Cavally and San Pedro rivers, which for nearly half a century has been
generally recognized as belonging to that Republic by cession and
purchase, has been claimed to be under the protectorate of France in
virtue of agreements entered into by the native tribes, over whom
Liberia's control has not been well maintained.
More recently negotiations between the Liberian representative and the
French Government resulted in the signature at Paris of a treaty
whereby as an adjustment certain Liberian territory is ceded to France.
This convention at last advices had not been ratified by the Liberian
Legislature and Executive.
Feeling a sympathetic interest in the fortunes of the little
Commonwealth, the establishment and development of which were largely
aided by the benevolence of our countrymen, and which constitutes the
only independently sovereign state on the west coast of Africa, this
Government has suggested to the French Government its earnest concern
lest territorial impairment in Liberia should take place without her
unconstrained consent.
Our relations with Mexico continue to be of that close and friendly
nature which should always characterize the intercourse of two
neighboring republics.
The work of relocating the monuments marking the boundary between the
two countries from Paso del Norte to the Pacific is now nearly
completed.
The commission recently organized under the conventions of 1884 and
1889 it is expected will speedily settle disputes growing out of the
shifting currents of the Rio Grande River east of E1 Paso.
Nicaragua has recently passed through two revolutions, the party at
first successful having in turn been displaced by another. Our newly
appointed minister by his timely good offices aided in a peaceful
adjustment of the controversy involved in the first conflict. The large
American interests established in that country in connection with the
Nicaragua Canal were not molested.
The canal company has unfortunately become financially seriously
embarrassed, but a generous treatment had been extended to it by the
Government of Nicaragua. The United States are especially interested in
the successful achievement of the vast undertaking this company has in
charge. That it should be accomplished under distinctively American
auspices, and its enjoyment assured not only to the vessels of this
country as a channel of communication between our Atlantic and Pacific
sea-boards, but to the ships of the world in the interests of
civilization, is a proposition which, in my judgment, does not admit of
question.
Guatemala has also been visited by the political vicissitudes which
have afflicted her Central American neighbors, but the dissolution of
its Legislature and the proclamation of a dictatorship have been
unattended with civil war.
An extradition treaty with Norway has recently been exchanged and
proclaimed.
The extradition treaty with Russia signed in March, 1887, and amended
and confirmed by the Senate in February last, was duly proclaimed last
June.
Led by a desire to compose differences and contribute to the
restoration of order in Samoa, which for some years previous had been
the scene of conflicting foreign pretensions and native strife, the
United States, departing from its policy consecrated by a century of
observance, entered four years ago into the treaty of Berlin, thereby
becoming jointly bound with England and Germany to establish and
maintain Malietoa Laupepa as King of Samoa. The treaty provided for a
foreign court of justice; a municipal council for the district of Apia,
with a foreign president thereof, authorized to advise the King; a
tribunal for the settlement of native and foreign land titles, and a
revenue system for the Kingdom. It entailed upon the three powers that
part of the cost of the new Government not met by the revenue of the
islands.
Early in the life of this triple protectorate the native dissensions it
was designed to quell revived. Rivals defied the authority of the new
King, refusing to pay taxes and demanding the election of a ruler by
native suffrage. Mataafa, an aspirant to the throne, and a large number
of his native adherents were in open rebellion on one of the islands.
Quite lately, at the request of the other powers and in fulfillment of
its treaty obligation, this Government agreed to unite in a joint
military movement of such dimensions as would probably secure the
surrender of the insurgents without bloodshed.
The war ship Philadelphia was accordingly put under orders for Samoa,
but before she arrived the threatened conflict was precipitated by King
Malietoa's attack upon the insurgent camp. Mataafa was defeated and a
number of his men killed. The British and German naval vessels present
subsequently secured the surrender of Mataafa and his adherents. The
defeated chief and ten of his principal supporters were deported to a
German island of the Marshall group, where they are held as prisoners
under the joint responsibility and cost of the three powers.
This incident and the events leading up to it signally illustrate the
impolicy of entangling alliances with foreign powers.
More than fifteen years ago this Government preferred a claim against
Spain in behalf of one of our citizens for property seized and
confiscated in Cuba. In 1886 the claim was adjusted, Spain agreeing to
pay unconditionally, as a fair indemnity, $1,500,000. A respectful but
earnest note was recently addressed to the Spanish Government insisting
upon prompt fulfillment of its long-neglected obligation.
Other claims preferred by the United States against Spain in behalf of
American citizens for property confiscated in Cuba have been pending
for many years.
At the time Spain's title to the Caroline Islands was confirmed by
arbitration that Government agreed that the rights which had been
acquired there by American missionaries should be recognized and
respected. It is sincerely hoped that this pledge will be observed by
allowing our missionaries, who were removed from Ponape to a place of
safety by a United States war ship during the late troubles between the
Spanish garrison and the natives, to return to their field of
usefulness.
The reproduced caravel Santa Maria, built by Spain and sent to the
Columbian Exposition, has been presented to the United States in token
of amity and in commemoration of the event it was designed to
celebrate. I recommend that in accepting this gift Congress make
grateful recognition of the sincere friendship which prompted it.
Important matters have demanded attention in our relations with the
Ottoman Porte.
The firing and partial destruction by an unrestrained mob of one of the
school buildings of Anatolia College, established by citizens of the
United States at Marsovan, and the apparent indifference of the Turkish
Government to the outrage, notwithstanding the complicity of some of
its officials, called for earnest remonstrance, which was followed by
promise of reparation and punishment of the offenders.
Indemnity for the injury to the buildings has already been paid,
permission to rebuild given, registration of the school property in the
name of the American owners secured, and efficient protection
guaranteed.
Information received of maltreatment suffered by an inoffensive
American woman engaged in missionary work in Turkish Koordistan was
followed by such representations to the Porte as resulted in the
issuance of orders for the punishment of her assailants, the removal of
a delinquent official, and the adoption of measures for the protection
of our citizens engaged in mission and other lawful work in that
quarter.
Turkey complains that her Armenian subjects obtain citizenship in this
country not to identify themselves in good faith with our people, but
with the intention of returning to the land of their birth and there
engaging in sedition. This complaint is not wholly without foundation.
A journal published in this country in the Armenian language openly
counsels its readers to arm, organize, and participate in movements for
the subversion of Turkish authority in the Asiatic provinces. The
Ottoman Government has announced its intention to expel from its
dominions Armenians who have obtained naturalization in the United
States since 1868.
The right to exclude any or all classes of aliens is an attribute of
sovereignty. It is a right asserted and, to a limited extent, enforced
by the United States, with the sanction of our highest court. There
being no naturalization treaty between the United States and Turkey,
our minister at Constantinople has been instructed that, while
recognizing the right of that Government to enforce its declared policy
against naturalized Armenians, he is expected to protect them from
unnecessary harshness of treatment.
In view of the impaired financial resources of Venezuela consequent
upon the recent revolution there, a modified arrangement for the
satisfaction of the awards of the late revisory claims commission, in
progressive installments, has been assented to, and payments are being
regularly made thereunder.
The boundary dispute between Venezuela and British Guiana is yet
unadjusted. A restoration of diplomatic intercourse between that
Republic and Great Britain and reference of the question to impartial
arbitration would be a most gratifying consummation.
The ratification by Venezuela of the convention for the arbitration of
the long-deferred claim of the Venezuelan Transportation Company is
awaited.
It is hardly necessary for me to state that the questions arising from
our relations with Hawaii have caused serious embarrassment. Just prior
to the installation of the present Administration the existing
Government of Hawaii had been suddenly overthrown and a treaty of
annexation had been negotiated between the Provisional Government of
the islands and the United States and submitted to the Senate for
ratification. This treaty I withdrew for examination and dispatched
Hon. James H. Blount, of Georgia, to Honolulu as a special commissioner
to make an impartial investigation of the circumstances attending the
change of government and of all the conditions bearing upon the subject
of the treaty. After a thorough and exhaustive examination Mr. Blount
submitted to me his report, showing beyond all question that the
constitutional Government of Hawaii had been subverted with the active
aid of our representative to that Government and through the
intimidation caused by the presence of an armed naval force of the
United States, which was landed for that purpose at the instance of our
minister. Upon the facts developed it seemed to me the only honorable
course for our Government to pursue was to undo the wrong that had been
done by those representing us and to restore as far as practicable the
status existing at the time of our forcible intervention. With a view
of accomplishing this result within the constitutional limits of
executive power, and recognizing all our obligations and
responsibilities growing out of any changed conditions brought about by
our unjustifiable interference, our present minister at Honolulu has
received appropriate instructions to that end. Thus far no information
of the accomplishment of any definite results has been received from
him.
Additional advices are soon expected. When received they will be
promptly sent to the Congress, together with all other information at
hand, accompanied by a special Executive message fully detailing all
the facts necessary to a complete understanding of the case and
presenting a history of all the material events leading up to the
present situation.
By a concurrent resolution passed by the Senate February 14, 1890, and
by the House of Representatives on the 3d of April following the
President was requested to "invite from time to time, as fit occasions
may arise, negotiations with any government with which the United
States has or may have diplomatic relations, to the end that any
differences or disputes arising between the two governments which can
not be adjusted by diplomatic agency may be referred to arbitration and
be peaceably adjusted by such means." April 18, 1890, the International
American Conference of Washington by resolution expressed the wish that
all controversies between the republics of America and the nations of
Europe might be settled by arbitration, and recommended that the
government of each nation represented in that conference should
communicate this wish to all friendly powers. A favorable response has
been received from Great Britain in the shape of a resolution adopted
by Parliament July 16 last, cordially sympathizing with the purpose in
view and expressing the hope that Her Majesty's Government will lend
ready cooperation to the Government of the United States upon the basis
of the concurrent resolution above quoted.
It affords me signal pleasure to lay this parliamentary resolution
before the Congress and to express my sincere gratification that the
sentiment of two great and kindred nations is thus authoritatively
manifested in favor of the rational and peaceable settlement of
international quarrels by honorable resort to arbitration.
Since the-passage of the act of March 3, 1893, authorizing the
President to raise the grade of our envoys to correspond with the rank
in which foreign countries accredit their agents here, Great Britain,
France, Italy, and Germany have conferred upon their representatives at
this capital the title of ambassador, and I have responded by
accrediting the agents of the United States in those countries with the
same title. A like elevation of mission is announced by Russia, and
when made will be similarly met. This step fittingly comports with the
position the United States hold in the family of nations.
During my former Administration I took occasion to recommend a recast
of the laws relating to the consular service, in order that it might
become a more efficient agency in the promotion of the interests it was
intended to subserve. The duties and powers of consuls have been
expanded with the growing requirements of our foreign trade.
Discharging important duties affecting our commerce and American
citizens abroad, and in certain countries exercising judicial
functions, these officers should be men of character, intelligence, and
ability.
Upon proof that the legislation of Denmark secures copyright to
American citizens on equal footing with its own, the privileges of our
copyright laws have been extended by proclamation to subjects of that
country.
The Secretary of the Treasury reports that the receipts of the
Government from all sources during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893,
amounted to $461,716,561.94 and its expenditures to $459,374,674.29.
There was collected from customs $205,355,016.73 and from internal
revenue $161,027,623.93. Our dutiable imports amounted to $421,856,711,
an increase of $52,453,907 over the preceding year, and importations
free of duty amounted to $444,544,211, a decrease from the preceding
year of $13,455,447. Internal-revenue receipts exceeded those of the
preceding year by $7,147,445.32. The total tax collected on distilled
spirits was $94,720,260.55, on manufactured tobacco $31,889,711.74, and
on fermented liquors $32,548,983.07. We exported merchandise during the
year amounting to $847,665,194, a decrease of $182,612,954 from the
preceding year. The amount of gold exported was larger than any
previous year in the history of the Government, amounting to
$108,680,844, and exceeding the amount exported during the preceding
year by$58,485,517.
The sum paid from the Treasury for sugar bounty was $9,375,130.88, an
increase over the preceding year of $2,033,053.09.
It is estimated upon the basis of present revenue laws that the
receipts of the Government for the year ending June 30, 1894, will be
$430,121,365.38 and its expenditures $458,121,365.28, resulting in a
deficiency of $28,000,000.
On the 1st day of November, 1893, the amount of money of all kinds in
circulation, or not included in Treasury holdings, was $1,718,544,682,
an increase for the year of $112,404,947. Estimating our population at
67,426,000 at the time mentioned, the per capita circulation was
$25.49. On the same date there was in the Treasury gold bullion
amounting to $96,657,273 and silver bullion which was purchased at a
cost of $126,261,553.
The purchases of silver under the law of July 14, 1890, during the last
fiscal year aggregated 54,008,162.59 fine ounces, which cost
$45,531,374.53. The total amount of silver purchased from the time that
law became operative until the repeal of its purchasing clause, on the
1st day of November, 1893, was 168,674,590.46 fine ounces, which cost
$155,930,940.84. Between the 1st day of March, 1873, and the 1st day of
November, 1893, the Government purchased under all laws 503,003,717
fine ounces of silver, at a cost of $516,622,948. The silver dollars
that have been coined under the act of July 14, 1890, number
36,087,285. The seigniorage arising from such coinage was
$6,977,098.39, leaving on hand in the mints 140,699,760 fine ounces of
silver, which cost $126,758,218.
Our total coinage of all metals during the last fiscal year consisted
of 97,280,875 pieces, valued at $43,685,178.80, of which there was
$30,038,140 in gold coin, $5,343,715 in silver dollars, $7,217,220.90
in subsidiary silver coin, and $1,086,102.90 in minor coins.
During the calendar year 1892 the production of precious metals in the
United States was estimated to be 1,596,375 fine ounces of gold of the
commercial and coinage value of $33,000,000 and 58,000,000 fine ounces
of silver of the bullion or market value of $50,750,000 and of the
coinage value of $74,989,900.
It is estimated that on the 1st day of July, 1893, the metallic stock
of money in the United States, consisting of coin and bullion, amounted
to $1,213,559,169, of which $597,697,685 was gold and $615,861,484 was
silver.
One hundred and nineteen national banks were organized during the year
ending October 31, 1893, with a capital of $11,230,000. Forty-six went
into voluntary liquidation and 158 suspended. Sixty-five of the
suspended banks were insolvent, 86 resumed business, and 7 remain in
the hands of the bank examiners, with prospects of speedy resumption.
Of the new banks organized, 44 were located in the Eastern States, 41
west of the Mississippi River, and 34 in the Central and Southern
States. The total number of national banks in existence on October 31,
1893, was 3,796, having an aggregate capital of $695,558,120. The net
increase in the circulation of these banks during the year was
$36,886,972.
The recent repeal of the provision of law requiring the purchase of
silver bullion by the Government as a feature of our monetary scheme
has made an entire change in the complexion of our currency affairs. I
do not doubt that the ultimate result of this action will be most
salutary and far-reaching. In the nature of things, however, it is
impossible to know at this time precisely what conditions will be
brought about by the change, or what, if any, supplementary legislation
may in the light of such conditions appear to be essential or
expedient. Of course, after the recent financial perturbation, time is
necessary for the reestablishment of business confidence. When,
however, through this restored confidence, the money which has been
frightened into hoarding places is returned to trade and enterprise, a
survey of the situation will probably disclose a safe path leading to a
permanently sound currency, abundantly sufficient to meet every
requirement of our increasing population and business.
In the pursuit of this object we should resolutely turn away from
alluring and temporary expedients, determined to be content with
nothing less than a lasting and comprehensive financial plan. In these
circumstances I am convinced that a reasonable delay in dealing with
this subject, instead of being injurious, will increase the probability
of wise action.
The monetary conference which assembled at Brussels upon our invitation
was adjourned to the 30th day of November of the present year. The
considerations just stated and the fact that a definite proposition
from us seemed to be expected upon the reassembling of the conference
led me to express a willingness to have the meeting still further
postponed.
It seems to me that it would be wise to give general authority to the
President to invite other nations to such a conference at any time when
there should be a fair prospect of accomplishing an international
agreement on the subject of coinage.
I desire also to earnestly suggest the wisdom of amending the existing
statutes in regard to the issuance of Government bonds. The authority
now vested in the Secretary of the Treasury to issue bonds is not as
clear as it should be, and the bonds authorized are disadvantageous to
the Government both as to the time of their maturity and rate of
interest.
The Superintendent of Immigration, through the Secretary of the
Treasury, reports that during the last fiscal year there arrived at our
ports 440,793 immigrants. Of these, 1,063 were not permitted to land
under the limitations of the law and 577 were returned to the countries
from whence they came by reason of their having become public charges.
The total arrivals were 141,034 less than for the previous year.
The Secretary in his report gives an account of the operation of the
Marine-Hospital Service and of the good work done under its supervision
in preventing the entrance and spread of contagious diseases.
The admonitions of the last two years touching our public health and
the demonstrated danger of the introduction of contagious diseases from
foreign ports have invested the subject of national quarantine with
increased interest. A more general and harmonious system than now
exists, acting promptly and directly everywhere and constantly
operating by preventive means to shield our country from the invasion
of disease, and at the same time having due regard to the rights and
duties of local agencies, would, I believe, add greatly to the safety
of our people.
The Secretary of War reports that the strength of the Army on the 30th
day of September last was 25,778 enlisted men and 2,144 officers.
The total expenditures of the Department for the year ending June 30,
1893, amounted to $51,966,074.89. Of this sum $1,992,581.95 was for
salaries and contingent expenses, $23,377,828.35 for the support of the
military establishment, $6,077,033.18 for miscellaneous objects, and
518,631.41 for public works. This latter sum includes $15,296,876.46
for river and harbor improvements and $3,266,141.20 for fortifications
and other works of defense.
The total enrollment of the militia of the several States was on the
31st of October of the current year 112,597 officers and enlisted men.
The officers of the Army detailed for the inspection and instruction of
this reserve of our military force report that increased interest and
marked progress are apparent in the discipline and efficiency of the
organization.
Neither Indian outbreaks nor domestic violence have called the Army
into service during the year, and the only active military duty
required of it has been in the Department of Texas, where violations of
the neutrality laws of the United States and Mexico were promptly and
efficiently dealt with by the troops, eliciting the warm approval of
the civil and military authorities of both countries.