St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 17, Number 22, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 19 December 1891 — Page 6

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE. many recommendations offered TO CONGRESS. A Careful Review of the Chilian Complications — Other Foreign Relations — Tariff Legislation—His Views on the Silver Question— Concerning Suffrage, Etc. i The Annual Document. To the Senate and Bouse of ReprbsentaI The" reports of the heads of the several executive departments, required by law to be submitted to me, which are herewith transmitted, Sdihe reports of the Secretary of the 1 <mi U ry and the Attorney General, made directly to |Congress, furnish a comprehensive view of the administrative work of the last fiscal year relating to internal am irs. it would be oi great advantage if these reports could have an attentive perusal by every member of Congress, ami byall who take an interestin public a 3 airs. Such a perusal could not fail to excite a high appreciation of the vast labor and conscientious effort which are given to the conduct of our civil administration. The report s will, I belie- e, show that every 3uestion has been approached, considered and ecided from the standpoint of public duty and jupon considerations affecting the public interests alone. Again I invite to every branch Os ithe set vice the attention and scrutiny of congress. i he work of the State Department during the [last year has been characterized by an unusual number of important negotiations and by diplomatic results of a notable and highly beneficial ‘character. Among these are the reciprocal -trade arrangements which have been concluded, in the exercise of the powers conferred by ■eetion 3 of the Tariff law, with the Kepubl c of Brazil, with Spain for its West India possessions, and with San Domingo. Like negotiations with other countries have been mmm advanced, and it is hoped that before the close of the year further definite trade i rrangements of great value will be conclude <• Iti view of tti<* reports wiiicii lin.il been received as to the dim in u t ion of the seal herds in .the Behring Sea, I deemed it wise to propose to her majesty’s Government in February last that an agreement for a closed season should be made, pending the negotiations which then seemed to be approaching a favorable conclusion. After much correspondence, and delays for which this Government was not responsible, an agreement was reached and signed on the 15th ot June, by which Great Fritain undertook, from that date and until May 1, 1892, to prohibit the killing by her subjects ot seals in the Behring Sea. and the Government of the United States during the same period to enforce its existing prohibition against pelagic sealing, and to limit the catch by the Fur Seal Company upon the island to 7,500 skins. If this agreement could have been reached earlier, In response to the strenuous endeavors es this Government, it would have been mere effective; but, coming as late as it did. it unquestionably resulted in greatly diminishing the destruction of the seals by the Canadian ■eaters. In my last annual message I stated that the basis of arbitration proposed by her Majesty’s Government for the adjustment of theMong,pending controvery as to the seal fisheries was not acceptable. lam glad now to be able to announce that terms satisfactory p this Government have been agreed upon anil that an agreement as to arbitrators is all that is necessary to the completion of the convention. Provision should be a e for a joint demarcation of the frontier line between (. ai* da ami the United t-tates wherever required by the increasing border settlements, and especially for the exact location of the water boundary in the ■traits and rivers. I should have been glad to announce some favorable disi>osition ot the boundary dispute between Great Britain and Venezuela, touching the western frontier of Britis > Guiana, but the friendly efforts of tne United States in that direction have thus far been unavailing. This Government will continue to express its concern at any appearance of foreign encroachment on territories long unde rthe administrative control of American states. The law of the last Congress providing a system of inspection for our meats intended for export and clothing the President with*power to exclude foreign products from our ma get in case the country sending them should perpetuate unjust discriminations against any product Os the United States, placed this Government in a position to effectively urge the removal of such discriminations against our meats. It is sratifying5 ratifying to be able to state that Germany, leumark, Italy, Austria and France, in the order named, have opened their ports to inspected American pork products. The removal of these restrictions in every instance was asked fir and given eolely upon the ground tLat we had now provided a meat inspection that should be accepted as adequate to the complete removal of the dangers, real or fancied, which had been previously urged. The State department, our Ministers abroad and the Secretary of Agriculture have co-operated with unflagging and intelligent zeal for tbe accomplishment of this great result. The outlines of en agreement have been reached with Germany looking to equi. able trade concessions in con.sideration ot the continued free importati m of her sugars, but the time has not yet Arrived when this correspondence can ba submi.tedto Congress. The recent political disturbances in the republic of Brazil have excited regret and solicitude. The information we possesse I was too meager to enable us to form a satisfactory judgment of the causes lending to the temi orary assumption of supreme power by President Fonseca; but this Government did not fail to express to him its anxious solicitude for the peace of Brazil and for the maintenance of the tree jroliticul institutions which had recently been established there, nor to offer our advice that great moderation should be observed in the clash of ^parties and the contes, for leadership. 'these counsels were received in the meet friendly spirit, and the latest information is that constitution il government has been reestablished without bloodshed. The lynching at New Orleans in March last of eleven men of Italian nativity by a mob of citizens was a most deplorable and discreditable incident. It did not, however, have its origin in any g<neral animosity to the Italian people, nor in any disrespect to the Government of Italy, with which our relations were of the most friendly cnaracter. The fury of the mob was directed against these men as toe supposed participants or accessories in the murder of a city officer Ido not allude to this as mitigating in any degree this offense against law.and' huu anity, but only as affecting the international questions which grew out of it. It was represented by the Italian Minister that several of those whose lives had been taken by the mob were Italian eubjeo.s, and a demand was made for the punishment of the participants a: d for an indemnity to the families of those who were killed. It is tc regretted that the manner in which these claims were presented was not such as to promote a calm discussion of the questions involved ; but this may well be attributed to the excitement and indignation which the crime nal urally evoked. The views of this government as to its obligations to foreigners domiciled hero were fully stated in he cerrespondence, as well as its purpose to make en investigation of the affair with a view to determine whether there were pieseut any circumstances that could, under such rules of duty as we bad indicated, creaie an obligation upon the United States. The temporary absence ot a j Minister Plenipotentiary of Italy at this cap- I Itai has re arded the further correspondence. I but it is not doubted that a friendly Conclusion la attainable Some suggestions growing on’ of this uuhappv I Incident are wort y the attention ot Congress ! It w, uld, 1 believe, be entir- ly competent for ' Congress to make i fienaes against the treaty rights of loreignors domiciled in the Lnitid States cognizable in the Federal emits. This has not, however, been dene, an 1 the Federal j officers and courts have no power in such cases to intervene either for the protection of a for- I sign ci izen or for the punishment of his slay- : lers. It seems to me to follow in this state of ! aw that officers of the State charged with police and judicial powers in such cases must, m the consideration of international questions, growii g out of such incidents, be regarded in such sense as Federal agents as to make tb G vernmerit answerable for their acts in cages where it would be answerable if the United Mates had used its constitutional power to define audjmn-* isu crimes against treaty rights. The Chilian Complications. The civil war in ( hili, which began in January last, was continued, but fortunately with infrequent and not important armed collisions, until August 28, when the < ongressioual forces landed near Valparaiso, and after a bloody engagement captured that < ity. President Balmaceda at once recognized that his cause was lost, an I provisioi al government was speedily established by the iietorioua party. Cur Minister was promptly directed to recognize and put himstlf in communication with tnis government as it should have established its de facto character, which was done. During tho pendi ncy of this civil contest frequent indirect appeals wore made to this Government to extend tel ijerent rights to the insurgents and to give audience to their representatives. This was declined, and that policy was pursued throughout which this Government when wrenched by civil war so strenuously insisted upon on the part of European nations. The Itata, an armed vessel commanded by a naval officer of the insurgent fleer, manne । by its sailors and with soldiers on board, was seized under process of the United States Court

at San Diego, Cal., for a violation of our neutrality laws. While in the custody of an officer of the court, the vessel was forcibly wrested from ids control and put to era. It would h <ve been inconsistent with the dignity and selfrespect of this Government not t have insisted that the Itata should be returned to San Diego to abide the judgment of the court. This was so clear to the junta of .tbe Congressional party, established at Iquique'that, before the arrival of the Itata at that port, the Secretary of Foreign Relations of the Provisional Government addressed to Rear Admiral Brown, commanding the United States naval forces, a communication, from which tho following is an extract: “The Provisional Government has learned by the cableg ams of the Associated Press that the transport Itata, detained at San Diego by order of the United States for taking on board munitions of war, and in possession of the marshal, left the port carrying on board this official, who was landed at a point near the coast, and thus continued her voyage. If this news be correct, this Government would deplore the conduct of the Itata, and as an evidence that it is not disposed to support or agree to the infraction of the laws of the United States, the undersigned takes'advantage of tho personal relations you have been good enough to maintain with him since your arival in this port to declare to you that as soon as she is .within reach of our orders this Government will put the Data, with the arms and munitions she ' took on board in San Diego, at the disposition of the United States." A trial in the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of California has recently resulted in a decision holding, among other things, that, inaemu h as the Congressional party hail not been rec gnizea as a belligerent, the acts done in its interest could not be a violation of our neutrality laws. From this judgment the Unite! States nas appealed, not ti at the condemnation of the vessel is a matter of importance, but that we may know what the present state of our law is; for, if this construction of the statute is correct, there is obvious necessity for revision ana amendment. During the progress ot the war in Chili this Government tendered its good offices to bring about a peaceful adju tment, and it was at one time hoped that a good result might bo reached; but in this w’e were disappointed. The instruction’s to. our naval officers and to OUT Miuisior i«.l sant-fago. from tlw first to tlto last of tills struggle, enjoined upon th m tbe most impartial treatment and absolute noninterference. lam satisfied that the* structions were observed and that our r< sentatives were always watchful to use their influence impartially in th > interest of humanity, and on more than one occasion did so effectively. We could not forget, however, that Uris .Government was in diplomatic relations with the then established Government of thill, as it is now in such relations with the successor of that Governuient. I am quite euro that President Moult, who ha,, under circumstances of promise for the peace of Chili, been installed as President ot that Republic, will not desire t at, In the unfortunate event of any revolt against his authority, the policy of this Government should bu < tUor than that whicu we have recently observed. No official complaint of the conducf of our Minister or our naval officers during tin struggl ’ has been presented. to this Governmi nt, an i it is a matter o' regret that somaiiy < ur people have giv.o i iar to unofficial c argos and complaints t at manifestly had their origin in rival interests and in a wish to pervert the 10lation^if the United States with Chili. The col apse of the government ot Bahnaceda brought about a condition which is unfortunately too familiar in the history of the Central and South American States. With tho overthrow ot the Balmaccdti Government, he a .d many of his ccuncill >rs and officers became at ' once fu-itiv. s for their lives and appealed to the commanding officers of the foreign naval vessels in the harbor of Valparaiso'and to the resident foreign ministers at Santiago for asylum. This asylum was freely given, according to n:y. information, by the naval vessels of several foreign powers and by several of the legations at Santiago. The American Minister, as well as his colleagues, acting upon the impulses of humanity, extended asylum to political refugees whose lives were in peril. 1 have not been willing to jalirect the surrender of such of these persons as Tare still in the American Legation without suitable conditions. It is believed that the Government of Chili is not in a position, in view of the precedents with which it has been connected, to broadly deny the right of asylum, and tho correspondence has not thus far presented any men denial. The treatment of our Minister for a time was such as lo call for a decided protest, and it was very gratifying to observe that unfriendly i measures, which were undoubtedly the result of the prevailing excitement, were at once rescinded or suitably relaxed. On the 10th of October an event occurred In Valparaiso so serious and tragic in its circumstances and results as to very justly excite the indignation of our people and to call for prompt and decided action on the part of this Govcrn- , ment. A considerable number of the sailers of tho United States steamship Baltimore, then in j the 1 a bor of Valparaiso, being upon shore leave and unarmed, were assaulted by armed men nearly simultaneously in different localities in the city. Clio petty officer was killed outright and seven or eight Sd n were seriously wounded, one of whom Lao nice died. So far as I have yet been able to learn no oDier explanation of this bl ody work has been si^.gested than tnat it hail its origin in hostility to these men as sailors of the United States, wearing tho uniform of their gov, rnment. and not in any indivi ual act or personal animosity. The attention of the Chilian government was at once called to this affair, and a statonu nt of tho facts obtained by th< investig.vi >n we had conducted was submitted, nccompani.sl by a request to be advised of any other or qu ilifying facts in the possession of the'Chiiian government that might tend to relieve this utT.iir of I the appearance of an insult to this Government. The Chilian government was also ad\ised that if sach qualifying facts did not exist this Government could confidently expect full ami prompt reparation. It is to be regretted that the reply of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the provisional government wm.3 couched in an offensive tone. To this no response lias been made. Our Government is now awaiting tho result of an investigation which nas been conducted by the Criminal touit at Valparaiso. It is reported unofficially that the investigation Is about completed, and it is expected that the result will soon be communicated to this Government, together with some adequate and satisfactory response to the note by which the attention of Chili was called to-tbis incident. If thes ’ j st expectations should be disappointed or further needloss delay intervene, 1 will, by a speci 1 messa a, bring this mat er again to the attention of Congres • o. such action as may be necessary. The entire correspondence with tbe Gov< rnmen of Chili will at 4n early day bu submitted to Congress. Other Foreign Relations. I renew the recommendation of my special message dated January 16,189 J, f< r the adoption of the necessary legislation to enable this Government to apply in the case of Sweden and Norway tbe same rule in respect to the 1 vying of tonnage dues as was claimed and secured to the shipping of the United States in 1828 under Article 8 of the treaty of 1827. The adjournment of the Senate without action on the pending acts for the suppression of the alwe traffic in Africa, and fer the reform of the revenue tariff of the independent State of the Longo left this Government unable to ep cha ge Inose acts on the date fixed, July 2, 1891. * A modus vivendi has been concluded by which the power of tho Congo state to levy duties on imports is left unimpaired, and, bv agreement of all tbe signatories to the general slave trade ! a. t, th., time for the exchange of ratifications on I the part ot tbo l liitod States has boon extendi .1 i to Feb. 2, lbl>2. The late outbreak against foreigners in vari- ; OUS parts ot the Chinese Empire hits been tho camo of leeyi concern in vie .tjof the numerous establishments of our citizens in tho interior of I : that country. This Government can do no less ! j than iimist upon a continuance of the protective | । and punitory measures which the Chinese Gov- ' eminent has heretofore applied. No effort will I | be omitted to piotect our citizens peaceably so- ' i journing in China, but recent unofficial infor- ; mation indicates that what was at. first regard- I ! eil as an outlreak of mob violence against for- I । eigners has assumed tbo larger form of i :an insurrection against public order, j | The Chinese Government has declined to receive |Mr. Blair as the Minister of the United ’ 1 States on the ground that, as partieij'ant, while a Senator, in tho enactment of Die existing legislation against the introduction of Chinese ! laborers, he has become unfriendly and objee- j tionable to f ’hina. I have felt constrained to | point outoto the C hinese government the un- I | tenableness of this position, which seems to i to rest as much on the nnacceptability of our ' , legislation as on that of tbo person chos< n and I j which, if admitted, would practically del.ar the ■ reh ciion of any representative so long as the ■ existing laws remain imforce. You will be called upon to consider the expediency of making special provision by law for | temporary admission of some Chinese artisans ' and laborers in connection with the exhibit of Chinese in ustries at tho approaching Columbian Exposition. I regard it as desirable that the Chinese exhibit be facilitated in every proper way. The government and people of Spain propose to celebrate the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by holding an exposition at Madrid, which will open on tho 12th of September and continue until the 31st of December, 18 3. A cordial invitation’has been ex-^ tended to the United States to take part in this commemoration and, as Spain was one of the first nations to express the intention to participate in the World’s Columbian Exposition at Chicago, it would be appropriate for this gov-

£^iU° 8178 th,B itg friendly - Surveys for the o nneoting link. jectod Inter-Continental Radwav .?! f th ® proress, not only in Mexico but at in proß- - the course mapped out ThrJl° UB P ol ' llß parties are now in the n ßlll B urveying of the cotnmls’ion NeXV^^^rechog proposed road have been anr™ *? U f s of the most difficult part that ‘^“ding and the southern part of c«i n ^ Rquador of the engineers are very sati^?™ 1110 !i ei)onß tnat no insurmountubre obstaJof ry > and sllo w met with. 10 obstacles have been Mexico reaflirmhm conc,u ded with two countries “ a de S Hrib£i"b? be ? weeu th « Feb 2, 1848, and Dw aj R-, in A ho ?^aties of further tieaty was n^ori^S 1889, a out of th.Vttpto States afforded occaßion^tc^t’esti? th ° United ship for Hawaii by oonveylug rh?^’^ 11 ?- to his own land in a naval vessel « im° dy ors. llio Govercn^ent of 3,11 lionLiliuokalanl, is seeking to promoten? o *’ ^ Ueea ' morciul rehuions with tho United States^ | Ihis Governntei.t has found a reason press in a friendly spirit, but w ith no, t. to ox ’ estness, to tho government f the Czar itT'f 11 ' ' rious concern because of the harsh mJ, t 8 Be ' now being enforetd against the Ilel.rew^ h^inV | Ma Ihe immigration of those people to t I ui.ed states — many other countries beirS 1 Closed to t^em-is largely increa ing and i? I to »S BU »w prop rtions which uiaymake it difficult to find homes and mploymeut ^or them hero, and to strkusly affect the laboi market. « ‘“t-or The annual report of the Maritime Cunat Company Jr Nicaragua shows that much costlv and necessary preparatory work has been dona during the year in the construction of ebon, railroad tracks and harbor piers and brea^ waters, and that the work in tbo canal's construction has made some progress. 1 deem it to be a matter of the highest con.' cent to the United i tates that this canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic and l’a«M Oceans ami giving us water comiuunio • tAdTj between our ports on these two great jS®‘ should bo spoodily constructed, and at Jt' smallest practicable limit of cost. | In ernationai copyright has been secured jh.’l ace< r lance w ith lie condi ions of the act ot March 3, 1891, with Belgium, France, Great Brit- ! ain an 1 tne tiriti -h posses ions, and -witzerland, the laws of these countria • permitting to our citizens tho benefit of copyright on substan.ially tho same basi i a- to their own citi- j zens or sub;ects. V\ ith Germany a special con- i vention has bee i negotiated upon this subject, i which will bring that country within the reeip- ■ rocal benefits of our legislation. Tnriff Legislation. The general interest in 'he operations of tbo Treasury Department has been much augmented during the last ' ear by reason of the 1 conflicting pred eti, na, which accompanied nn.l followed tho tariff and other legislation of tho ■ last Congress affecting the revinuos. m to the results of ’thiß legislation upon tho treasury and upon the country. It is not my purpose to enter at anv length into a discussion of the effects of the legislation to which I have referred ; but a brief exaraina- i tion of the statistics of tbe Treasury umi a j general glance at tho state of business through- ‘ out tho country will, 1 think, satis;'y anv im- > partial inquirer that its results have disap- . pointisl the evil prophecies of its opponents and ‘ in a largo tr.easuro r< alizod tiie hopeful predic- । | tions i f its friemlß. During tho twelve mouths from October 1, ls-u, t., September 30, isil, the total value of our foreign commen-e Imp. rts i ari l exports) v)us A1,747.8 6.4-K. which was the i largest of any year in tho histpry of the United States. 'lbe largt—.c in nay previous year wus in 18'0, when our commerce amounted to $1147 119,003, and the lust year excetds this enormous a- grevate by over one hundred miUicni. The average annual value of tl.o imports of merchandise for the ten years from Is-l to 19) was G)2,18u.. 2j, ami during tho year ending Sept. 30, 1891, this annual average was excwdeil l>v $132, '■.8,460. The value of free imports during the twelve months ending Sept. 31, ls.il, was $118,102,3-7 more than the value of free imports during the corresponding twelve mouths of tho preceding year, ami there wa< during tho same j'erlo 1 a decrease of ?■ 106.816,501 in the viviue of imjiorts of dutiable merchandise. The percentage ot merchandise admitted freo of duty during tbs year to which I have referred, tho first under the new tariff, was 48.18, while during the proc, 41 ng twelve months, under tho oi l tariff, tbe iv'ieontai.o was 34.2 Z, an increase of 13.91 per cent. If we take the six ! months ending Sept, 2J last, which covers the time during which sugars have been a’ruitted free ot duty, tho p< r cent, of valuoofmcrcbar.disc imported free of duty is found to be k\27, which is a larger lawentoge of free imports than during any prior fiscal year in tho his’ory oi the Government. wax If we return t» exports of imrcl indise -nc ' statistics are full of gratification. The value of | such exports of merchandise for the twelve I months ending September 3 , U9l, was j .23. Ji.- j U . while for the coir, i, n,I mg pievi us ' twelve mouths it was $ > ri, 177,115, an increase of $62,914,121, which is neatly three times the ; averago Increase of exports of merchaudtso | during any vear In t e history < f tbo Govern- . n.ent. lit-' in. rmi -e in tbo value of exi>orts of ; agricultural products during the year referred ' to over tho corn spending twelve months of the । prior year «u- s'. < .'16.197. while the im r<-.-. vs vi the value of exports of manufac'.. :od products • wa- $16,838,240. 1 here is oertniidv nothing In the condb-ten of ■ t tra !e. foieign or .domestic, there is ier a'aly nothing lu tho condition ot our p»op!.' ot shy j class, to suggest that the existing lariff a id rev. time legislation tears oppressively U|on the ' ' people, or retards the commercial d rent ’ | of the nation. I think tliere are conclusive evidc: ihat the new tariff has created several greet industries which will, within a few years, give employment to several hundred thousand American i workingmen an 1 women. In view oi th • tome- ! Wuat overcrowded condition es the labor war- , ket of the United States, every patriotic citizen . shou d rejoice at such a result. Receipt, and Expenditures. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury ' shows that the total receipts of tbe Government, frenr all sources, for the fiscal year end- I ing June 30, B'l, were $458,544,233.03, while the expenditures tor the same period were $411,334,- ? 470.46, leaving a surplus of $37, , .:.9,762.57. Toe neeipts -f the fiscal year ending June 30, I<2 ac.ual ami estimated, are SD3,OD,iOO and the expenditures S4O i.OOOj 0J For tbe fiscal year ending June 3 1 ', 1891, the estimated receipts are $455,336,350 and the expenditures $111,3t>j,093. Silver as Currency. Under the law of July 14, 1893, tho Secretary of the Treasury has purchased tlnce Aug. 13, during the fiscal year, 43,393,113 ounces of silver bullion at an average cost of $1,045 p<-r ounce, i The highest price paid during the year was . $1 2025, and the lawest $ kW*!. In exchange for I this silver bulh<n there have been issued s'o,- ! 577,498 of the treasury notes authorized by the act. The ablest advocates of free coinage in ' the last Congress were most confident in their prediction that tho purchase by the Government required Uy the law ! would at once bring the price of silver to SLi:J29 I per ounce, which would make tho bullion va uu | of a dollar 100 cents and hold it there. The proph- I ecies of the anti-silver men of disasters t > result ' from the coinage of $2,000,080 per month w»re , not wider tom the mark. The friends of free I silver are not agreed, I think, as to the causes ■ that brought th»ir hopeful predictions to j naught. Pome facts are known. The ex ports of ' silvvr from London to India during the fl**! nine luon’.bs of thia caloiuiar year felt >jff over 20 per cent., or $17,2 2.730 compared With the sanip months of tbe pnceillng Y eAr Ihe exports of domestic silver bulhj,,; ! from this country, which had averaged fat?,, last ten years over $17,00 ,000. fell in the I. . fiscal j ear to $13,797,3.1 ; while, for ffie -ho ‘ time m recent years, the imports of silver t . ! Uns country exceeded the exports bv the ° of c 2., l.p:Lj In the previous year the not ?? 1 I ports of silverfrom the United Mat-s amn?. ?1 . | to $5,545,455. The production of I ^ta es increased from 50,0?0 O'JJ ounces in Ito 04,..00,0(0 in 1-90. The Government i? 1 ' I buying and putting aside ummally 54 m,?, 0 * I । ounces, which, allowing for 7,140.0 > on,, • I new bullion used in the arts is'p ( 4 i 0 ’?? 08 of j I than our domestic product available ’rX lliore ago, I hope th o depression ffith^ I ver is tf-n.pmarv ami that a furthi r t-i . . 1 , legislation will more favorably affect A 1 01 thls I an stih of the opinion that the free col. ™ ’ of stly -r under existing conditions wocDdi S i trous y affect our busimss interests a- 1 Baß ‘ ' . and abroa i. Wo could not hope to maint • me । J equality in the purchasing power es" 1 h 111 ?? and silver dollar in our own markets ^. 8 . 0 - foreign trade the stamp gives no u lu^i . nd 1U ! ' V u contained in coins. The nn Uo 1 ° of the country, the farmers and laborers ? 00 ” the highest interest that ev.-r5 S 1 ba paper or coin, issued bv the J/x,„. do!lar : shall be as good as any other If tio'r trBD e:lt Las val able than another its sure ami etJ 8 . 011 ? errand will be to pay them for the), t •? ,s ' a!lt their crops. Thi money-lender 2d 11 a,ld for lyoself by stipulating for payment in goid°^t the laborer has u -ver been able to do that’ " , place business upon a silver basis woui 1 a sudden aud severe contraction of the? 14 ,I,oan by the withdrawal of gold and fforn C ? rroncy such an unsettUn- of ail vah.n? 11 note8 ' and , duce a financial panic. '1 cannot behevuU poop.e so strong and prosperous a, <,2 ‘n 1 romote such a policy. a3 oura I believe it is the eirnest desire of . ma;omy of tho people, as ic is mine r n ? t coin use shall ba made of silver just ’ a? . a fuli tne co-operation of other nations can ^" 8 a

cured and a ratio fixed that will give clrrnlndnn equally to gold and silver. 81-metalism is the desired end, and the true friends of silver will be careful not to overrun the goal and brine in J^dlntT^^i 6 ^ 118 . 111 ’ With neces ß a"y S at te «f Os ’Hm 1088 ° f our sold to Europe and the jfney. 1 th preßßure ther ® for a larger curThe Flow of Gold. The exports of gold to Europe, which bnean in February last and continued until the clo«e of colldurhm^V’^y 7U ' liot) ' ,w - The net loss of ^ffiat no seHnoa o ™ al \ Car Waa near ly $68,000,000. was mon? ? loueta !-y disturbance resulted " a i2? Oßt £ ‘Unifying, and gave to Europe fresh evidence of the strength and staldiitv financial institutions With tho S>?l crops ihe outflow of gold has speedily stopped and a return set in. Up to Dec. Iwe had r.Sv $27^54,0M* 1 6 ° ld 1038 at th ° P ° rt oX Now Vork Surplus Revenues, ' TZaßu?v e haa C f®„ Os a large caah surplus In the ireasury has for many years been the subiect of much unfavorable criticism and has urtoplac^hTfiSuffnt to thoße who bave desired to place the tariff upon a purely revenue basis iit oh»t’i gr ® C 'J by . all ,hat ,ho withdrawal from , circulation of so large an amount of money was i wvand mRVA 8 ? 16111 '° th ° b " Bin e 88 of thecoundemrtme^^ °f the 1 threaded n.nim lU rellev e the on Mtrch 1 i«? ry l >a Pi‘' B - The sumdus v 2 11 " as 3183,827,190.29. Tho policy of applying this surplus to the the United sLV 1 ” ^^/ost-f’earing securities of to that ^ J 8 be .preferalde tLted P .° S ! tlDg lt; wIlho «t interest in sodtemd 2 °" a A b ?" k8 - There have been re1 ‘, s ‘ ioo the date last mentioned of intor-eßt-i>earing securities »£59,07J,t5 >, resulting in a reduction of the annual interest charge of sll,6'4,073 The money which had been deposited in banks without interest has been gradually withdrawn and used lu tho redemption of bonds. The result of this policy, of tho silver legislation, and of the refunding of tho 4(s ror cent, p. mis, has ’l>een a largo increase 81 tho inonov in circulaiion. At tbo date last nan.e<l tho cir- ' eulation was $1,401,2 5,830, or $•:).Oi per capita: I while on the first Jay of December, 1891, it had ■ Lffineased to $1,577, J. 12,07 ', or $24.38 per capita. , Ine otter of the Secretary of tho Treasury to tho hob.era of the 4per cent, bonds to extend the ' ern® R t tho option of the Goe ~..“1"^ ftll interest of 2 per cent., was accepted by tbo hol.lora of as-out vue-half the amount, ami the unextended bonds are being redeemed on presentation. Tho Army. Tho report of tho Secretary of War exhibits ' the results of an intelligent, progressive, a: d . business-like administration of a department I I which has been too much regarded as one of | mere routine. The work of securing Bites for shore batteries f< r harbor defense and tho man-I . ufacture of mortars ami guns of high power to ' equip them have made jood progress dining the year. । The project of enlisting Indians received my approval. Seven ompanieß live been completely orgmiz. d. ami seven more are in pro- • i cess of organization. Ihe results of six months’ training have more than r alizo 1 the highest anticipation s. Private I.ami Claims. The Judges of the Court of Private I Jin I i Claims p . vide I for by th act of March 3. ISH, , have be, n appoints 1 up.l the court organize I. i ' I is now p issible to give early relief to com--1 munhies long repr ssed in their development : by tins t 10l land titles, and to establish the pos < ssion amt right of settlers whose binds i i 1 are been rendered valueless by adverse aud I unfounded claims. The Chinese Question. Tho enforcement of the<Treasury Department of the lawprohibitt&g theeomingt t Chin« ■ > the United States has been effective as to such I as seek to land from vos-ols entering our j>orts. Ihe result lias been lo divert the trav< 1 to v,m s<li entering tho ports of British Columbia wiif m ea paHsag> int > the Unitoi States at obscure points along the Dominion boundary i; easy, i’he Dominion Government collects a head tax of sri from every Chinaman entering Cana.ia. and thus derives a considerable reve- i nne from those who only u o it i ports to reach ft position of advantage to evade our exclusion ' laws. There seems to bo satisfactory evidence that the business of passing ( hinameu through < ana la to tho Unite I States is organized and quite active. Tho Department of Justice has I cons'rued tbe laws to require the return of any 1 Chinaman found to be unlawfully in this conn- I try to i hlna as tbo country from which became, ' notwithstanding th ■ fact that ho came byway of^fanada. This construction robs tho law of ftli eff< etf veness. aud I recomm, n I such legisla- 1 Itou as will remedy defects In the law. The Postal Service. In the report of the Postmaster General some I I very gratifying re-uilts are exhibited and many | betterments of the service suggested. Ocean 1 | matl postoHices have been established upon the i 1 steiuui rs of tho North German Lloyd and Ham- i burg Lines, saving, by the distribution on ship- I i beard, from two to fourteen hours’ time j Eight thousand mile) ot new postal service . bag-been establish* 1 upon railroads, the car I distribution to sub.itations in the groat cities | . have been increase ! about 12 p««r cent., while I । the perc-utage of errors in distribution has, I during tho past y. ar. hen reduced over one- ! : half. An appropriation was given by the last < on- ■ 1 gross for tne purpose of mu king some experi- | ments in free deliviry in the smaller cities and j towns Ihe results of those experiments have : been o satlsfa t. rs that th > Postmaster Gon- ■ ernl recommends, and I concur in therecomI mendation, that tne free delivery system be at ) once ext-nded to towns of 5,0 0 population. It ; is not just that tho farm* r whw receives his j mini at a n- ighb- ring h>wc should not < nly be ' ■ comp- lied to semi to the postofficu for it but . e.lso to pay considerable rent for 11 box in which ’ to place it or to wait his turn at a general de- '’ 1 livery window, while the citv resident has his 1 mail brought to his door. I also recommen-i । i tho extension of the money order system. I lie Navy. Tho report of the Secretary of the Navy shows ! . b gratifying increase of new naval vessels in 1 commission. Bhen.lt is recollected that the . work of bull ling a modern navy was only ini- i tia’.ed in 18-3, that our naval constructors and ship-builders were practically- without experl--1 ence in the construction of large iron or steel | j ships, the progress that has been ma<le is highly j sa’.isfaciory. I commen to your favorable ; : consideration the recommendations of the See- ■ retary, who has, I am sure, giver, to them most ! conscientious study. There should be no heel- : tation in promptly completing a naw of the j best modern type, large "enough to enable this j country to display its flag in all seas for the protection of Its citizens and ot its extending commerce, Indian Aflnirs, I The report ot the Secretary of the Interior I shows that a very gratifying progress has been : I maiie in all of the bureaus which make up that ; ! complex and difficult department. The work in ' . the Bureau of Indian Affairs was perhaps never | so large oa now by reason of the numerous ; negotiations which have been proceeding with I the tribes tor a reduction of the reservations. I The prov I Hng <>t a leq iat.e Bchool fa.<.litres for ' Indian children aud tbe locating of udulc In- ; dial a upon farms involve the solution of the | “Indian question." ft has b. en my thought that the Government sch- ol and school building upon the reservaI tion should be absorbed by the school eystems of the States and Territories; but as it has been i found necessary to protect the Indian against I the compulsory alienation of his land by ex- | erupting him ?rem taxation for a period of i l twe .ty-five years, it would seem to be J right that toe General Government, cer--1 tainly where there are tribal funds in its possession, should pay to the school fund of the State what would be equiva- i j lent to the local school tax upon the propertv ■ 1 of the Indian. There is great advantage, I think, in bringing the Indian children into mixed schools. This process will be gradual, j an-l in tbo meantime the pr,-sent educational । provisions and eri.vngements, the result of the best experience of those who bave bevn charged i ", ^’B work, fhculd bo continued. Ihe outbreak among the Sioux which occurred in December last is, us to its causes and inci- ' dents, fully reported upon by the War Department and the liepnrtmcnt of the Interior, that tueso Indians had some just complaints Is probul>lv p’ue, but yhe Si--nx are naturally warlike and turbulent, and their warriors were excited by their m dicine men audchiefs. who preached the coming of an Indian mossi h. who was to give them power to destroy their enemies In view of the alarm that pr vailed among the white settlers near the r. nervation and of the fatal consequences that would have resulted from an Indian Incur ion, I placed at the disposal Cl G, m ral Miles, commanding the Division of the Missouri, all such forces as were thought by him to be required. He i« entitled to the credit of having given thorough vrotcction to the settlers and of bringing the ho stiles into subjection with tho least possible loss ot 'Die appropriation ot $2,991,350 for the Choc- ' taws and Chicka-aws oontaiued in Indian up. propriat on bill ot Mu eh 3, 1891. has not been expended, for the reason that I have not vet approved a lelease to the Government of the ! Indian claim to the lands mentioned. This matter will ba made the subject of a special mos- I sage, placing before C opgn ss ah tho facts which have come to my knowledge | The relation of the five civilized tribes, nowoccupying the Imiian Territory, to the United btates, 1- not, 1 beJevo, that best calculated to

promote the highest advancement of these Indiana. That there should be within our borders five independent states, having no relations except those growing out of treaties, with the Government of the United States, no representation in the National Legislature, its people not citizens, is a startling anomaly, it seems to me to be inevitable that there shall before loffi? be some organic cliangee in the rela- - tion of these people to the United States. In September last I was enabled to open to settlement in the Territory of Oklahoma 900,000 acres of land, all ot which wai taken up by settlers in a single day It was a source of great regret that I was not able to oi>en at the same time the surplus lauds of the Cheyenne and 1 Arapahoe Reservation, amounting to about'3,- 1 000,006 acres, by reason of the insufficiency of 1 the appropriation for making the allotments. ' Deserving and impatient settlers are waiting to occupy these lands, and I urgently recommend that a special deficiency appropriation be made 1 so that the allotments may be completed and the surplus lands opened in tiripe to permit tho settlers to get upon their homestead in tho early spring. Since March 4,1889, about 23,000,000 acres have been separated from Indian reservations and: added to tho’public domain for the use ot those who desired to secure free homes under our beneficent laws. It is difficult to estimate the increase of wealth which will rosult from the conversion of these wastelands into farms, and it is more difficult to estimate the betterment which will result to the families that have found renewed hope and courage'iu tho ownership of a home and tho assurance of a comfortable subsistence under frefe and healthful conditions. It is also gratifying to be able to fool, as we may, that thia work baa proceeded upon I Unes of justice towards tho Indian, The Land Office. Early in this administration a special effort was begun to bring up the work of the General Land Office. Bv faithful work the arrearages have been rapidly reduced. At tbo end of the last fiscal year only 84,172 final agricultural entries remained undisposed of. Your attention 1b called to tho difficulty presented by the Secretary of the Interior ns tq the administration I ot the law of March 3, 1891, establishing a court | or private lana olnluia. 'rhe small holdings tn- 1 tended to be protected by the law are estimaua to be more than 15,000 in number. The claimants are a most deserving class, aud their titles are supported by the strongest equities. The Pension Hureau. The administration of the Pension Bureau has been characterized during the year by great diligence. Tbo total number of pensioners upon the rolls on th > 3 th day of June, 1 91, was 676,160. There were allowed during the fiscal ■ year ending at that time 210,575.C!i5eH. Os this ’ number 1ti2,347 were allowed under tbe act ; i of Juno 27, 18'0. The issuing of certificates has beem proceeding at tlie rate of about 3 >,G'J ) per month, about 75 per cent, of those la-- i ! ing cash under the new law. The Uommiseioner I expresseß the opinion that he will be able to i i carefully adjudicate and allow 350,010 claims 1 during tbe present fiscal year. The appropria- -I tion for thj payment of pensions for tho fiscal ! y<nr 18> -91 .was $127,665,793.89, ami the amount ■ expended 9118,530.f.4J.2'>, leaving an unexpended I surplus of $9,155,111.64. The Commissioner is quite confident that I there will l.e no call this year for a deficicncv i appropriatii n. not ’Althslanding tho rapidity with which the work is being pushtsl. The mistake which has been made by minty in their ex- ■ aggerated estimates ot tho cost of pensions is I in not taking account of the diminished ■ value of lir t payments under the rieent : 1 gt-ditien. These payments, under the gen- 1 eral law, have been for many years very ! . large, as the .pensions, when allowed, dated ' from tho time of filing the claim, au-i in ret o these claims had bi>on pending loryears. The first.payment under the law of June, 1890, are I relatively small, aud. us tho per cout. of these cases increases ami that of the old cases ! diminishes, the annual aiigregate of first : aymonts is hirci 1 z reduced. he 1 omHUsslolier, ■ I under date of Nov. 13, furnishes me with tbo ' statement that during the ast four months 113,175 certificates were issued, 27,893 under the general law and 25,-.82 under the act of June 47. 1890, The average first payment during these four months was $131.8>, while the average first payment upon oases allowed dur- ■ ing tho year ending June 30, 16J1, was $239.33. Ihe estimate for pension oxp< ndituros for tho ' next fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, is 8141,956,60 ), which, after u careful examination of i the subject, the Commissioner is oi tho opinion will bu sufficient. .Subsidized Railroads. The report of th' Commissioner of Railroads shows that the total debt of tho subsidized railroads lo the United States was, on Die. 31, 1890, $112,512,613. A large part of this debt is now fust approaching maturi:y, vvi.h no ale- I i qua e provision for its payment, tome policv : i lor dealing with this debt, with a view to its । ultimate collection, should be at once adopted. I’rogross of tho Census. The work of the < ensue Bureau is now far in advance and the groat bulk of the enormous la- ; bor involved , ompleted. It will be more strictly a statistical exhibit aud less Incumbered by essays than its Immodiate predecessors. Tbe ; methods pursued have .been fair, careful and intelli ent, and have secured the approval of the statisticians, who have followed them with I a scientific and non-purtisau interest. Irrigating Arid Territories. The repo t of the Secretary exhibits, with in I foresting fullnesv, the condition of tie TerriI lories. They have ghar-d with the. States'the great increase in products, and are bringing yearly large areas Into cultivation by extending I their irrigating can Vs. This work Is being 1 done by individuals or local corporations, and i without that system which a full pro- I limlnary survey of t ia water supply and of the*'irrigable lands would enable them to adopt. Tbo future of the Territories of New Mexico, j Arizona and Utah in their material grow th and I in the increase, independence and happiness ' of their people is v;ery largely dependent upon )• wise and timely legislation, either by Congress | or their own Legislatures, regulating ' j the distribution of tho water supply i furnish-,d by their streams. if this mat- | i ter is much longer neglected, private corp>or- i | ations v.ill have unrestricted control | of one of the elements of life of the arid lands, j ; The United States should port with its ow-ner- | ship of tho water sources and the sites for res- j ! ervoirs. whether to-the Statesand Territories . ■ or to individuals or corporations, only upon ■ conditions that will lusure to the settlers their j proper water supply upon equal and reasonable | | terms. Utah and Polygamy. The legislation of Congress for the repression I of polygamy has, after years of resistance on i the part of the Mormons, atflast brought them ; to the conclusion that resistance is unprofitable < ■ and unavailing. The power of Congress over j this subject should not be surrendered until ; । we have satisfactory evidence that the peo- | i pie of the litate to be created would exer- I else the exclusive power of the State I over this subject in the same w’ay. The ques- I tion is not whether these people now obey the ; I laws of Congress against polygamy, but rather I ; would they make, enforce and maintain such ■ i laws themselve if absolutely free to regulate the subject? We cannot afford to experiment । with this subject, for when a State is once con- ' stituted the act is final, and any mistakeirre- j : trievable. Alaska. | I recommend that provision be made for the I organization of a simple form of town govern- ; ment in Alaska witli power to regulate such ! matters as are usually in tbo btates under . municipal control. Department of Agriculture. If the establishment of the Department of Agriculture was regarded by any one as,a mere concession to the unenlightened demand of a worthy class of people, that impression has I een most effectually removed by the great results already attained. Its home^influence las been /very great in disseminatiu" agricultural aud horticultural information ; in stimulating and directing a further diversification of crops ; in detecting and eradicating diseases of dom stio animals ; and, more than all, in the close aud informal contact which it has established and maintains with the farmers and stock-raisers : of the whole country. Every requestor Infor-: mation has had prompt attention and every : suggestion merited consideration. The scien-'; tific ciyps of the department is of a high order, and is pushing its investigations with method ! an,l enthusiasm. Ihe inspection by this department of cattle and pork products Intenaed for shipment abroad has been the basis of the success which has atte ded our efforts to secu^the removal of the restrictions maintained by the European governments. it is particularly fortunate that the increased demand for food prod- ' 1 ucts, resulting from the removal of the re- i i strictions upon ourrmeats and from the reeip- ! ; rocal trade arrafigements to which I have re- ’ i ferr« d. should hav.o come at a time when the! ■ agricultural surplus is so large. Without the ; help thus derived, lower prices would have pre- i vailed. The Secretary of Agriculture esti- । mates that the restrictions upon the importaI tion of our p irk products into Europe lost us a market for $20,090,001 worth of these products annually. ! Tne grain crop of this year was the largest in ! our history, 50 per cent, greater than that of last year, and yet the new markets that have | been opened and the larger demand resulting | from short crop's in Eu ope, have sustained prices to such an extent that the enormous sur- I plus of meats and breadstuff a,will be marketed at good prices bringing relief and prosperity to I an industry that was much depressed. The | value of the grain crop of the United j

States is estimated by the becretai. to be this year five hundred'million dollars more than last; of meats, one hundred and fifty millions more; and of all products of the farm, seven hundred millions more. It is not inappropriate, I think, here to suggest that on» satisfaction in the contemplation of this marvelous addition to v the national wealth la unclouded by any suspicion of the currency by which it is measured-and in which the farmer is paid for the product of his fields. Civil Service. The report of the Civil Service Commiss’on should repei ve the careful attention of tho opponcntu, ns well as the friends, of this reform. The commission invites a personal inspection of its records and methods. The efforts of the several executive departments have been directed to establish at once an efficienoy record as the basis of a comparative >ating of the clerks within the cla sifted service, with a vi wto placing promotions therein upon the basis of merit. I am confide t that such a record, fairly kept and open to ’ e inspection of those interested, will powerfully stimulate the work of the departments and will be accepted by all as placing the troublesome matter of promotions upon a just basis. I recommend that the appropriations for the Civil Service Commission be made adequate to the increased work of the next fiscal year. Protection lor Railroad Employes. I have twice before urgently called the attention of Congress to the necessity of legislation for the protection of the lives of railroad employes, but nothing has yet been done. During the year ending June-»30, 1890, 869 brakemen were killed aud 7,811 maimed while engaged in coupling curs. The total number ot railroad employes killed during the year was 2,451, and the numter injured 22,390. This 1b a cruel aud largely a needless sacrifice. A law requiring of every raljrood engaged in interstate ccmmerce the' equipment each year of a given per cent, of its Ireight cars with automa ic couplers aud air brakes to be used would very soon and very I greatly reduce the present fearful death rata i among railroad < mployes. Constitutional Amendment Suggested. The method of appointment by the States of Electors of President aud Vice President has recently attracted renewed interest by reason of a departure by the State of Michigan from the method which had become uniform in all the States. Prior to 1832 various methods had been used by tbe different States, aud even bv the same State. After a full test of other i methods, without important division or dia- ! sent in any State audAvithout any puruose of I party advantage, as we must believe the praci tico of all the States was brought into harmony. | That this concurrence should now by broken is, ! I think.au unfortunate and even th• eatening ! episode, and one that may well suggest whether | the States that still give their apptovn] to the J old and prevailing methods ought not to secure ■j by a constitutional amendment, a practice j which has had the approval of all. The recent ; Michigan legia’atifn provides for choosing I what are popularly known as the Congressional i Electors lor President by Congressional districts, and the two Senatcrial Electors by cis- ’ tricts created for that purpose Ihis legisia- | lion was, of course, accompanied by a new i Congressional apportionment, and tbe two : statutes bring the electoral vote of the State under the influence of tho gerrymander. thosegerrjmindors for Congression 1 pur- : poses re in most cases ■ uttra sed by a g-rry- । mander of the legislative dist icts, tbu - making it imjais iblo f r a majority of t e 1 gal voters of the State to correct the apportionment and to equalize the Congressional repres nta- । tion of all the di tricts. A minority । rule is established that only a politic 1 convulsion can overthrow. 1 have recently ■ been advised that in one county ot a certain State three districts for tie election of, mem- , bers of the Legislature are constituted as fol- : lows: One has t.'.WO population, one »15,0<0, aud one 10,0'0, while in another county, detached uon-contiguous sections have be«n united to make a legislative district. Theee methods have already found effective application to the choice es Senators and epresentatives in Congress, and now an evil start has been made in the direction of applying th m to the choice by the States of ; Electors of President and Vice President. If i this is accomplished we shall then have three ■ great departments of the Government in the | graxp of the “gerrymander," the legislative aud j the executive directly and the judiciary indittcily through the power of appo'ntm»nt. An election implies a body of electors electors having prescribed qualifica’ians— each of whou*has unequal status and influence in determ!:.ing the result. Eo when the Constitution provides that each State shall appoint (el ct) in such manner as the Legislature thereof may dlr-, ct, a number of electors, etc., an unrestricted > ower was not given to he Lwisjatures in the selection of themehods to be use I. “A republi u.n form of rnwr'iniept ' J'H “ ■ 'lll.' T.'.i ■ the Constitution to each Stfi'ri given by the eameinstrument to the legislatures of tho St ales to prescribe methods for the choice, by the State, of electors, must be exercised under that limitation. The essential features of such a government are tbo right of the people to choose th<?ir own officers and the nearest i praeticahl > equality o' value in the suffrages ' given in determining that choice. Nothing just now is more important than to provide every guarantee fer the absolutely fair and free choice by au equal suffrage, with the respective States, of all tbe officers of the National Government, whether that suffrage is applied directly, as in the choice of members of the House of Representatives, or indirectly, ■ as in the choice of Senators and electors of । President. Respect for public officers andobe- | dience to the law will not cease to be the characteristics of our people until our elections i cease to declare the will of majorities fairly ascertained, without fraud, suppression, or gerry- | mander. All the States have acting freely and separ- : ately, determined that the choice of elections by a general ticket is the wisest and safest method, and it would seem there could be no objection 1 to a constitutional amendment making that । method permanent. If a legislature ciiosen In one year upon purely local questions ; should, pending a Presidential c ntest, rescind the law for a choice upon a general ticket and . provide for the choice of electors by tbe Leglsj latu e and this trick rhould determine the result, it is not too much to say that the public I peace might be seriously and widely endan- ! gered. I have alluded to tho “gerrymander" as affects big the method of selecting electors of PresL dent by Congressional districts, but the primary intent and effect of this form of political robbery have relation to the selection of members of the House of Representatives. Iha power of Congress is ample to deal with this threatening and intolerable abuse, and to I put into fdree such measures as will moss i effectually preserve the right of the people to ! free and equal representation. Frauds Against the Suffrage. An attempt was mode in the last Congress tc | bring to bear the constitutional powers of ths | General GovejnmenMor the correction of frauds against the suffrage, it is important to know ■ whether the opposition to such measj ures is really rested in particular features supposed to be objectionable or ' includes any proposition to give to the election ■ laws of the United fctates adequacy to the corI r Ction of grave and acknowledged evils. I ' mpst yet en ertain the hope that it is possible I to secure a calm, patriotic consideration of i such constitutional or statutory changes i as may be necessary to secure the choice of the officers of Die Government to the people by fair appointments aud free elections. I believe it would be possible to constitute a commissi, ii non-partisan in its membership, and composed of patriotic, wise aud impartial j men, to whom a consideration of the question of 1 the evils conneo’ed with our election system and methods might be committed with a gocd pr. spect of .securing unanimity in some plan for Removing or mitigating those evils, ibe onsdtutii n would permit the selection of the commission to be,vested in the Supreme Co/rt, if that method would give the best guaranty' ot ' impartialty. । While the policies of the General Government upon the tariff, upon the restoration of Cur merchant marine, upon river and harbor improvements and other such matters of grave : aud general concern are liable to be turne 1 tl{ is •i way or that by the results of Congressional I elections and administrative policies, somej times involving issues that tend to peace or war, to be turned this wav or that by the results of a Presidential election, there is a rightful interest in all the States alnd iu every Congressional district that will not be deceived or silenced by the audacious pretense that tho question of the right of any body ot It gal voters in any State, cr in any Coneressional district, to give their suffrages i freely upon these general questions is a I matter only of local concern cr control. The ' demand that the limitation of suffrage shall be found in the law, and only there, is a just ce- ■ maud, and no just man should resent c-r resi-t it. My appeal is, and must continue to be, for a consultation that shall “proceed with candor, calmness and patience upon the lines of jus.ice and humanity, not of prejudice aubcruelly. ” To the consideration of these very grave questions I invite not only the attention of Con--1 gress, but that of all patriotic citizens. A trust, momentous in its influence upon onr people and upon the world, is for a brief i time committed to us. and we.must not be faithless to its first condition—the defense of i the free and equal influence of tho people in the choice of public officers and in the control of public affairs. (Signed) Benjamin Harbison. Exncunvß Max bion, Dec. 9,189 L