Show THE presidents PRESTOS MESSAGE to the congress of the united states THE LAIE lale ELECTION since the close of your last sessi session the american people in the exer exercise exercise eise cise ool of the highest right of suffrage have chosen chogen their chief magistrate for the four years ensuing when it is remembered that at no period in the count rys history has the long political contest which customarily precedes the d day dax of the nat Lat iopal election n been waged aylo ayio 11 with h greater fervor and intensity it is a subject of congratulation that after the controversy at the polls was over and while the slight preponderance by which the issue had bad been determined was as yet im ascertained unascertained the public p peace bace su suffered ered no disturbance but the people eo I 1 eave everywhere ry where patiently and q quiet ulet F ly ya awaited walte waite the result nothing could in more ore strikingly illustrate the temper of t the he american citizen his love of order anahis loyalty to law nothing could more signally demon demonstrate stra te the strength and wisdom of our political tidas eight years have passed since a controversy tro versy concerning the result of a national election sharply called the attention of congress to the necessity of providing more precise and definite regulations for counting the electoral vote it is iq of the gravest importance that this question be solved before conflicting claims to the presidency shall again distract the tile country and I 1 am persuaded that by the people at large any of the measures of ef relief thus far proposed would be preferred to continued inaction FOREIGN RELATIONS our relations with all foreign powers continue to be amicable with belgium a convention hali hab been signed whereby the scope of present treat treal treaties les ies has been so enlarged as to secure to citizens of either country within the jurisdiction r tion of the other equal rights and d privileges in the acquisition and alienation of property a trademark trade mark treaty has hag also been concluded the war between chill chili and peru Is at an end for the arbitration of the claims of american citizens who during its continuance suffered through the chilian authorities a convention will soon be negotiated the state of hos tili 1111 ties between france and china continues to be an embarrassing feature of our Easter eastern ri relations ane chinese government has promptly adjusted and paid the claims of american citizens where property properly was destroyed in the recent riot at canton I 1 renew the recommendation of my last annual message that the canton fund be returned to china the true interpretation 1 of the recent treaty with that country permitting the restriction of chinese immigration is likely to be again a subject of your deliberations RIGHTS BIGHTS OF it may be seriously questioned her the sta statute passed at the last session does not violate the treaty rights of certain chinese who left this country with return certificates valid under theold the old oid law and now seem to be de barred from landing from lack of certificates required by the new the re cent purchases by the united states of a lar large trading fleet heretofore under the alnese chinese flag has considerably enhanced our commercial importance in the east in view of the large number berof berol of vessels built bulit or purchased by american citizens in other count countries ries rles and exclusively employed in legitimate traffic between foreign ports under the reco neco recognized I 1 zed prote protection celon of our flag it might ml 1 DC e w ell eli to provide a uni uniform form rate fl for r their registration and documentation I 1 that tie tle bona fide pro property erty rights of our citizens therein sm shail shall I 1 be duly evidenced and properly guarded THE CONGO COUNTRY pursuant to the advice of the senate at the last sessi session ony ont I 1 have recognized the flag of the international association 18 of the congo as that of a friendly government avoiding in so doing any prejudgment of conflict in territorial claims in that region subsequently in execution of the expressed wishes of the congress I 1 appointed appointed a commercial agent for the congo ongo basin the importance of the rich prospective trade of the congo valley has led to a general conviction that it should be open to all liati nations ons upon equal terms an international conference for the consideration of this subject hasteen has been heen called by the emperor of German yand is now in session at B berlin erlin delegates are now in attendance on behalf of the united states of the results of the conference you will be duly informed the government of corea has generously aided the efforts ot the united states minister to secure suitable the use of the delegation re the conditions of diplomatic intercourse with eastern nations demand that the legation premises be owned by the represented power I 1 advise that an appropriation be made for the ac of this property roper tyby by the gov ern ment the united gilted states already possesses valuable premises at tangier as a gift from the sultan of morocco As Is stated hereafter they have lately received a similar gift from th the siamese government the government of japan stands ready to present to our representative grounds at tokio whereon to erect a suitable building for the legation court house bouse and ana jail and similar privileges can be secured in china and persia the owning of such premises would not only effa effect t a large saving of the present resent rentals but would permit of ve the due assertion of etra territorial nights rights in IA those coun corn tries and would the better serve to maintain the dignity of the united states EGYPTIAN N representation the failure of congress to make an appropriation for our representation at the autonomous court of the khedive has proved a serious embarrassment idour in our intercourse with egypt and in view not only of the necessary intimacy of diplomatic relationship but of the participation of this government in the treaty powers in all matters of administration there affecting the rights of foreigners I 1 advise th the 6 restoration of the agency and consul general at cairo on its former basis I 1 do not conceive it to be the wish of congress that the united states should withdraw altogether from the honorable position they have hitherto had with respect to the khedive or that citizens of this r republic public res residing filing or sojourning sojo in E egypt t should should hereafter he be without the alff aluf aid landiro and protection of a competent representative THE STATUE OF LIBERTY with france the traditional cordial relationship continues The thel Bartholdt statue of liberty enlightening the world the generous gift of the people of france is expected to reach new york in may next I 1 suggest that congressional action be taken in relation to the spirit which has prompted this gift and in aid of the timely completion E letlon of the pedestal upon which it Is to be placed GERMANY AND ENGLAND our lations relations fe with germ germany any a country which contributes to our own some of ake best el elements e ments of citizenship continue to be cordial the united baates states have extradition treaties with several of the german states but by reason of the confederation of those states under the imperial rule the application of such treaties is not as lini uniform form and comprehensive as the interests of the two countries require we should endeavor therefore to open negotiations for a single convention of extradition to embrace all the territory of the empire it affords me great pleasure to say that our intercourse with great britain continues to be of a most friendly character the government govern men of hawaii has indicated its willingness to continue for seven years the provisions of the existing reciprocity treaty such continuance in view of the relations of that country to the american system of states should in my irly judge ment be favored the revolution in hayti against the established government has terminated while it was in progress it became necessary to en lorce force lorce our neutrality jaws by instituting proceedings against individuals and vessels charged with their infringement these precautions were in all cases successful DUTIES ON WORKS OF ART much anxiety has lately been displayed d by various european governments and especially bv the government of italy for the abolition of our ours import duties upon works of art it is well to consider whether the present discrimination crimin atlon in favor of the production of american artists abroad Is not likely to result as they themselves seem very generally to believe it may in the practical exclusion of our painters and sculptors from the rich fields for observation study and labor which they have hitherto enjoyed there is a prospect that the long pending revision of the foreign treatis s of japan may be concluded at a new conference to be held at tokio while this government fully recognizes reco the equal equa rand Fand and independent station of japan in the community of nations it would not oppose the general adoption of such terms of compromise as japan maybe may be disposed to offer in furtherance of a uniform policy of intercourse with tile tiie ves western Yes teril terii nations MEXICAN MATTERS during the past year the increasing 11 goodwill between our gov and that of mexico has been bein variously manifested the treaty of commercial reciprocity concluded january 20 has been ratified rati fled and awaits the necessary tariff legislation of congress to become effective the legislation will I 1 doubt not be among the first measures to claim your attention A full treaty treavy of commerce navigation and consular rights Is much to be desired and such a treaty I 1 have reason to believe that the american government stands ready to conclude some embarrassment has been occasioned by the failure of congress at its last session to provide means for the due execution of the treaty of july 1882 1881 for the resurvey of the american boundary and the relocation location re of boundary monuments PHE PANAMA CANAL with the republic of augua a treaty has been concluded which authorizes th orizes the construction by the united states of a canal railway rall rali way gay and telegraph lines across the territory by the terms of this treaty 60 miles of the river san juan as well as lake ni car augua an inland sea 40 miles in width are ard to constitute a part of the projected enterprise this conveys for actual canal construction 17 miles on the pacific side and 36 miles anthe on the atlantic to the beed toed united states whose rich territory on the pacific is for the orai oral ordinary narry narty purposes of commerce p practically c cui cul cut off from communication by water with the atlantic ports orts T the he political and commercial advantages van 15 0 such a project project can scarcely be overestimated estimated it t is believed that when the treaty Is laid before you the justice and liberality of its provisions will command con imand universal approval at home and abroad the death of our representative at ru ruia rula aa while at his post at st peters bw affording to the imperial govern nicut a renewed opportunity to testify its sympathy in a manner befitting the intimate friendliness which has ever marked the intercourse of the two countries SPAIN AND SIAM the course of this government in raising its representation at bangkok to the diplomatic rank has evoked from slam evidences of war ti friendship and augurs well f for or our enlarged intercourse the siamese government has presented to the united states a commodious mansion and grounds for the occupancy of the legation andl andi and I 1 suggest that by joint resolution congress attest its appreciation of this generous gift this government has more than once of late been deen been called upon to take action in fulfillment fulfilment of the international obligation toward spain agitation in the island of cuba hostile to the spanish crown having been fermented by persons abusing the sacred right of hospitality which our territory affords the officers of the government have been beel instructed to exercise vigilance to prevent infractions ot our neutrality laws at key west and at other points near the we cuban coast I 1 am happy to say that in only one instance were the precautionary measures successfully eluded the offenders when found in our territory were subsequently tried and convicted commercial TREATY the growing need of closer relationship of intercourse and traffic trum mic fmc between the spanish antilles and their natural market in the united sta states Cs led to the adoption in january last ol of a commercial agreement looking to that end this agreement has since been superseded by a more carefully framed and comprehensive which I 1 shall submit to the senate for approval it has been the alm aim of this negotiation tation to open such a favored reciprocal cipro ngo nuo bocal cal cai exchange as to make the intercourse between betwee ri cuba and porto rico and ourselves scarcely less intimate than the commercial movement between our domestic ports and to insure a removal of the burdens on shipping ing in n the spanish Ind Indie indle lesof which an fn in thelast the past our ship owners and ship masters have so often had cause to complain the negotiation of this convention has for a time postponed the prosecution of certain claims of our citizens which were declared to be without the jurisdiction gf cf the span ish isk american claims commission and which we therefore remitted to diplomatic channels for adjustment the speedy settlement of these claims will be urged by this government negotiations for a treaty of commercial reciprocity with the dominican republic have been successfully concluded elfi ded and the result will ylli shortly be laid before the senate THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE emrine certain questions between the united states and the ottoman empire still remain reinald unsolved complaints in behalf of our citizens are not satisfactorily adjusted the porte has sought to withhold from our commerce the right of the favored treatment to which we are arc entitled by existing con vet ional stipulations and the revision of the tariff is unaccomplished the final disposition of pending questions with venezuela Ven ezula has not yet been reached but I 1 have good nood reason to expect an early settlement which will provide the means of reexamining the caracas awards in conformity with the expressed desire of congress and which will recognize L the justice of certain claims perl erred against venezuela the central and south america commission appointed by authority of the act of july ath 1884 will soon proceed to mexico it has been furnished with instructions which will be laid before you they contain a statement of the general policy of the government for enlarging its commercial intercourse with american states the commissioners have been actively preparing for their responsible task by holding holdo conferences in the principal cities wit with merchants and others interested in the central and south american trade A UNIVERSAL DAY the international merl meridian diah dish conference lately convened in washington upon the invitation of the government ot the united states was composed of representatives from twenty five nations the conference concluded its ita labors on the 1st ast of november having with substantial unanimity agreed upon the meridian of greenwich as the starting point whence longitude Is to be completed through degrees east cast ward and westward and upon the adoption for all purposes for which it ft may be found convenient of a universal day which shall begin at midnight on the initial meridian and where hours shall be counted from zero up t to 24 |