TuBLISattO DT RoAHOJtB PUBLISHING CO.
"FOR GOD. JfOR COUNTRY AND FOR TRUTH.
C. V. W.' ACBBOH, BUSINESS MANAGER.
VOL. II.
PLYMOUTH, N. 0., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12,1890.
NO. 31.
THE PRESIDENT; S MESSAGE.
To th Senate and Houte of Representativtn:
The vest and increasing business of the
government has been transacted by the pev
eral departments during the year with faith
fulness, energy and success. The revenues
amounting to above 1450.000,000, -. have been
eouectaa and disbursed without revealing, so
far as I can ascertain; a single case of defalca
tion or embezzlement, - An earnest effort has
been made to stimulate a sense of rmnonsibii-
ity and public duty in all officers and employes
of every grade, and the work done by them
nas almost wholly escaped unfavorable criti
cism. I speak of these matters with freedom
because the credit of this good work is not
mine, but is shared by the heads of ths sav-
erai departments with the great body of
faithful officers and emploves who serve
under them. The closest scrutiny of Con
gress is invited to all the methods of admin
istration aqd to every item of expenditure.
friendly relations wits europe.
The friendly relations of our country with
the nations or Europe and of the East have
been undisturbed, while the ties of good will
and common interest that bind us to the
States of the Western Hemisphere have been
notably strengthened by the conference held
in this capital to consider measures for the
general welfare. Pursuant to the invitation
authorized by Congress, the representatives
of every independent State of the American
continent ana of Hayti met in conference in
this capital in October, 1889, and continued
in session until the 19th of last April. This
important convocation marks a most inter
esting and influential epoch in the history of
we w estern Hemisphere, it is notewortbv
that Brazil, invited while under an imperial
! form of government, shared as a republic in
the deliberations and results of the confer
ence. The recommendations of this eonfer-
ence were all transmitted to Congress at the
Hast session.
! - THE KILLING OFBARRUXDIA.
, The killing of General Barrundia on board
ithe Pacific mail steamer Acapulco, while an
chored in transit in the port of Ban Jose da
i Guatemala, demanded careful inquiry. Hav-
i ing iaiiea in a revolutionary attempt to in-
vaae uuatemaia irom .Mexican territory,
! General Barrundia took Dossasre at Acatmlco
for Panama. The consent of the representa
, tives of the United States was sought to effect
' his seizure, first at Pha.mrxrinn nrhera tha
steamer touched, and aftBr ward at San Jose.
i The captain of the steamer refused to give up
bis passenger without a written order from
' me united states Minister: the latter fur
nished the desired letter.stioulatine.asthe con
dition of his action, that General Barrundia's
I lire 6hould be spared, and that he should D3
tried only for offenses growing out of his in
surrectionary movements. This letter was
produced to the captain of the Acaoulco bv
the military commander at San Jose, as his
warrant to take the passanger from the
steamer. General Barrundia resisted capture
and was killed. It being evident that the
Minister, Mr. Mizner, bad exceeded the
bounds of hi3 authority in intervening, in
compliance with the demands of the Guata
rnalan authoritiesto authorize and effect, in
violation of precedent, the seizure on a vessel
of the United States of a passenger in transit
. charged with political offenses, in order that
he might be tried for such offenses under
wnat was described as martial law, I was
constrained to disavow Mr. Mizner's act and
recall him from his post.
THE KEW EXTRADITION TREATY WITH GREAT
BRITAIN. "
The new treat of extradition with Great
Britain, after due ratification, was pro
claimed on the 25th of last March. Its bsne
flcial working is already apparent.
The difference between the two govern
ments touching the fur seal question
in the Behriog Sea is not yet adjusted,
as will be seen by the correspondence
which will soon be laid before Con
gress. The offer to submit the ques-
x . . - a i ,
non w aroiixauoD, as proposed oy nr
Majesty's Government, has not been accepted,
for the reason that the form of submission
proposed is not thought to be calculated to
assure a conclusion satisfactory to either
partyt , It is sincerely hoped that before the
opening of another sealing season some ar
rangement may be effected which will assure
to the United States a property right, derived
from Rnssia, which was not unregarded by
any nation for more than eighty years pre
ceding the outbreak of the existing trouble.
INJUSTICE TO HAWAII.
In the tariff act a wrong was done to the
kingdom of Hawaii which I am bound to
presume was wholly unintentional. Duties
were levied on certain commodities which
are included in the reciprocity treaty now
existing between the United States and the
kingdom of Hawaii, without indicating the
necessary exception in favor of that king
dom. I hope Congress will repair what
might otherwise seem to be a breach of faith
on the part of this government.
i UNCLE SAM'S POCKETBOOK.
The revenues of the government from all
sources for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1890, were $463,963,080.55, and the total ex
penditures for thesame period were $358,618,
84.52. The postal receipts have not hereto
fore been included in the statement of these
aggregates, and for the purpose of
comparison the sum of $60, 882, 007 .93
should be deducted from both sides
of the account. Tho surplus for
the year, including the amount applied to the
Binkingfund,was$l05,344, 496.03. The receipts
for 1890 were $16,080,023.79 and the expendi- I
tures $15,739,871 in excess of those of 1880.
The customs receipts increased $3,835,842.88
and the receipts from internal revenue $11,
725,191.89, while, on the side of expenditures,
that for pensions was $19,812,075.93 in ex
cess of the preceding year.
The Treasury statement for the current
fiscal year, partly actual and partly, esti
mated, is as follows: Receipts from all
sources, $408,000,000; total expenditures,
$354,000,000, leaving a surplus of. $52,000,000
not takincr the nostal receints into the ac
count on either side. The loss of revenue
from customs for tho last quarter is esti
mated at $33,000,000. but from this is de
ducted a gain of about $16,000,000, realized
during the first four months of the year.
Tor the year 1892 the total estimated re
ceipts are $373,000,000 and the estimated ex
pondi tures $357,832,209.42, leaving an esti
mated surplus of $15,117,790.58, which, with a
cash balance of $92,000,000 at the beginning of
the year, will give $07,147,790.58 as the sum
available for tho redemption of outstanding
bonds or other uses. The estimates of re
ceipts and expenditures for the Postofflce
Department, being equal, are not included in
this statement on either side.
THE CIRCULATION' OF TREASURY NOTES.
Tho act "directing the purchase of silver
bullion and the issue of Treasury notes there
n m.rnvw) Jiilv ,14. lS'JO. has been ad-
juy " F r "
ministered by the Secretary of the Treasury
with an earnest purposa to get into circula
tion at the earliest possible data the full
monthly amounts of Treasury notes contem
plated by its provisions and at the sometime
to give to the market for silver bullion such
Mipport as the law contemplates. The re
cent depreciation in the price o silver has
i been observed vvitn regret The rapid rise
! in price which anticipated and followed the
I passageof tho act was Influenced in some
'ejree by speculation, and ths recant reac
tion is in part the result of the same cause
and in part of the recent monetary disturb-
, neccssai)- to determine ths pinnsmut j
of the recent legislation upon silver values,
but it is gratifying to know that the increased
circulation secured by the act has exerted
and will continue to exert a most beneficial
influence upon business and upon general
values.
While it has not been thought best to
renew formally the suggestion of an inter
national conference looking to an agreement
touching the full use of silver for coinage at
a uniform ratio, care has been taken to ob
serve closely any change in the situation
abroad, and no favorable opportunity will be
lost to promote a result which it is confident
ly believed would confer very large benefits
upon the commerce of the world.
The recent monetary disturbances in Eng
land are not unlikely to suggest a re-extmi-nation
of opinions upon this subject. Our
very large supply of cold will, if not lost by
impulsive legislation In the supposed interest
of silver, give us a position of advantage in
promoting a permanent and safe interna
tional agreement for the free use of silver as
a coin metal
The efforts of the Secretary to increase she
volume of money in circulation by keeping
down the Treasury surplus to the lowest
practicable limit have been unremitting and
in a very high degree successful. The tables'
presented by him, showing the increase of
money in circulation during the last two
decades, and especially the table show
ing the increase during the nineteen
months he has administered the affairs
of the department, are interesting and
instructive. The increase of money in circu
lation during the nineteen months has been
in the aggregate $:)3,866,813, or about $1.50
per capita, and of this increase only $7,000,000
was due to the recent silver legislation. That
this substantial and needed aid given to com
merce resulted in an enormous reduction of
the public debt and of the annual interest
charge is matter of increased satisfaction.
There have been purchased and redeemed
since March 4, 1889, 4 and 4K per cent,
bonds to the amount of $211,832,450, at acost
of $246,620,741, resulting in the reduction of
the annual interest charge of $8,967,609 and
a total saving of interest of $51,576,708.
I notice with great pleasure the statement
of the Secretary that the receipts from inter
nal revenue have increased during the last
fiscal year nearly $12,000,000 and that the cost
of collecting this larger revenue was less by
$90,617 thaw for the same purpose in the pre
ceding year. The percentage of cost of col
lecting the customs revenue was less for the
last fiscal year than ever before.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
The report of the Secretary of TVarfx
hibits several gratifying results attained
during the year Tby wise and unostentatious
methods. The percentage of desertions from
the army (anevilfor winch both Congress
and the department have long been seeking
a remedy) nas been reduced during the past
year 24 per cent., and for the months of Au
gust ana September, during which time th9
favorable effects of the act of June 26 were
felt, 33 per cent., as compared with the same
months of 1889.
1 concur in the recommendations of the
Secretary that adequate and regular appro
priations be continued for coast detence
works and ordnance. Plans have been prac
tically agreed upon, and there can be no
good reason for delaying the execution of
them; while the defenceless state of our
great seaports furnishes an urgent reason for
wise expedition.
The encouragement that has been extend
ed to the militia of the States, generally and
most appropriately designated the "National
Guard," should be continued and enlarged.
These military organizations constitute, in a
large sense, the army of the United States,
while about five-sixths of the annual cost of
their maintenance is defrayed by the States.
PUNISHMENT 07 VIOLATORS OF THE LAW.
The report of the Attorney-General is un
der the la w submitted directly to Congress,
bnt as the Department of Justice is one of
the Executive Departments some ref erenoa
to the work done is appropriate here.
A vigorous and, in the main, an effective
effort has been made to bring to trial and
punishment all violators of the laws; but, at
the same time, care has been taken that friv
olous and technical offenses should not be
used to swell the fees of officers or to harass
well-disposed citizens. Especial attention is
called to the facts connected with the prose
cution of violations of the election laws and
of offenses against United States officers.
The aumbar of convictions secured, very
many of them upon pleas of guilty, will ft
is hoped, have a salutary restraining in
fluence. There have been several cases where :
postmasters appointed by me have been
subjected to violent interference in the
discharge of their official duties and to
persecutions and personal violence of
the most extreme character. Some
of these cases have been dealt with throuzh
the Department of Justice, and in soma
cases the postoffices have been abolished
or suspended. I have directed the Postmaster-General
to pursue this course in all
cases where other efforts failed to secure for
any postmaster, not himself in fault, an op
portunity peacefully to exercise the duties
f Thia office. But such action will not sup
plant the efforts of the Department of Jus-
tlCe tO DrlnZ me P" mtuicu uubwh a w
punishment.
WORK OF THE POSTOrriUJt v&r a junx.
The renort of ths Postmaster General shows
the most gratifying progress in the important
werk committed to his direction. The busi
ness methods have been greatly improved. A
large economy in expenditures and an in
crease of four and three-quarter millions in
receipts have been realized. The .deficiency
this year is $3,786,300, as against $6,350,133 !
last year, notwithstanding the great en
largement of the service. Mail routes have
been extended and quickened, and great
accuracy and dispatch in distribution and
delivery have been attained.
The passage oi me ace 10 amenu certain
eanHnno f t,h Rov'sa I Statutes relating to
lotteries; approved September 19, 1890, nas
been received witn great ana aeservoa popu
lar favor. The Postofflce Department and the
Department of Justice at once entered upon
the enforcement of the law with sympathetic
vigor, and already the public mails have been
largely freed from the fraudulent and demor
alizing appeals and literature emanating
from the lottery companies.
OUR NEW NAVT.
The construction and equipment of the
new ships for ths navy have made very sat
isfactory progress. Since March 4, 1889,
nine new vessels have been put in com
mission, and during this winter four more,
including one monitor, will be added. The
construction of the other vessels authorized
is being pushed, both in the government and
private yards, with energy, and watched
with the most scrupulous care.
The experiments conducted during the
year to test the relative resisting power of
armor plates has beon so valuable as to at
tract great attention in Europe. The only
part of the work upon the new ships that is
threatened by unusual delay is the armor
plating, and every effort i3 being male to
reduce that to the minimum. It is a sourea
of congratulation that the anticipated in
fluence of these modern vessels upon tha
esprit de corps of the officers and seamen has
been fully realized. Confidence and pride in
the ship among the crew are equivalent to a
secondary battery. Your favorable consid
eration is U vited to the recommendations of
the Secretary.
SETTLEMENT OF THE INDIAN TROUBLES.
The s?v?ral acts of Conzress looking to
the reduction of the larger Indian reserva-
tlona- to tiw nvre rar-id settleaqt of ttial.i- (
dians upon individual allotments, and the
restoration to the publio domain of lands in
excess of their needs, have been largely car
ried into effect so far as the work was con
fided to the Executive. Agreements have
been concluded since March 4, 1839, in
volving the cession to the United States of
about 14,736,000 acres of land. These con
tracts have, as required by law, been sub
mitted to Coneress for ratification and for
the apnropriations necessary to carry them
into effect. Those with the Sisseton, and
Wahpeton, Sac and Fox, Iowa, Pottawato
mie s and Abentee Shawnees and Coeur
d'AJene tribes have not yet received the sanc
tion of Congress. Attention is also called to
the fact that the appropriations made in the
case of the Sioux Indians have not covered
all the stipulated payments, rhis should be
promptly corrected. If an agreement is con
firmed, all of its terms should be complied
with without delay, and full appropriations
should be made.
LANDS TO SETTLERS.
The policy outlined in my last annual mes
sage in relation to the patenting of lands to
settlers upon the publio domain has been
carrier-out in the administration of the
Land Office. No general suspicion or
imputation of fraud has been allowed
to delay the hearing and adjudication of in
dividual cases upon their merits. The
purpose has been to perfect the title of honest
settlers with such promptness that the value
of the entry mizht not be swallowed uo by
the expense and extortions to which delay
subjected the claimant. The average
monthly issue of agriculture patents has been
increased about six thousand.
' THE PENSIONS.
The Disability Pension act, which was ap-
firovedon the 27th of June last, has been put
ii to operation"' rapidly as was practicable.
The inereasetPclerical force provided was
selected and assigned to work, and a con
sidorable part of the force engaged in
examinations in the field was , re
called and added to the working fore?
of the office. The examination and adjudi
cation of the claims have, by reason of im
proved methods, been more rapid than ever
before. There is no economy to the govern
ment in delay, while there is much hardship
and injustice to the soldier. The anticipate !
expenditure, while very large, will not, it is
believed, be in excess of tho estimates made
before ths enactment of the law. This liberal
enlargement of the general law should sug
gest a more careful scrutiny of bills for spe
cial relief, both as to the cases where r alio J
is granted and to the amount allowed.
THE CENSUS.
The enumeration of the people of tha
United States under the provisions of the
act of March 1. 1889, has been completed,
and the result will be at once officially com
municated to Congress. The completion of
this decennial enumeration devolves upon
Congress the duty of making a new appor
tionment of Representatives "among the
several States according to their respective
numbers,"
AGRICULTURE.
The report of the Secretary of Agriculture
deserves especial attention in view of the
fact that the year has been marked in a very
hv agitation and orcranizn.
tion among the farmers looking to an in
crease in tne pronts oi tueir ousiness. xc wu i
be f ouud that the efforts of the department
Wn int-AlliVpnt.lv tLTtd zsalotislv devntarl
to the promotion of the interests intrusted to
its care.
A very substantial improvement In the mar
ket prices of the leading farm products dur
ing the year is noticed. The price of wheat
inra1 from 81 cants in October. 1889. to
4 1 fmV in rtatrthnr. 1890; mm from 31 cents tr
K1W rents; oats from 19V cents to 43 cents.
and barley irom o csou to o cea& jueau
showed a substantial but not so large an in
nuca That- arnnrt trade in live animals
and fowls show a very large increase; th
total value of such exports for the year end
ing June 30, 1890, was $33,000,000, and the in
crease over the preceding year was over $15,-
000,000. . Nearly 200,000 more cattle and over
45,000 more hogs were exportea man in tno
preceding year. The export trade in beef and
nnrk nroducts and in da'ry products was
very largely increased, the increase in
the article of butter ; alone being from
15,504,973 pounds to 29,748.043 pounds, and
a.I inxrasBi in t.hn vulnn ff mut and
UUO lASUiu jmw wwmw -" ' -
dairy products exported being $34,000,000.
This trade, so directly helpful to the farmer,
it- 4 Kaliamut will Vift vfit further and varv
. U h WW" . " J J
largely increased when the system of in
spection aOU MUUIUJ DUpi VifllWii UVTO pu-
vided by law is brought fully in operation.
Tne efforts OI me oecretary vj ebutunsu me
t,Aoihf,iinofia nf mir meats azainst the dis
paraging imputations that have been put
upon them abroad have resulted in sub-stan-
VlOi progress, vobciiuaij oia t ,cuua acu u vuu
-f.hu ffanai-tmnnt are now allowed to narti-
cipate in the inspection of the live cattle from
this country lanaea ac ine jngusn aocss,
and during the several months they have
han nn dntv no. case of contaiious pleuro
pneumonia has been reported. Thisinspac-
tion aoroaa, ana tne aomeswc inspscuoa i
live animals and pork products, provided for
by the act of August 30, 1890, will afford as
perfect a guaranty for the wholesomeness of
our meats offered for foreign consumption as
is anywhere given to any food product, and
its non-acceptance will quite clearly reveal
the real motive of any continued restriction
of their use; and, that having been made
clear, the duty of the Executive will be very
plain.
THE BEET SUGAR INDUSTRY.
mininfii-mntinn Hvan bvlha Sacretarv of
t no nmin-pss and orosoacts of the beet 'suTar
industry is full of interest. It has already
Dassed tne experimental stage ana is a com
mercial success. The area over which the
sugar beet can be successfully cultivates is
unnttiM- field croD of exeat value
is offered to the choice of the farmers.
The Seeretarv of the Treasury concurs in
the recommendation of th9 Secretary of
Agriculture that the official supervision pro
vided by the Tariff law for sugar of domestic
producion shall be transferred to the De
partment of Agriculture.
..THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The law relating to the Civil Servica has,
so far as I can learn, been executed by those
having the power of appointment in the class
ified service with fidelity and impartiality,
and the service has been increasingly satis
factory. The report of the commission
shows a large amount of good work dono
during the year with very limited appropria
tions. WORK OF THE FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS. ,
I congratulate the Congress and the coun
try upon the passage at the first session of
the Fifty-first Congress of an unusual num
ber of laws of very high importance. That
the results of this legislation will be the quick
ening aud enlargement of our manufactur
ing industries, larger and better mark
ets for our breadstuffa and provisions
both at home and abroad, more constant em
ployment and Ntter wages for our working
people, and an increased supply of a safe cur
rency for the transaction of business, I do
not doubt, Somexof these measures were en
acted at so late alperiod that the beneficial
effects upon commwee which were in the con
templation of Congress have as yet but par
tially manifested themselves. ,
IMPROVED INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS.
The Feneral trad and industrial conditions
throng 'iont UiprrcrVitry during thoyear bava
fchcwii a i , I - i i 'roveinent. For many
-:.!": , ?r. svt-nn.Iise laJaac-W
of foreign trade had been largely In our fa
vor, but during that year and the year f ol
lowinz thev turned against us. It is very
gratifying to know that the last fiscal year
again snows a balance in our iavor
of over t68.000.000. The bank clear-
ines. which furnish a eood test of
the volume of business transacted, for?
the first ten months of the year 1880 show, as
compared with the same months of 1889, an
increase for the whole country of about 8.4
per cent., while the increase outside the city
of New York was over 13 per cent. During
the month of October the clearings of the
whole country showed an increase of 3.1 par
cent, over October, 1839. whileout3ide of New
York the increase was 11J per cent. These
figures show that the increase in the volume
of business was very general throughout the
country. That this larger business was
b?ing conducted upon a safe and profitable
basis is shown by the fact that there were
309 less failures reported in October, 1893,
than in the same month of the preceding
year, with liabilities diminished by about
$50,000,000.
INCREASE IN EXPORTS.
The value of our exports of domestic mir
chandisa during the last year was over $115,
000,000 greater than the preceding year, and
was only exceeded once in our history . About
$103,000,000 of this excess was in agricultural
product! The production of. pig iron
always a good gauge of general prosperity
is -shown by a recent census builetia
to have been 153 per cent, greater in
1893 than in 1880, and the production
of steel 290 per cent, greater. Mining
in coal has had no limitation except that re
sulting from deficient transportation. The
general testimony Is that labor is everywhere
fully employed, and the reports for tas last
year show a smaller number of employes
affected by strikes and lockouts than in any
year since 1834. The depression in the prices
of agricultural products had been greatly re
lieved, and a buoyant and hopeful tsns was
beginning to bs felt by all our people. -
These promising influences have been in
some degree checked by the surprising
and very unfavorable monetary events which
have recently taken place in England. It is
gratifying to know that thasa did not grow
in any degree out of the financial relation of
London with our people, or out of any dis
credit attached to our securities held in that
market. The return of our bonis
and stocks was caused by a money stringmcy
iu England, not by any I033 of value or
credit in the securities themselves. We
could not, however, wholly escape tha ill
effects of a foreign monetary agitation ac
companied by such extraordinary incidents
as characterized this. It is not believed,
however, that these evil incidents which
have for the time unfavorably af
fected values in this country, can lonj
withstand the strong, sate and wholesoma
influences which are operating to give to our
people profitable returns in all branches of
legitimate trade and industry. The appre
hension that our tariff may again aud at
once be subjected to important general
changes would undoabtadly add a depress
ing influence of the most serious character,
THE NEW TARIFF.
The General Tariff act has only partially
gone into operation, some of its important
provisions being limited to take effect at
dates yet in the future. The general pro
visions of the law have been in force less than
sixty days. Its permaneut effects upon
trade and prices still largely stand in con
jecture. It is curious to note that the
advance in the prices of articles wholly
unaffected by the Tariff act wan by many
hastily ascribed to that act. Notice was not
taken of the fact that the general tendency
of the markets was upward from influences
wholly apart from the recent tariff legisla
tion. The enlargement of our currency by
the Silver bill undoubtedly gave an upward
tendency to trade and had a marked effect
on prices; but this natural and desired effect
of the silver legislation was by many erro
neously attributed to the Tariff act.
There is neither wisdom nor justica in the
suggestion that the subject of tariff revision
6hall be again opened before this law has had
a fair trial It is quite true that every tariff
schedule is subject to objections. No bill was
ever framed, I suppose, that in all of its rates
and classifications nad the full approval even
of a party caucus.
Such legislation Is always and naeessarily
the product of compromise as to details, and
the present law is no exception. But in its
general scope and effect I think it will justify
the support of those who believe that Ameri
can legislation should conserve and defend
American trade and the wages of American
workmen.
The misinformation as to the terms of the
act which has been so widely disseminated at
home and abroad will be corrected be experi
ence, and the evil auguries as to its results
confounded by the market reports, the sav
ings' banks, international trade balances and
the general prosperity of our people. Already
we begin to hear from abroad and from our
custom houses that the prohibitory effect
upon importations imputed to ths act is not
justified. Tho imports at the port of New
York for the nrst three weeks of November
were nearly 8 per cent, greater than for the
same period in 1889 and 29 per cent, greater
than in the same period of 188S. And so far
from being an act to limit exports, I confi
dently believe that under it we shall secure a
larger ana more proncaoie participation m
foreign trade than we have ever enjoyed, and
that we shall recover a proportionate partici
pation in the ocean carrying trade or tna
world. -
The criticisms of the bill that have come to
us from foreign sources may well be rejected
for repugnancy. If these critics reaOy be
lieve that the adoption by us of a free trade
policy, or of tariff rates having reference
solely to revenue, would diminish the partici
pation of their own countries in the com
merce of the world, their advocacy and pro
motion by sneech and other forms of organ
ized effort of this movament among our
people is a rare exhibition of unselfishness in
trade. And, on the other hand, if they sin
cerely believe that the adoption of a protec
tive tariff policy by this country insures to J
their profit ana our hurt, it is noticeably ,
strange that they should lead the outcry
against the authors of a policy so helpful to
their country men, and crown with their
favor those who would snatch from tbem a
substantial share of a trade with other lands
already inadequate to their necessities.
There is no aisposition among any of our
people to promote prohibitory or retaliatory
legislation. Our policies are adopted not to
the hurt of others, but tosecurefor ourselves
those advantages that fairly grow out
of our favored position as a nation. Our
form of government, with its incident
of universal suffrage, makes it imperative
that we shall save our working people from
the agitations and distresses which scnt
work and wages that have no margin for
comfort always baget. But after all this is
done it will be found that our markets are
open to friendly commercial exchanges of
enormous value to the other great powers.
From the time of my induction into office
the duty of using every power and influence
p-iven by la w to the Executive Departmentf or
the development of larger markets for our
products, especially our larni products, nas
been kept constantly In mind, and no effort
has boon or will be spared to promote that end
IVe are under no disadvantages in any foreigs
market, except that we my our workmen
better wages than are paid rise where better
abstractly, bettor relatively to tho cost of
the neeeswipa of lif I 0r rt'-'t donbt that
a verv largely increased foreign trade i:
acceiUe to us
either our home market for such products of
the farm and shop as our own people can
supply or the wages of our working people.
RECIPROCITY.
In many of the products of wood and iron,
and in meats and breadstuffs, we have ad
vantages that only need better facilities of
intercourse and transportation to secure for
them large foreign markets. The reciprocity
clause, of the Tariff act wisely and effectively
opens the way to secura a large reciprocal
trade In exchange for the free admission to
our ports of certain products. The right
of independent nations to make special re.
cipro?al trade concessions is well established,
and does not impair either the comity due to
other powers or what is known as tho
"favored-nation clause," so generally found'
in commercial treaties. What is given to
ona for an adequata agreed consideration
cannot be claimed by another freely. The
state of the revenues was such that we
could disponss with any important duties
upon coffee, tea, "hides and thq
lower grades of sugar and molassas.
That the large advantage resulting to til?
countries producing and exporting thw3 ar
ticles by placing them on the free list en
titled uj to expect a fair return in the way
of customs concessions upon article exported
by us to them was so obvious that to have
gratuitously abandoned this opportu nity to.
enlarge our trade would have bean an un
pardonable error.
There were but two methods of maintain
ing control of this question op3n to Congress,
to placa all of these articles uooa ths dutia
ble list subject to such treaty' agreements as
could be secured, or to placa them all pres
ently upon the free list, but subject to th?
reimoosition of specified duties if " ths
countries from whioh we received them,
should ref uss to give to us suitable racipro
cal benefits. This latter method, I think,
possesses great advantages.
The indications thus far given are very
hooeful of early and favorable action by the
countries from which we receive our lar-ra
imports of coffee and sugar, and it is confi
dently belisved that if steam communication
with thess countries can ba pronptly im
prove I and enlarged the next year will show
a most gratifying incraa in our export) of
breadstuffs and provisions, as well as of
some important liaes of manutacturei goods.
AID FOR AMERICAN SHIPPING.
t desire to repeat with added urgency the
r.-vommandations contained in my last an
nual message in relation to the develop
ment of American steamship lines. The j
reciprocity clause of the Tariff bill will b9 I
largely limited, and its benefits retardel
an! diminished if provision is not
contemporaneously mad 3 to encourage
tho establishment of flrst-dasj steam
communication between our ports and tha
ports of such nations as may meet our over
tures for enlarged commercial exchanges.
The steamship, carrying the malls statedly
and frequontly, and offering to passongers a
comfortable, sate, and speedy transit, is tha
first condition of foreign trade. It carries the
order or the buyer, but not all that is ordered
or bought. It gives to the sailing vessels such
cargoes as ara uot urgent or perishable, and,'
indirectly at least, promotes that important
adjunct of commerce. There is now both in
this country and in the nations of Central and
South America a state of expectation and
confidence as to increased trade that will give
a double value to your prompt action upon
this auestion.
The South Atlantic and Gulf ports occupy
a very favored position toward the new and
important commerce which tha reciprocity
clause of the tariff act and the postal ship-
fing bill are designed to promote. Steamship
ines from these ports to soma northern port
of South America willalmo3t certainly effect
a connection between the railroad systems of
the continents long before any continuous
line of railroads cau be put into operation.
The very large appropriation made at the last
session for the harbor of Galveston was justi
fied, as it seemed to mo, by thes3 considera
tions. The great Northwest wili feel the
advantage of trunk lines to the South as well
as to the East,and of the new markets opened
for their surplus food products and for many
of their manufactured products.
AN INTERNATIONAL BANK.
I had occasion in May last to transmit to
Congress a report adopted by the Interna
tional American Conference upon the sub
ject of the incorpoi atioa of an international
American bank, with a view to facilitating,
money exchanges between the States repre
sented in that conference.- Such an in
stitution would greatly promote the
trade we ara seeking to develop. I
renew the recommendation that a careful
and well-guarded charter ba granted. I do
not think the powers granted should include
those ordinarily exercised by trust, guaranty ,
and saEe-deposit companies, or that more
branches in the United States should be au
thorized than are strictly necessary to ac- ,
complish the object primarily in view, i
namly, convenient foreign exchanges.
It is quite important that prompt action
should be taken in this matter, in order that
any appropriations for better communication
with these countries, and any agreements
that may be made for reciprocal trade, may
not be hindered by the inconvenience of mak
ing exchanges through European money
centers, or burdened by the tribute which is
an incident of that method of business.
RELIEF FOR THE SUPREME COURT.
The bill for tha relief of the Supreme Court
ha3, after many years of discussion, reached a
position where final action is easily attain
able, and it is hoped that any differences of
opinion may be so harmoniead as to save the
essential features of this very important
measure. In this connection I earnestly r
new my recommendation that the salaries of
judges of the United States district courts be
so readjusted that none of thena shall receive
less than $5 XX) per annum.
A NATIONAL BANKRUPT LAW.
The enactment of a national bankrupt law
I still regard as very desirable. The Consti
tution having given to Congress jurisdiction
of this subject, it should be exercised, and
tmiform ruins orovided for the administra
tion of the affairs of insolvent debtors. The
inconveniences resulting from the occasional
and temporary exercise of the power by
Congress, and from the conflicting State
codes of insolvency which come into forc9 in
termediately, should be removed by the en
actment of a simple. Inexpensive and perma
nent national bankrupt law.
I also renew ray recommendation in favor
of legislation affording just copyright pro-,
tectum to foreign authors, on a footing of
reciprocal advantage for our authors abroad.
SAFETY IN COUPLING CARS.
It may still be possible for this Congress
to inaugurate, by suitable legislation, a
movement looking to uniformity and in
creased safety in the use of couplers aud
brakes upon freight trains engaged In Intel-state
commerce. Tha chief difficulty in
the way is to secure agreement as to the best
appliances, simplicity, effectiveness and cost
being considered. This difficulty will only
yield to legislation, which should be based
upon full inquiry and impartial tests. The
purpose shouia oe to secure tne co-opwawon
of all well-disposed managers and owners,
but the fearful fact that every year's delay
involves the sacrifice of 2000 lives and the
maiming of 30,000 young men shofld plead
both with Congress and the managers
against any needless delay.
THE POSTOFFICE AND THE TELEGRAPIL
The use of tha telegraph by the Postofilce
Department as a means tor tha rapid trpus-
jnission of written communications is, I be
Veve, upon proper terms quita dorable.
..'k. ...... an Anem nnt.nwn nr nnnrata tha
S railroads, and it should not, I think, own or .
operate the telegraph lines. . uoes -non,
however, seem f be quiet practicable for
the Government to contract with, the tele
graph companies, as it does with the rail
road companies, to carry at specified rates
such communications as the senders may
designate for this method of transmission.
I recommend that rash legislation be enacted
as will enable the Postoffica Department
fairly to test by experiment the advantages
of such a use of the telegraph. ,
THE ZLECTKKf LAW3. .
If any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required to catalogue
the essential human conditions of national .
life I do not doubt that with aosoluts unani
mity thev would begin with "free and honesD ;
elections?' And it is grati tying to know that .
fenerally there is a gro ing and non-partisan
emand for better election laws. But against
this sign of hope and progress must ba sat the
depressing and undeniable fact that elec- :
tion laws and methods ara sometimes cun
ningly contrived to secure minority contro',
white violei.ee completes the shortcoming
of fraud.
In my last annual message I suggested that
the development of tha existing law provid
ing a Federal supjrvisioa of Congressional
elections offered an erf active mehoi of re
forming these abuses The na3d of such a
law has manifested itself in many parts of :
the country, and iti wholesoma -restraints -and
penalties will be useful in all. Tha con-
stitutionality of ' such legislation baa
been affirmed by the Suprema Court.
Its probable effectiveaasj is evldensed
by the character of the opposition .
that is made to it. It has beau denouncad
as it it wera a new exercisa of Federal
Sower and an invasion of tha rights of the
tatea. Nothing could ba f urthar from the
truths Congress has alreidy flxad tha time
for the election of mambors of Con ;-ess. It
has declared that votes for mambars of Con
gress must ba by written or printed ballot;
it has provide! for the appointment by the
circuit conrts in certain cases, and upon the
petition of a certain numotT of citizens, "f
election suparvisors, and made it their outy .
to super trise the registration of voters con-...
.ducted by the State officers; to chatlenga ,
persons offering to register; to parsonally in
spect and scrutiniza the registry lists, and to
affix their names to the lists for tha purposa
of identification and the prevention of
frauds; to attend at elections and remain
with the boxes till the votes are all cast and
counted; to attach to the registry list and
election returns any statement touching
the accuracy and fairness of tha registry
and election, and to take and transmit
to the Clerk or tha Housa of Rep
resentatives any evidence of fraudulent
practices which may bo presented to them.
The same law provide i for tha appointment
of Deputy United State i Marshals to attend
the polls, support the Supervisors iu the dis
charge of their duties, and to arrant persons
violating the election laws. The provisions
of this familiar title of the Revised Statutes
have been put into exercise by both tha great
political parties, and in the North as well as
La the South, by the filing with the court of
the petitions required by the law.
It is not, therefore, a question whether we
shall have a Fedaral election law, for we now
have one, aud have had for nearly twenty
years, but whethar we shall have an effective
law. The present law stops just short of
effectiveness, for it surrenders to the local
authorities all control over, the certification
which establishes the prima facia right to a
seat in the House of Representatives.
This defect should be cural. Equality
of representation and tha parity of tha elec
tors must be maintained or everything that
is valuable in our system of government is ,
lost. The qualification of an elector must
be sought in the law, not in ths opinions,
prejudice! or fears of any class, however
powerful. Tha path of the elector to the
ballot box must be free from the ambush of
fear and the enticements of fraud; the count
so trne and open that none shall gain
tay it. Such a law should be ab
solutely non-partisan and impartial. .. It
should give the advantage to honesty and
the control to majorities. Surely thera is
nothing sectional about this creed, and if it
shall happen that the penalties of laws in
tended to enforce these rights fall here and ,
not there, it is not because the law is sectiomal, ,
but because, happily, crime is local and not
universal. Nor should it be forgotten that
every law whether relating to elections or to
any other subject, whether enactad by the
State or by the nation, has f orca behind it;
the courts, the marshal or constable, the
posse comitatus, tha prison, are all and
always behind the law. ,
One cannot be justly charged with un
friendliness to any section or class who
seeks only to restrain violations of law and
of personal right. No community will find
lawlessness profitable. No community can
afford to have it known that the officers
who are charged with the preserva
tion of tha publio peace and the .re
straiut of the criminal classes are them
selves the product of fraud or vio
lence. The magistrate is than without re
spect and the law without sanction. The
floods of lawlessness cannot be leveed and
made to run in one channel. The killing of a
United States Marshal carrying a writ of
arrest for an election offense is full of
prompting and suggestion to men who are
pursued by a city marshal for a crime against
Ufe or property. - - '
But it is said that this legislation will re
vive race animosities, and some have even
suggested that when the peaoef il methods
of fraud are made impossible tiny may be
supplanted by intimidation and violence. If
the proposed law gives to any qualified
elector by a hair's weight, more taan his
equal influence, or detracts by so much
from any other qualified elector, it is
fatally impeached. But if the law is equal
and the animosities it is to evoke grow
out of the fact that, some electors have,
been accustomed to exercise the franchise
for others, as well as for themselves,
these animosities ought not to .ba
confessed without shame and cannot
be given ; anv weight in the discus
sion without "dishonor. No choice is left
to me but to inforce with vigor all laws in
tended to secure to the citizen his constitu
tional rights, and to recommend that the
inadequacies of such laws be promptly
remedied. If to promote with seal aud
ready interest every project for the develop
ment of Its material interests, its rivers,
harbors, mines and factories, and the intel
ligence, peace and security under the law of
its communities and its homes, is not ac
cepted as sufficient evidence of friendliness
to any State or section, I cannot add conniv
ance at election practices that not only dis
turb local results, but rob the electors of
other States and sections of their most price
less political rights.
. Benjamin Harrison. .
Executive Mansion, Dec 1, ISiO. , v '
"Women clerks are invading even tha
heart of tlie city of London. In a large
financial house in Gracechurch street a
EtiUl of fema'.e clerks has been engaged,
and tlie managers arc delighted with the
success of the experiment. '
There is some prospect that New York
will have a State park ia the Adiron