to glvo the assurances
that our representations aro those of a sincere
vv oil vv lshcr.
THE NICAIIAOUA C VNAI.
Tho nnnutl report of the Marjtlmo Cantl
Compinj, ot Nlcara;ua, shows that much cost
lv nnd necessary preparatory work has bocn
done during- tho year In tho construction or
shops railroad tracks harbor piers and break
waters, and that the work of canal construe
tlon hns mado some progress. I doem It to bo
n matter of the hlgho.t concern to tho United
States that this cnal connecting tho witers
of the Atlantic und Paclllc oceans, giving us a
short water com nunlcatlon betwoenour ports
upon those two groat seas should be speedily
constructed nnd nt tho Bmnllest pnv tle.tblo
limit of cost Tho gain in rrclghts to tno peo
pie nnd the dticct saving to the gov ornment ol
tho United States In tbe use ot naval vessels
would pav the entire cost ot this work wllhin a
short series o! years. The report o tho secro
tary of the navy shows tho swing in our naval
expen llturos which would result.
ir this wor Is to bo promotuJ by tho usual
financial methods and without thonldoftnls
govemmeut the expenditures will probably be
twice tbe nclual cost. This will nccessltnte
higher tolls and constitute a hctvv and need
loss burden upon our commerce nnd that of tho
woild Uv cry dollar of tho bonds and stock ot
tho company should represent a dollar ot
pended in the legitimate and economl.-al prose
eutlouoflha vvorit This Is only poislble by
giving to tho bonds tho guaranty ot the United
otatos government Such a guaranty would
secure the ready sale nt par ot a J per cent
bond, from tlmo to time, us the money w as
ne dod I do not doubt that, built
upon these buslnoss methods tbe canal
would when fully in-vugurated, earn
Its tlxcd charges and operating expenses.
A guaranty of tho bonds ol tho canal company
to an amount nocessary to tho completion or
the dual co jU, 1 tnlnk, bo so glvonas not
to involve any serious risk or ultimute loss. The
things to be care-rally guarded ure tho com
plellon or the work within tho limit o( the
guaranty; tbo subjugation or the United States
to tho rights ot thu drst mortgago bondholders
tor any amount it may havo to pay, an 1 in tho
meantime a control oi the stock or tho compau v
as a s-'curlty ngainst mismanagement and
loss. I most sincerely hono that neither
party nor sectional lln;s will bo drawn upon
this great American project, so full of In
terest to the people ot all our states and so in
ttuestlal lu Its -effects upon the prestige und
prosperity ot our common country.
EFFECT or TAItOTF LEGISLATION.
Tho general Intorest in tho operations ot the
treasury donartment has boen much nuzmented
during tbo lust ye r by reason or the conflicting
predictions, which accompaniid and followed
thettrlffand other legislation of tbo last con
gres alfectlns; tho revenues as to thu results
ot this legislation upon the treasury and upon
tho country. On tho one hand Itwasconlendoi
that imports would so fall o'l as to lavo tho
treasury bankrupt and that tho prices ot artl
cles entering Into the living or tbo people would
bo soonbunceins to disastrously niioct their
comrort und happiness, whllo on theolher it was
argued thut tlu loss to tho revenue, inrgeiy tbe
result ot pi vein,' sugar on tlio free list, would bo a
direct gala to tho peopl ; that thit pricj or t io
necessaries ot Hie including thoso most higjly
protected, would not bo enhanced; tint I ibor
would huvo a larger markot an 1 the products or
th farm advanced prices; while, thu treasury
surplus nnd receipts would be alcquuto to
meet the appropiiatlous ln..'ludln' tho large
expenditure i for tho reiunding to tho stutes or
lho direct tax and the redouin Ion of tnu I ,
percent. bonds It is not m? purpose to entor
at any length Into a discission of tbe otocts
of thu legislation to which I huvo referred but a
brief examination of the statistics of the treas
ury uud a general glance nt tho state of business
throughout tbe country will I think, satisfy
any Impartial inquirer that Its results h iv e dis
appointed the evil prophoclcs of Its opponents
und In a largo moasuro realized tho hopoful pi a
dictions of its friends Rarely It ev cr before In
tho history of tbo couatry has thora boen a
time when thu proceeds of one day's labor or
the product of one farmed acre would purchase
so large un amount of those things that outer
Into tho living of the masses of tue p.-oplo. 1
bulievo that a full lest will dcvoiop tho fact
that the t.irin act of tho Fifty first congress Is
very favorable In its average erfoit upon the
prices of articles entering into common uso.
Daring tho twelve months from October 1,
1B.U to September 30, 1MI, the total vamo of
our foreign commerce, (imports und exports
comb.nod) was l,7.7,HOJ, lii. which was tho
largest of any year In tho history ot tho Unltod
States The largest In aiy previous yoarwas
In 1BK), wben our commerce, amounted to II,
017, 139,03 1 nnd tho last year oxceods this onor
mous aggregate by over one hundred millions
During thu year ending September !J, 1SJ1,
our imports ot morihand'se amounted to
bll,1(!is, which wus an lnoiotso of
more than eleven minion dollars ov er tuu vniuo
of tho Imports ol tho corresponding months or
tho pro.odlng year, when tho Impjrts ot mer
chandise were unusually lurgo la anticipation
of the tariff legislation then ponding Tho uv
er.igo annual valuo ot tbo Imports of merchan
dise for ho ten years from 1831 to lbUO was ;6j.',.
11,5 J. nnd during the year ending September
.a, 1MH, this annual uverugo was exceeded by
The valuo of free Imports during tho twelvo
months endltnr Sfentumuor M IS'll. VVUS 811S..
RU 337 tnoro than tho value of freo imports
dur.ng tho corresponding twelvo months of tho
precodlng year, and there was during tho same
period u deoreaso of 810 1 twos in thevuluo of
Imports ot dutiable merchandise. The percent
age of merchandise admitted Iroo of duty dur
ing the year to which 1 havo rororre-d. tho lirst
under tho now tariff, was 4S 18. whllo during
tho preceding twelvo months, under tho
old tariff, the percentngo was 31.87,
nn Inmuixn nf 1 1 (II nor cent If WO take tho blx
montns ending September 30 lust, wbloh covem
the tlmo during which sugars have been ad
mitted tree ot duty, the por cent, cf value of
merchandise Importod free of duly is found to
do a larger peroamago man uuy jinut iui
year In the history of the government. If we
turn to expo is ol merehundlse tho statistics
aro full ot gratification. Tho value of
such exports of merchandise for the twolve
montns cnuinit oepieuiDer au, mm, .
tX),09l,U whllo for tho corresponding prev
Ioub twolve months It was r)J, 177.1 Id. an lu
troaso of $13 Ul i.iui, which is nearly turoo times
the averago annual lnoreaso of oxportB of raor
chundlso during any year In tho history of tho
government Tho increase In tbo valuo of ex
ports or agricultural produots during the year
referred to over tno corresponding twelvo
months ot tho prior year was S1S.H49, 107, whllo
tho lnoreaso lu tbo valuo ot exports ot mauu
faetured produots wns 81U.8J.1 240.
There Is certainly nothing In tho condition of
tradu, foreign or domestic, thore Is certainly
nothing In the condition of our people of any
cluss to suggest thut tho existing tariff and
rovenuo legislation bears oppressively upon th
pooplo or rotmds tlio commurolnl devolopinont
of tno tuition. It may bo argued thnt our condi
tion would bo bettor It our tariff legislation
vv ere upon a free trade b isls, but It can not bo
denlod that all the conditions or prosperity and
o. genorul contentment ure present in a largor
tlogruo than over before lu our history, and that,
too, just whon It vvus prophesied they would be
In tlio worst stuto.
I thtuit there uro conclusive ovldonoos that
the now tnrlit has t routed several great ludus
trios which will, within a tow yoars, givo em
ploymentto Bevorul hundred thousand Amorl
euu wontlngmou and woman. In view or the
sotnowiiut uvo, crowded condition of ihe labor
mnrkot ot tho United States ovoiy patriotic
citizen should rojoluo at such a result.
llKCKU'lS AND DtSlJUIlSt.Mb.NTS.
Tho report or tho socrotury ot tho treasury
shows thai lho total receipts ot lho govern
ment from all souicus lor tuu llscul year cndmg
June .tu, laJl, woru $ik4,oii :.MJ, wnllotlioex
poadtturos for tkosumo period voro.Mil,JJMW,
loaving u surplus ot Jj7,J,7ui6f. The receipts
of the Usoal year ending June 30, ISJ;, actual
uud estimated, uiolJJ,tAJJ,uod und the expend!
linos 4jj,OjO odd For tno Usual your ending
Juao.SU, 18 ij, tho ustlmatod receipts are sIju,
jjj.JjO und lho expenditures Siil.uOJ.uj.e
IHE hll.VKll CUINAUE gULSUON.
Undor tho law of duly It, 1SJ0. tho sooiotnry of
thuireusuiy mis purcn tod slnuo August U,
during the ilscal year, 48,8vi-,lUounuosot Hilvcr
bullion ut un average oost of l.o,.i per ounce,
in exchange for mis silver bullion uuv a been
issued -iii1.)(7,4Ui of the treasury uo.es-manor-ued
by tho uct Tho prlco of sllvor on isov. 1
wusouiy w us, whien would glvo to tho silver
lo.lar a bullion value ol i'I'a cuius.
Uuforo tuu inrlueuoo of tho protect lvo sliver
.cgislation vvus .ell la tho inar.tei it never vvus
worth In Now York ubovu HI per ounco. The
ablest advocates of frou coin igu in thu lust con
gress wore eoiiddout in lacli prediction that
luupurc-nasts by luo government required by
tae iitw would ulouiO uring tuu price of silver
to I 'JUpcrouucu, widen would muUo the bullion
value of it dollar lot) uents und iioid it inuro.
Tno propuocios ot thu antl silver men of
disasters to result trom thu colnago of
AUOJ;mjO per month were not wider ot the
mark. Friends ol Ireo sliver uro not agreed, I
tnluk, ns to the cause that brougnt Ihclt uope.ul
piedietlons touuunt. Some lauts uro icuown.
The exports of savor from London tu India
during tuu first nine munths ot this calendar
year tell olt ov cr .V) per cent, or $17,40,71 com
pared wilu the same months of ttio preceding
your. 'Ihe exports of domestic silver bullion
noui this country, vvblch nad uvoraged lor thu
last ten yoars over I7,WW,0.)J, ten tu thu las.
ilscal year to !l.i,?t)i",JJl; while, for thu lirst
tmiu lu recent years, thu Imports ol silver into
mis country uxceoauu tno i lupous uy f.-,n,ouj.
In tho previous Joanne not exports ot silver
fiom tue
ue unltod states amounted to 8,S1,Uj.
The- production of tnc united states lncreusou
troji nO,WJ,uud ounces In lti) to W.ujo.oW
m lBiw Tno government Is now buy
ing und putting usidu annually fl,0A),OAl
ounces, wuicu, allowing for 7,140,000
oiiuccs ot nuw bullion used lu tho nils, Is
u.iUJ.oj) more than our domestic proancts avail
ab.e for coinage. I nopu luo depie-slon lu tno
price ot sliver is temporary una mat a lurthor
trial or this leglstuuon wilt mote lavoruD.y
uttect 11. 'lliat tno increased volume ut cur
rency thus supplied for tno use of the pooplo
wus needed uud that beuellc.al results upou
tr.tdo una prices huvo followed tills legislation
1 tnluk must ba vtry c.ear to every one; nor
should It bo forgotten mul lor every dullar of
tuesu notes tss led u full dollar's worm ol silver
bunion Is ul lho tlmo deposited in tue treasury
us security for Its redemption. Uloii tuts sub
ject, us upjn tue lurlu, my recommendation is
thut tuu e-.vlsting laws be given it lull trial and
tnat our business Interests be spared the dls
trusm0' tuliueueo vvuieu threats of radical
changes uiwa) s imparl.
1 am still oi tue opin on that tho free colnago
of sllv er under u Ui.ng conditions w ould disas
trously arfectour busiue-ss Interests ut homo
uud ubroad Vu could no. hope to in tintu n an
uquuiity to thu purchasing power ot the goid
uud silver dollar lu our marKets and In lorulu
trade the sump gives no udded value to tho
million contained m coins. Tno producers or
tue country, lis Itirmcrs und lucorc-rs, have thu
uighest interest mat every doilur. paper or
com, Issued uy tho government sh ill bo us good
as any outer. If there Is ono less vnluuulo
man unoluer its sure nnd constant errand
will be to pay them for their toil,
and for their crops The mouey lender will
protect himself by stipulating lor paymont In
gold, but tuu laborer has njver been uu.u to do
mat. To pla.e business upon u silver basis
would m.;au a sudden and severe contraction
of the currency, bv tho withdrawal of gold ami
t,old notes uud Mich un unsettling ot all valuos
us would producii a commercial panic. I eun
not believe that u people so strong und prosper
ous us ours will promotj sujh it policy.
Tho producers ot silver aro untitled to
just cons derution, but they should not forget
lhat the government Is now bujlng und putting
out on tue martcul what is thu equivalent of thu
entire products ot our silver mlue3 This is
more than tuey themselves thought of nsklng
twoyeaisago. 1 believe it is thu oarucst de
sire of a great m ijor.ty of tho pooplo, as it is
minu, thulvu full coin use shall bjmadeofstl
ver Just us soon as the cooperation or tbo
other nations can be secured and u ratio fUed
tuut will give circulation equally to go.d and
silver. Tno business of tho world requires the
use of both metals; but I do not see any pros
pe t ol gain, but much or loss, by giving up tho
present si stem. In which a lull use Is made of
gold nnd a largo use of silver, for
ono In whl h silver alone will cir
culate Such an event would bo at
once fatal to the further progress nf the silver
movement, liimetalism is tho desired end, and
the truo friends or silver will bo careful not to
ov rrun tho good and bring lu silver monomet
ulllsm, w.th its neceisary attendants, tho loss
of our go d to iJurope and the relief of tno
pressure there for a laiger currency I endoav
oreil to keep a closo obsei v atlon of the state of
public sentiment In Uuropj upon this quostion.
und have not found it to bo such
us to justify mo In proposing
un international conference. There Is, ho a over
I am sure, a growing sentiment In Uuropj in
favor otu larger use of sliver, and I know of no
more eifectual way of promoting this sentiment
than by accumuintlug gold hero A scarcity of
gold in the Karopoan reserves will bo tho most
persuasive argument for the uso of silver.
THE TIIEASUHY hU It PLUS.
Tho presence of a largo cash surplus in tho
trea,urvlus for many years been the subject ol
much uufav arable criticism and has turntshed
an argument to those who havo desired to pliiio
the tarllf upon a purely revenue bisls. It was
agreed by ull that the withdrawal from circula
tion of bo lai go nu amount of money w as nn om
harassment to tho bjslnoss of the country und
made necessary tho Intervention of tho
dopnrtment ut frequent Intervals to re
lievo threatened monetary panics. Tho
surplus on March 1, lfcj, wu- 5ia!,3.'f.-lnO.-J
Thupjll-yof applying this surplus to
thn redemption of lho interest bearing securl
ties of tno United Slates wus tbouht to be
preferable to thut of depositing It without In
terest in national banks. There huve been ro
deemod since tho date last mentioned ot Inter
est bearing securities -i ,07iviA resulting in u
reduction of theunnu'l intorest charge of M 1,
ilsi,47. Tho money which had been deposited
In banks without interest has been gndually
withdrawn und used In the redemption of bonds.
Thu result or this policy, or tho stiver legisla
tion, and of tho rofundlngor tho l!i percent,
bonds has boen a largo Increase or th j money
In circulation At tho date last named the cir
culation wus iJ'.JOI.Jli.iS')), or iildJ por capita;
whllo on December 1, 1811, It had increased to
$l,fi77,'4yi,i.7'), or J J). M per capita Tno offeror
the secretary of tho treasuiy to holders of tho
41 i per cent bonds to oxtend the tlmu of ro temp
tlon, ut tho option of the government, ut an In
terest oi J por cent., was uccupicu uy tno
holders of about ono half tho amount, nnd tho
unextended bonds uro being redeemed on pre
sentation. THE WAIl DEPARTMENT.
Tho report ot tho socrotary of war oxhlblts
tho results of an Into llgcnt, progressive und
business llko administration ol a department,
which has boon too much retarded as ono or
mere routine Sonio espcclully good work has
boeu ucoompltshcd. Tho efforts or thu secre
tary to reduce the percontuge or desertions by
showing tbo causes thut produued it have been
so suceussiul us to onablo him to report for the
lust year n low or percontago of desorttons than
has beon before reached in tbo history of the
army,
Tno work of securing sltos for shore battorlos
for harbor defonso and the innnufiiuluro of mor
tars und guns of high pow.r to equip thom
have mado good progress during tho year.
Tbo preliminary worlc of tests una plans which
so long delayed a start, Is now out of tbo way,
Some gun havo beon completed nnd with un
enlarged shop and a more complete equlpmentat
Wulerviloi mo army win soon do uuroasv ot tno
navy In gun construction Whatever unavoida
ble causes of delay may arlso ther.i should be
nono from delayed or Insufficient nppropria
tlons Wo shall bo groatly embarrassed In tho
proper distribution and uso of naval vessels
until adequate pbore dotenes uro provided for
our harbors.
1 concur In the recommendation or tno socro
tury that tho throe-battalllon organization bo
udoptod for the Infantrv Tho adoption or n
smokeloss powder and or n modorn rilte equal
in runge, proolslon and rapidity of lira to tbo
best now in uso will, I hono not be longer uo
laved The nroltot of enllsllnL' Indians undor
gunlzlngthem Into soporato companion upon
the same b tsls as other soldiers was made the
BUbjcet of vory careful study by tho secretary
und recolved ray approval. Boveral companies
have beon completely orgunlzod and soven
more a o In, process of orpanlza Ion. The ro
BultsotBlx month's training huvo more than
ruollc.ed the highest anticipations.
UNLAWFUL CItirlr.SP. IMMianATION.
The onforcomont by tho tronsury department
ot tho law prohibiting tho coming of Chlnoso to
the Unltod Stntos hns boon oltootlvn ns to such
is Book to land from vessels ontorlng our ports.
Tho rosult has boon to divert tho trnvol to vos
sols ontorlng tho port ot HrltlMi Columbia,
whonco passago Into the United Slates at ob
scure points along tho Dominion boundary is
easy. A considerable numbor ot Chlnoso
laborers havo, during tbo past yoar, en
tored tho United Stntos from Cnnndn
nnd Mexico. Tho officers of tho treas
ury department and of tho dopartmont
of Justloo havo used ovory means at tholr com
mand to Intercept this Immigration; but tho
Impossibility or perfectly guarding our oxtond
nd frontier Is apparent. Tho dominion govorn
mont collocts n bend tax or tMfrom every Chi
naman ontorlng Canada nnd thus derives n con
siderable rovenuo from thoso who only uso its
ports to roach n position of advantage to ovnde
ouroxoluslon lnws Thoro seoms to be satis
factory ovldonco that tho business of passing
Cninnmen through Canada to tho United Stntos
Is organized and qulto active. Tuu department
of justloo hits construed tho laws to require the
ro urn of nny Chinnmon found to bo
unlnwfullv In this country to China ns
tho country from whloh bo oamo, notwithstand
ing tho faot that ho camoby way of Canada;
but scvornl of the ditrlot oourts have. In ci s
brought boforo thoia ovorruled this vlow or tno
law nnd decided thut such persons must bo re
turned to Canada. This construction robs tho
law or all effectiveness, oven If tho decrees
could bo exoctitcd, for tho man returned can
the next day rocross our bordor. Hut tho ouly
upproprlittlon mndo Is for sending thom back
to China nnd tho Canadian officials reruso to
nllow them to ro entor Canada without tho pay
mont of tho S.V) head tax. t rocommond such
legislation ns will rcmody theso dclcctB in tho
law.
In previous mossngos I hnvo called tho at
tention nf pnnirn9 to tho necessity or soot
tondlng tho Jurisdiction or the United States
courts so as to mako trlablo therein nny felony
committed while in the not of violating a law
ot tho United Stntos. Theso courts can not
hav o that lndepondcnco nnd effcctlv cnoss which
tho constitution contomplntos so long as tho
kl ling ot high cour. olllcers. Jurors, nnd wit
nesses in tho dlschnrgo or their dutlos or by
reason ot tholr acts as such, is only cognlzablo
In tho stnto courts. Tho work dono by tho
attorney gcnoral and the ofllcors ot his depart
ment, oven undor the presont luadoquato legis
lation, has produced sonio notable results in
tho lntoiest or law and order.
THE POSTU, SEIIVICE.
In the report ot tho postmnstor goncrnl sonio
very gratifying results aro exhibited and many
botterments or the sorvlco suggested A po
rusal ot thn report gives ubundanl ev ldcnco that
tho supervision and dlroctlou of tho postal sys
tem havo been characterized by an intelligent
and conscientious desire to tmprot o tho service.
Tho rovonues of tho dopartmont show an In
crease or over . (X)0,00J whllo the estlmnto for
tho y car 1M) I shows a surplus of receipts over
expenditures
Klght thousand miles ot now postal service
havo been established on railroads: the car dis
tribution to sub stations In tho great cities
has been increased about I J per cent, whllo the
percentage of errors In distribution has been
reduced over ono half. An appropriation was
given by tho last congress for lho purpose of
making somo experiments In free delivery lu
the smallor cities nnd towns. Tho results ot
these experiments have been so satisfactory
that the postmaster general recommends, nnd
I concur In the recommendation, that tho Iroo
delivery system ba at onco extoaded to towns
ot fi.OOO population. Ills discussion of tho In
udoquatc facilities cxteiidd under our present
svstem to rural communities und his surges
tions with u view to glvo these communities a
fuller participation In the benellts of the post
nl sorvloo aro worthj ot jour careful consider
ation Over B I 000 neighborhoods ure. under the pres
cnt svstem, receiving mall at post offices vvhoro
money ordors and postal notes uro not Issuod
Tho extension ot this system to lhoo commu
nities Is espcclu ly desirable, ns tho pitrons or
such offices uro not poss- sed or the other facll
Itlcs offered In more populous communities for
tho transmlslon ot smnll sums or monov. I
have, in a mosngs to the preceding congress,
expressed my views as to n modified uso ol tho
telograph in connoctlon with tho postal service.
THE NAVY.
Tho report or tho secretary ot tho navy shows
v gratltylng Increase ot new nival vessels in
commission Tho Newark. Concord. Kenning
ton nnd Mlantonomoh havooeen aided during
the vear. with an aggregate of something more
than 11.000 tons Twonty four sr ships of nil
cluss tire now under construction In the navy
yards and private shops but whllo the work
upon inrm is goi g lorwnri sansi itioriiy tuu
completion ot the moro important vessels will
yet require nbout a year's time Somo or tho
vessels now undor construction. It Is believed,
will be triumphs ot nnvnl engineering.
We havo now at Washington a gun shop, or
g ml7Cd and conducted by naval officers, that
In Its system, economy nnd product is unex
celled. Experiments with armor pinto have
been conducted during the year with most Im
portant results It Is now belloved thnt a plate
of higher resisting power than any lu uso has
beon found nnd thtt tho tests havo demon
strated thut cheaper methods of manufacture
than those heretofore thought necessary can
be used.
THE INDIANS.
The report of the secretary of tho Interior
shows that a very gratifying progress has been
mado In all or the bureaus which maku up that
department. The work In tho bureau of Indian
affairs was perhaps novor so largo as now by
reason cf tho numerous negotiations which
have been proceeding with tbe trlbos
for a reduction of tho reservations with
thn incident labor oi making allotments
and was never mora carelully couductod.
The good work ot reducing tho largor Indian
reservations by allotments In severalty to tho
Indians und tho cession ot the remaining lands
to the Unito 1 States for dlsposltloa under tho
homestead law, h s boon prosccutod during tho
year with energy and success. In September
last It was enabled to open to settlement in
Oklahoma 9)0, TO J acres of land, nil of which
wus taken up by sottlors In a stnglo day.
Tho negotiation for the relcaso by tho Choro
keos of tholr claim to tbo Cherokee Strip hns
mado no substantial progress but It Is still
honed that the cession of this lnrgo nnd valu
ablo tract may bo secured. Tho prlco which tho
commission was authorized to offer Sl.'-ft per
uore Is, In my Judgm -nt, u fair und adequate
ono and should havo boen accept -d by tho In
dians Slnco March 4, IttT-, about '."1.000,000
acres havo been separated from Indian reserva
tions and added to tho publl- domain for tbo
uso of thoso who desired to secure free homos
under our benoliesnt laws.
THE PENSION miHEAU.
The administration or tho pension bureau hns
beon characterize! during the year by great
diligence. Tbo totnl numbor ot pensioners
upon tho roll on tho .'Jth dny of June, 1E0I. was
il'D.l'X) Thoro nero allowed during the fiscal
yoar ondlng nt thut tlmo MY) rW) cases Of this
numbor, 10.'.aj7 wero allowed undor the law of
June 37, I'M The Issuing of oerlllicntes hns
been proceeding nt tho inte of about 30 0)3 per
month ubout 5 per cont. of thoso being cases
under tho now liw. Tno commissioner says
ha will bo able to carefully ' odjudlcatu and nl
low 3J0 (XX) claims during tho present Ilscal
vear. Tho appropriation for the paymont of
pouslons ror the ilscal yoar 18 W 01 w is ll!7.0V
70S, and tho amount expended $ll3.r30,sl0, leav
ing an unexpended surplus of JIW, 111.
Tho commissioner is qulto confident thnt
there will bo no cnll this year for a dellclunoy
appropriation, notwithstanding tbo rapidity
with whloh tho work Is bolng pushed Tho mis
take whlcu has been mado by many In tholr ex
n,'goruied ostlmatosof tho cost of pensions Is
In not taking account of Vio diminished valuo
of lirst payments under tho recent legislation.
Theso pavmonis undor tho general law, but o
been for many years very large, ns theponslona
when allowed dated from the time of tiling thu
clulm, and most nt those claims had beon pond
lngfor j oars. The lirst payments under tho
law of Juno, IBfci, nta relatively small and, as
lho par cent, of tbe casus inorouse and thut of
tho old casos diminishes tbo annual uggregato
ot first payments is lurgely reduced.
Durlnx tho last tour months 113,175 certifi
cates were issued. Tbouvonigo lirst paj mont
'iiurlntr thoso four months wns tlJl.hA. while
tho average first payment upon ouch allowed
during tho yoar ending Juno SO, 1811, was JJ3D
3-1, bolng a reduotlon In the average lirst pay
ments during these four months of I07.4H.
Thn estlmuto for nouston expenditures for
tho Ilscal your ondlng Juno 30, 18H, Is JHt.O'A
0)0. which after a curoful examination of the
subject, the oommlsslonor is of tho opinion will
bo Buflloient While these disbursements to
the disabled soldlors' of tho civil war are
large, th y do not realize the nxavgor ttod esti
mates ot those who oppose this bcnefloont
legislation. The secretary of tho lntorlor shows
with great fullness the euro that Is taken to ex
clude fraudulent claims and also tbe gratifying
fact that tho porsons to whom theso ponslons
aro going ure men who rendorod, not slight, but
substantial war service.
THE CENSUS BUREAU.
The work of the oensus bureau Ii now far In
ndvanco and tho bulk ot tho enormous labor in
volved complolcd. It will be more a rlotly a
statistical exhibit and loss encumbered by
ossays thun Us Immediate prodoccssors. Tho
mnthnila nnraiifld have boon fair, careful and
Intelligent, nnd havo secured tbe approval of
statisticians who havo followed them with u
BilonttUo nnd non part san Interest. The ap
propriations nocossury to the oarly completion
und publication of tho authorized v duines
should bo given In tlmo to secure ng st do.
lays, whloh lnoreaso the cost una at tno same
tlmo ditnlnlshos the value of tho worlc
AcirtionLTtmAL DErAitTMittrr.
If tho establishment ot tho department ot ag
riculture was rogardod by nnyono ns a mere
ooncosslon to tho ttnenllgbtonod domand ot a
worthy class of people that Impression has
boon most offootunlly removed by tho great re
sults already attained. Its homo Influence hns
been very great In disseminating agricultural
nnd horticultural Information! In stlmulntlng
nnd directing a further diversification ot crops)
in dotoctlng and eradicating diseases otdo-
tncstto nnlmnls; and, mora than all, In tho close
and Informal contnot which it has established
und maintains with tho farmers and stock roll
ers of the whole country, livery roquost for In
f oi mat Ion has had prompt attontlon and ovory
suggestion merited consideration
The Inspection by this department or cattle
nnd pork products intendod ror shipment
abroad has been the basis ol tho sua esses
which havo attended our cnorts to seoure tho re
moval ot tho restrictions maintained by Kuro
ponn grv orntnenls For ten years protests and
petitions upou tnls subjoet from tho packers
and stock raisers ot the United Stntos have
bocn dlrootod ngainst theso restrictions whloh
so sorlously limited our markets nnd curtailed
tho proms of tho farm It Is a source of gen
orul congratulation that success has ut lust
bocn attained.
Tho grain crop ot this year was tho largest In
our history, 10 pur ront greater than thnt of
last i ear, nml vet tho now markets that have
boen opened nnd tbo largor demand resulting
from short crops In Iluropo hnvo sustained
prices to such nn extent that tho enormous
surplus of meats and breadsluffs will bo mar
keted at good prices, bringing relief nnd pros
perlty to nn Industry that wns much depressed.
The v nine ot tho grain crop ot tho United States
Is estimated bv tho secretary to bo this year
J.100,0 0,0 X) more than Inst; of moot, SlnO 000,000
more, and ot all products of tho fntm, S700.000,.
COO more
Tltn CIVIL SFUVICE.
Tho report or tho civil service commission
should receive lho careful attontlon or the op
ponents, ns well ns tho friends ot this reform.
Tho commission Invites u personal Inspection
by sonators nnd roprosontutlvos or its records
and methods and every rnlr crltto will reel that
such un examination should preoode a Judg
ment ot condoinnulion, either ol tho system or
Its administration. It Is not claimed that
either Is porfect but I bollovo thnt the law
Is being executed with Impartiality nnd that
tho svstem Is incomparably bailor and tnlrer
than that or nppolntmcnts upon tnv or. I hav
during tho year extended the classlilod servloa
to Include superintendents, teachers, matrons
antl physicians In tho Indian service.
PllOTLCTlON FOH HAILWAY KMPLOYLS.
I havo twtco bofore urgently called tho ntten
Honor congress to the necosslty or legls utlon
ror tho protection ot tho lives or railroad em
ployes but nothing hns yot been done During
tho j oar ended June 30 1MU, W1U branemou were
hilled and 7,811 maimed while engaged In coup
Hug car. '1 he totnl number of railroad om
plojos killed during the year was tf.sSl, and the
number Injured '-'- 800 Tbls Is a cruel and
lnrgoly a needless sacrltlce. 'lho government
Is spending uonrly $1 000 UK) annually to save
tho llvos of shipwrecked honinen, every
steam vessel Is rigidly inspected nnd
required to adopt the most approved safot;
uppllances All this Is good; but how shull we
excuse tbe lack of Interest nnd effoit In behalf
of this army of bravo yoilng men who In our
lund coiumerto ore being sacrificed every year
by tho continued use ot uiillqiiuted und danger
ous nppllsiio -s A law requirlug ot ovry rail
rend thn equipment of Its freight curs, with an
tomuttc couplt rs uud ulr brakes would v cry soon
undgrcitly reduce the recent fearful death
rule among railroad employes.
Tho method ot appointment by tho states ot
electors or presldrnt und vice president has re
contly attracted renewed Interest by reason of
u departure bv tho s ntool Michigan from tho
method which h ul boen uniform In ull the
stales. Prior to lssa unions methods had been
used by the dliterent stutcs and even by th
snino state. Alter a full test ot othur methods
without Important division or dls-ent lu uuy
stato and without any purpose ot (party ndvan
tnge.&s wo must bellov e, but solely upon tho consideration-
that uniformity was desirable-, the
practice of nil thn states wus brought Into har
mony. That ibis concurrence should now be
broken Is, 1 think, an unfortunate uud oven n
threatening episode, und one thnt may well sug
gest whether thu stutes that still glvo their ap
proval to the old nnd prevailing method ought
not to secure, by a constitutional amendment,
a prnctlee which hns hud the approval or all
Tlio rocont Michigan legislation provides tor
choosing tbo congressional electors tor presi
dent by congressional districts, nud the tno
senatorial electors by districts created for that
purpose, 'tins legislation was. oi course, ac
companied by a new congrcsslonnl apportion
ment and the statutes bnug tho electoral vote
of tho stato under tho lnlluonco or tho "gerry
mander" These goirvmnnders for con
gressional purposes are. In most cases,
buttressed by n gerrymander of tbe legls
lntho districts, thus it milking impossible for a
majority or the legislature ol tho state to
correct apportionment und equalize tho con
gressional ul tricts A minority rnlo Is estab
llshcdthat only n political convulsion can over
throw. I havo recently boen advised that In
ono lounty ol n curtain stnte three districts ror
the olocilon or members ot tbe legislature are
constituted as follows; One has 0 ,0eW popula
tion ; ono 1 1,0 0 nnd ono 10,000; w htlc In unather
county detached, non contiguous sections have
beon united to make n Icglslnllvo district.
These methods hnvo already found effective ap
plication to tho choice of senators and repre
sentatives In congress, and now an evil start
has been made in tbo direction or applying
tbom to the cbolco by tho states or electors of
president und vlco president If this Is accom
plished we shall then have tho threo groat de
partments of tho government lu the grasp of
tho "gcrrymaudor" the lecislntive ana execu
tive directly und tho Judiciary indirectly
through the power of appolnimcnt-
An olectlon Implies a body of electors hav Ing
proscribed quallllcations. ouch one of wi om has
an equal valuo aud Inllucnco In determining thu
result. So when tho constitution providing
thnt ' each stato shall appoint" (elect) "in sucii
manner ns tho lezls nture may thorcof cHroot, a
number or electors," unrestrlotcd power was
not glvon to tho legislature In tho selection or
the methods to be used "A republican form of
government" Is guaranteed bv tho constitution
to each state, und power given by tho samo In
strument to tho legislatures of tho stnte to pre
scribe methods for tho eholco by tho st ite. of
electors must bo exercised under Hint limita
tion. Thn essential fenturesor such a govern
ment are tho right or tho people to choose tholr
own officers nnd lho nearest pr ictlcablo equali
ty ol V aluo in tho suffrages given in determining
that choice.
It will not bo claimed thnt tho power given
to tho legislature would support a Invv provid
ing thnt tho persons receiving tho smallest
voto should be tho electors, or a law that all
the oltctors should bo chosen bv tho voters of
a single congressional district T ie stato Is to
choose, and under tbo prctenso of regulating
methods, tho legislature can nolthorvost tho
right of choice elsowhcro nor adopt
m thods not conformable to republican
Institutions It is not mv purpose hore
to disous tho question whether n choico by
tho legislature or by tho voters of equal slnglo
dlstr ots lr. a cbolco bv tho stato. but only to
recommend such regulation of this matter by
constitutional amondment ns will secure uni
formity and prevent that disgrncotul partisan
Jugglery to which such a llborty of oholco, if it
exists offors a turaptatlon. Nothing Just now
Is more Important thin to provide every guar
anty for tho nbsolutoly fair and free choico by
en equal suffrage, within tho respective states,
of all the officers or tho n itiounl govornmont
wbothor thnt suffrage Is applied directly, as
In tho choico of inomlurs of tho bouso of
reprosuntntlv os, or indirectly ns In the choice
of senntors nnd election of president. Ilospoct
ror publlo officers nnd obodlenco to law will not
eonso to bo tho characteristics of our pooplo
until our o.ootlons oouo to declare tbo will of
majorities fairly useorlalnod, without fraud,
supproas'on, or gorryn nnder. If I wero cnllod
upon to declnro whoreln our chief nntlonnl dan
ger lies I should say without hesitation In the
ovorthrow of majority control bv tho suppres
sion or preservation or tlio popular suffrage.
That thoro is n roal danger hero all must agree,
but Uih energlos ol thoso who soo It havo boen '
chlolly expoudod in trying to fix responsibility
upon tho opposite party, ruthor than In efforts
to make such pructlcos Impossible,
I bellevo it would bo possible to constitute a
commission, non partisan in its membership
and composed or patriotic, wlso and Impartial
men to whom a consideration of the question
of tho ovils connected with our election system
and mothods might be commivea vviin agooa
prospeot of securing unanimity, in some plan
for removing or mitigating those evils The
constitution would permit tne selection of tbe
commission to be vested In the supremo court.
If that mothod would glvo tho best guaranty of
Impartiality.
To tbe consideration of theso vory grave
questions I Invite not only tho attention of con
gross, but that of all patrlotlo citizens. We
must not ontortaln tho delusion thut our poople
have coased to regard a free ballot and equal
representation us the prloo ot tholr ulleglunce
to laws an I to civil magistrates
I huvo boon greatly rcjolood to notlco that
many orllenoosof the Inoreased unlflontlon of
our peoplo nud of a revived national spirit, The
vista thut now opoiiB to us Is wldor und more
glorious than ovor before
Qrotifloatlon and utnazoment struggle for su
premtoy ns wo contemplate the population,
wealth and moral strength of our country. A
trust, momentous In its intluenau upon our peo
ple and upon tbe world Is for a brlof tlmo, com
mlttod to us. and we must not bo talthloss to lu
first condition tbe defense of the free i nd
equal lnlluonco of the people in tbo choice of
publlo officers and In tho control of publlo af
fairs. UKKJAWIM JlAUWaON,
r
im0t,iypr yiWBffi n"TJt rxtt B,jfc urn w "f t Vtt T n i .