The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 4, 1900, Page 1

Tall, PRICE FIVE CENTS L3 +* f enduring, self-support- B o e e o B e o L o e o o o i | " VOLUME LXXXIX—NO. 4. SAN FRANCISCO, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1900. e e Q oot . . . * : 'S MESSAG Legislation Is Urged for the Isthmian Canal|} FEATURES OF THE PRESIDENT’S M E. T for Ship Subsidi ¥ an OP l p u Sl leS. A ULL expiation for the real culprits in China imperative within the rational limits of retributive $ ustice, adequate arantees for liberty of faith and increased guarantees of security for forei i s y gn ¥ | (4 rights and immunities, are the essential features in the settlement of the Chinese trouble. | Two lhfl“!:nd l"ll"'! ;“"‘"9"‘: :"' ’rfi::"";”q Lynching must not be tolerated in the United States. | car-by er protection of the for- = e T ot haisies Wints it The Hay-Pauncefote treaty commended to the early attention of the Senate. ‘l!renvhes :us. hnrrl;ndu lnused ::n‘: nr:parx- Reciprocity conventions should be approved. | tions made to stand a slege, which at onge | sy s . Duty of Congress to provide whatever further legislation is needed to insure continued parity | “Frem June 20 until July 15" writes Mr. between gold and silver. | | Conger, “there was scarcely an hour during | o 2 » % it AR g el e 8 D e i Party in power committed to legislation to better make the currency responsible to the varying 3 our lines and into some of the legations, vary- | % needs of business. i ing from a single shot to a general and con- “» el Bf:nd"flu‘.ng the whole line."" Artil- % War taxes should be reducsd $30,000,000 a year. | 3 ‘ e s, Dlaced arodsa the tagatioon: andipn | 13 American merchant mariue should receive Federal aid. $ E | the overtocizt ace walls, and thousands of 5 3 * 4 e Inck shot At snEI werk Bied. Ghetecy: i Restraint upon such trads combinations as are injurious and which are within Federal jurisdie- ing some bulldings and damaging all. So 5 tion should be promptly applied by Congress. - 1 | thickly did the balls rain that when the am- Y s 3 munition of the besieged ran low five Guarts ; L:gislation for Philippines should be along the lines of building up 3 of Chinese bullets were gathered in an hour ing and self-administering communities. in one compound and recast. i ; | Attempts were made to burn the legations by | o Pacific cable nceded under American control. | setting nelghboring houses on fire, but the § President should have authority to increasz army to 100,000. B fhien so g e o o rmage o Grade of vice admiral in navy should be restored. legat! ently burned. With the | :E: National naval reserve should be established. ald of the verts, directed .by the BEE, iz | mieslonaries, to whose helpful co-operation Mr. | & Census experts should be retained in Governnient ,service. Conger awards unstinted pralse, the British Amendments should be made to alien contract law. 'ngfl_,;“- ;(“':»-“r_‘;_fl;l: ‘\;l""f;_‘";‘;"f‘};;;”_ :';: Nezded appropriations should te made to enable Civil Service Commission to carry on its work. chosen general commander of the defense, with | % Provision should be made for Hall of Records for Government archives in Washington. the secretary of the American Legation, E. J. | % ires, as chief of staff . save life and ammunition the besieged :,.hc returned the Incessant fire of the |+ = - o { diversence of views in regard to the indemni- | o =e soldiery, fighting only to repel attack) | [ S —— fes the matter may be relegated to the court or make an occasional successful sortie for | | t | of arbitration at The Hague. I favorably in- strategic advantage, such as that of fitty-five | | | | cline to this, believing that high tribunal | Americas British and Russian marines, led | | | could not fafl to reach a solution no less con- by Captain Myers of the United States Marine | | | ducive to the stabllity and enlarged prosperity Corps, which resuited In the capture of a for- | | of China itself than immediately beneficial to F o midable barricade on the wail that gravely | | the powers ) merfced the American position. It was held | Ratifications of a treaty of extradition with | N to the last and proved an invaluable a-q | the Argentine Republic were exchanged on 2 tien, because commanding the wa June 2 last. 85 Bickigh rohisn (e reitar clvims iant | | While the Austro-Hunsarian Government has e d i & | | In many cascs that have been reported of the 83 LOSSES AT THE LEGATIONS. || 4 | |arrest ‘of bur naturalized citizens for alleged During the stegs the defenders lost sixty-five | | "} | | evasion of military service, faithtully observed ktlled, 135 wounded and seven by disease—the i % | | the provisions of the treaty and released such lase all children. | | persons from military obligations, it has in on 14 the besieged had their first commu- | | | some instances expelled those whose presence | Gng E£ s plof i diueis {In the community of their origin was asserted r | & message came Inviting to a conference, which [ :n qh'“" a :wm;. fous lnfiuelnn‘p i‘epreumar was declin Correspondence, however. en- ms have been de against this course | sued and a sort of arm: was agreed up:n_ | | whenever its adoption has appeared unduly eriest? IN THE ARING THE THE FIFTY-SI> TH CONGRESS. EXECUTIVE MANSION THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN IMPORTANT MESSAGE WHICH HE SUBMITTED YES- the Heuse 3 € and s.- here its stabil the ty Whe Sixth ¢ embled in N vember t pulation of the Uni States was'5,205,483. It Is mow 76,30479. Then we b States. Now we have Sve territory consisted of > square miles s now 3 5 square miles Education, religion and morality have kept pace with our advancement in other directions, and while exter power the sovernment has adbered t foundation principles and a4 mone dealing with our new peopies and possessions. 4 nation so preserved and blessed gives reverent thanks to God ani nvokes his nd the continuance of his care and favor our foreign intercourse the dominan ques has been the treatment of the Chiness problem. Apart from ‘his our relations wih the powers have been happy The recent troubles in China spring from the foreign agitation which for the past three ears has gained strength in the northern prov- Their origin lies deep in the characte ¢ the Chinese races and ip the traditions government: The Taiping rebeliion and ing of Chipese ports to foreign trade settiement disturbed alike the homogenelty seclusion of China. le foreign activity made itself feit not alone on the coast, but river arteries and in the re- ter districts, carrying new ideas and intro- ing pew associations among a primitive eople which had pursued for centuries a na- con. nd the Meanw all quarters ng the great nal policy isolation. e ‘telegraph and the rallway spreading er their land, the steamers plying on their terways, the merchant and the missionary etrating year by year farther to the inter- to the Chinese mind types of an en invasion, changing the course of their na fe and fraught with vague forebod- &+ of disaster 1o their beliefs and their seir- ntrol For several years before the present troubles the resources of foreign diplomacy, backed m: ac mstrations of the physical Yorce * fleets and arms, have been needed to secure P iic respect for the treaty rights of forelgners to obtaln satisfaction from the responsible thorities for the sporadic outrages upon the B ons and property of unoffending sojourners, which from time to time occurred st widely sebarated points in the morthern provinces, as outbreaks in Szechuen and Shantung Posting of atly anti-forelgn placards became a e, which ihe repeated probation perial power falled to check or punish. to the ignorance These inflammatory appeals | stons. and superstition of the masses, mendaclous and bsurd in their accusations and deeply hostile helr ey could not_but work cumulative m. They aimed at no particular class’ o foreigners; they were ‘mpartial in attdcking | everything foreign. An outbresk in Shantune, } tn which German missionaries were slain, was result of these malevolent pro- sting of seditious placards ex- things continued rebuKed. Hus. nonstrations toward the stranger gained h by, organization STRENGTH OF THE BOXERS. . The sect commonly: tyled the Boxers. e- veloped greatly“in the provinces north.of the Yangtse, and with' the collusion of many, not- able tals, includihg some fn the immedia(e of the throne itseif, gbecame alarming- aggressive. .- No-forelgner’s life, outside of e protected treaty ports, was scfe. No for- elgn Interest ‘wae secure from spoliation. The tic representatives of the powers in strove ‘in vain to check this movi- ment Protest was followed by demand and aemand renewsd protest, to be met with perfunctory edicts from the palace and ev and futile assurances from the Tsung 1i Yam: The circle of the Boxer influencc narrowed about Peking, and while nominally stigmatizel as seditioun, it was felt. that its spirit per- vaded the capital itself, that the imperial forces were imbued with its doctrines, and that the immediatescouncilors of the Empress Dow.- eger were in full sympathy with the anti-for- elgn movement The increasing gravity of the conditions in China and the imminence of peril to our own diversified interests in ‘he empire, as well'as diplom Peking 10 those of all the other treaty powers, were soon appreciated by this Government, caus- | ing vrofound solicitude. The United Statex from the earliest days of forelgn Intercourss with China had followed a policy of peass, omitting no occasions to testify good-will, to further the extension of lawful tride, to re: | #pect the soverelgnty of its government, andl to insure by all legitimste und kindly but | earnest means the fullest measure of protec. fon for the iives and property of our law abid- ing citizens and for the exercise of their bene- ficent callings -among the Chinese people. Mindful of this, it was felt to be appropri that our purposes should be pronounced favor of such course as would hasten action of the powers at Peking to promote the admin- istrative reforms so greatly needed for strengthening the imperial Government and maintaining the integrity of China, in which we believe the whole Wesiern world to be ‘alike concerned. To these ends I caused to be ad- dressed to the several powers occupying terri- tory and maintaining spheres of influence in ina the circular proposals of 1599, inviting rom them declarations of their intentions and views as to the desirability of the adoption of measures insuring the benefits of equality of treatment of all foréign trade throughout China. With gratifying unapimity the responses co- incided in this common policy, enabling me to see In the successful termination of these ne- gotiations proof of the friendly spirit which animates the various powers interested in the untrammeled development of commerce and industry in the Chinese empire as a source of vast bepefit to the whole commercial world. In this conclusion, which I had the gratifica- tion to anmounce as a completed engagement to the interested powers on March 20, 1900, I hopefully discerned a potential factor for the ebatement of the distrust of foreign purposes which, for a year past, had appeared to in- spire the policy of the imperial Government, and for the effective exertion by it of power and authority to quell the critical and forefgn movement in the northern provinces most im- mediately influenéed by the Manchu sentiment. Seeking to festify confidence in the willing- ness and ability of the imperial administration to redreas the wrongs and prevent the evils we suffered and feared, the marine .‘“11, ‘which o had been sent to Peking In the autumn of 189 for the protection of the legation,. was with- drawn at the earlest practicable moment, and all pending questions were remitted, as far as we were concerned, to the ordinary resorts of diplomatic_intercourse, THE GOVERNMENT - HELPLESS. The Chinese Government proved, however, un able to.check the.rising strength of the Boxers and appeared to be a prey to internal dissen- In the unequal contest the anti-forelgn influences soon gained the ascendency under the leadership of Prince Tuan. QOrganized arm- fes of Bokers, with which the imperial forces affiltated, held the country between Peking and the coast, penetrated Into MAnchuria, up to the Russlan barder, whd’through their emissaries threatened a ‘ltke rise - throughout Northern China. « Attacks. upon forelgners, . lestruation of prop- erty and slaughter of native converts were re- ported from all sides. The Tsung Li Yamen, already permeated with hostile sympathies, could make.no effective response to the ap- peals of the legations. At this critical junc- ture,, In the early’ spring of this vear, a pro- posal was made by the other powers that a combined fleet be assembled in the Chinese waters as a moral demonstration, under cover of which to exact of the Chinese Government respect for foreign treaty rights and the sup- Pression of the Boxers. The United States, while not participating in the joint demonstration, promptly sent from the Philippines all ships that could be spared for service on the’ Chinese coast. A small force of marines was landed at Taku and sent to Peking for the protection of the American legation.. Other powers took similar actfon, until some four hundred men were assembled in the capital as legation guards Still the pefll increased, the legations report- ed the devplopment of the seditious movement in Peking’and the need of increased ‘provision for defense against it. While preparations were in progress for a larger expedition, to .strengtheri the lagation guards and keep the raflway ppen, an attempt of the foreign ships to make a landing at Taku was met by fire from the Chinese forts. The forts were there- upon shelled by the forelgn vessels, the Ameri- can admiral taking. no part in the attack, on the ground that we were not at war with China and that a hostile demonstration might consoli- date the anti-foreign elements and strengthen the Boxers to oppose the relieving column. Two days later the Taku forts wére captured after a sanguinary conflict. Severance of com- munication with Peking followed and & com- bined force of additional guards, which was advancing to Peking by the Petho, was checked at Langfang. The isolation of the legations wit complete. The siege and the relief of the legations have passed into undying history. In all the stir- ring chapter which records the heroism of the devoted band, clinging to hope in the face of | despalr, and the undaunted spirit that led their rellevers through battle and suffering to the goal, it is a memory of which my country- imen may be justly proud, that the honor of our flag was maintained alike in the siege and the rescue and that stout American hearts have again set high, in fervent emulation with true men of every race 4 language, the indomit- able courage that ever strives for the cause of right and justice. LEGATIONS CUT OFF. By June 19 the legations were cut off. An jdentical - note from the Yamen ordered each Minister to leave Peking under a promised e cort within twenty-four hours. To gain time they replied, asking prolongation of the time, which was afterward granted, and requesting an interview with the Tsung L{ Yamen on the following day. No-reply being received, on the ‘morning of the 29th the German Minister, Baron von Ketteler, set out for the Yamen to obtain a response and on the way was mur. cered. An attempt by the legation guard to recover his body was foilled by the Chinese. Armed forces turned out against the legations, Their quarters were surrounded and attacked. The mission compounds were abandoned, (heir inmates taking refuge in the British Legation, where all the other legations and guards gath- ored for more effective defense. Four hundred versons were crowded in its Darrow compass, which stopped the bombardment and lessened the rifie fire for u time. Even then no protec- whatever was afforded, nor any ald given, 1 to th ns a small supply of Tegat frult and three sacks our. Indeed, th communication had with the Chinese Government related to the occasional delivery or dispatch of a telegram or to the nds of the Tsung Li Yamen for the with- Arawal of the legation to the coast under es- cort. Not only are the protestations of the Crinese Government that it protected and suc- cored the legations positively contradicted, but frresistible proof accumulated that the attacks upon them were made by imperial troops, regu- larly uniformed, armed and officered, belong- ing to the command of Jung Lu, the imperial commander in chief. Decrees encouraging the Bexers, organizing them under prominent im- perial officers, provisioning_ them.. and even granting them large sums in the mime of the | Pimpress Dowager are known -to exist. Mem- berg of the Tsung LI Yamen who counseled protection of the foreigners were beheaded. Even in the dietant provinces men suspected of forelgn sympathy were put to death, promi- fient among these belng Chang Yen Hoon, for- rierly Chinese Minister in Washington. |~ With fhe negotiation of the partial armistice of July M, a proceeding which was doubtless | promoted by the representations of the Chingse envoy in Washington, the way was opened for the conveyance to Mr. Conger of a test messdge sent by the Secretary of State through the kind ffices of Minister Wu Ting Fang. Mr. Con- ger's reply, dispatched from Peking on July 1€ through the same channel, afforded to the ocutside world the. first tidings that the inmates | of the legations were still alive and hoping for | succor. | “This news stimulased the preparations for a | Joint relief expedition in numbers sufficient to overcome the resistance which for a month had | been organizing between Taku and the capital. Reinforcements sent by all the co-operating | governments were constantly arriving. The | Unitea States contingent, hastily assembled | from the Philippines or dispatched from this | country, amounted to some 500 men, under the | able command first of the lamented Licutenant | Colonel Liscum and afterward of General | Chaffee. Toward the end of July the movement began. A severe conflict followed at Tientsin, in which Colonel Liscum was Killed. The city was | stormed and partly destroved. Its capture afforded the base of operations from which to | make the final advance, which began In the first days of August, the expedition being made | up of Japanese, Russtan, British and American | troops at the outset. | ~‘Another battle was fought and won at Yang- | tsun. Thereafter the disheartened Chinese troops offered little show of resistance. A few | days later the tmportant position of Ho St Woo | was taken. A rapid march brought the united forces to the populous city of Tungchau, which capitulated without a contest. FOREIGNERS FINALLY RESCUED | On August 14 the capital was reached. After | a brief confict beneath the walls the relief | column entered and the legations were saved. The United soldiers, sallors and marines, offi- cers and men allke in those distant climes and unusual surroundings, showed the same valor, discipline and good conduct and gave proot of the same high degree of Intelligence and efficiency which have distinguished them fn every emergency. The imperial family and the Government had fled a few days before. The city was without visible control. The remaining imperial sol- diery had made on the night of the 13th a last | attempt to exterminate the besleged, which was | gallantly repelled. It fell to the occupying forces to restore order and organize a provi- slonal administration. Happily, the acute disturbances were confined to the northern provinces. It Is a relfef to recall and a pleasure to record the loyal con- duct of the Viceroys and local authorities of the southern arf eastern provinces. Thelr ef- forts were continuously directed to the pacific control of the vast populations under their rule and to the scrupulous observance of for- eign treaty rights. At critical moments they 4id not hesitate to memorialize the throne, urging the protection of the legations, the res- toration of communication and the assertion of the imperfal authority against the subver- sive elements. They maintained excellent rela. tions with the officlal representatives of for- | eign powers. To their kindly disposition is largely due the success of the Consuls in re- moving many of the missionaries from the in- terior to places of safety. In this relation the action of the Consuls should be highly com- mended. In Shantung and Eastern Chill the task was difficult, but, thanks to their energy and the co-operation of American and foreign naval commanders, hundreds of foreigners, in. cluding those of other nationalities than ours, were rescued from imminent peril. THE POLICY OF AMERICA. The policy of the United States through an this trying perfod was clearly announced and scrupulously carried out. A circular note to the powers, dated July 3, proclatmed our attitude, treating the condition In the north as one of virtual anarchy, in which the great provinces of the south and southeast had no share. We regarded the local authorities in the latter Qquarters as representing the Chinese people, with whom we Sought to remain in peace and friendship. Our declared alms involved no war against the Chinese nation. We adhered to the legitimate office of rescuing the imperiled le- gations, obtaining redress for wrongs already suffered, securing wherever possible the safety o b o NT PRO TEM. FRYE UNITED STATES PRESIDE! OF THE SENATE. S =3 of American life and property in China and preventing a soread of the disorders or their recurrence. As was then sald, ‘“‘the policy of the Govern- ment of the United States is to seek a solution | which may bring about permanent safety and peace to China, preserve Chinese territorfal and administrative entity, protect all rights guaran- teed to friendly powers by treaty and Interna- tional law and safeguard for the world the principle of the equal and impartial trade with all parts of the Chinese empire.” Faithful to those professions, which, as it proved, reflected the views and purposes of the other co-operating governments, all our efforts have been directed toward ending the anoma- lous situation in China by negotiations for a settlement at the earliest possible moment. As soon as the sacred duty of relleving our lega- tion and its dependents was accomplished we withdrew from active hostilities, leaving our legation under an adequate guard in Peking ‘as a channel of negotiation and settlement—a course adopted by others of the interested pow- Overtures of the empowered representa- ers. tives of the Chinese erately entertained. The Russian propositicn looking to the resto- ration of the imperial power in Peking has been accepted as in full consonance with our own destres, for we have held and hold that effective | reparation for wrongs suffered and an endur- | ing settlement that will make their recurrence | mpossible can best be brought about under an authority which the Chinese nation reverences and obeys. While so doing we forego no jot of our undoubted right to exact exemplary and deterrent punishment of the responsible authors and abettors of the criminal‘acts, whereby we and other nations have suffered grievous in- Jury. For the real culprits—the evil counselors who have misled the imperial judgment and diverted the soverelgn authority to thelr own gullty ends—tull explation becomes imperative Within the rational ltmits of retributive jus- tice. Regarding this as the initial condition of an acceptable settlement between China and the powers, I sald in my message of October 18 to the Chinese Emperor: “I trust that negotiations may begin as soon as wé and the other offended governments shall be effectivély satisfied of your Majesty's ability and power to treat with just sternness the principal offenders, who are doubly cul- pable, not alone toward the foreigners but toward your Majesty, under whose rule the purpose of China to dwell in concord with the world had hitherto found expression in the welcome and protection assured to strangers.’ Taking as a point of departure the imperial edlct appointing Barl Li Fung Chang and Prince Ching plenipotentiaries to arrange a settlement, and the edict of September 25, Wwhereby certain high offifials were designated for punishment, this Government has moved. in concert with the other powers, toward the opening of negotiations, which Mr. Conger, assisted by Mr. Rockhill, has been authorized to conduct on behalf of the United States. BASES OF NEGOTIATIONS. The general bases of negotiations formulated the Government of the French republic have '::en accepted with certain reservations as to detalls, made necessary by our own cireum- but, like similar reservations by other open to discussion in the progress of the negotiations. The disposition of the Em- peror's government to admit lability for wrongs done to forelgn governments and their representatives, and to act upon such additional Hesignation of the gullty persons as the for- elgn Ministers at Peking may be in a position %o make, gives hope of a complete settlement of all questions involved, assuring foreign rights of residence and intercourse on terms of equality for all the world. I ‘regard as ome of the essential factors of a durable adjustment the securement of ade- \uate guarantees for liberty of faith, since {nsecurity of those natives who may embrace Mien creeds Is a scarcely less effectual as- Shult upon the rights of forelgn worship and geaching than would be the direct invasion thereof. 3 ‘The stances, powers, ‘matter of indemnity for our wronged uestion of grave concern. Meas- may prove to be bevond the ability of China 3‘;\«(4 All the powers concur in emphatic disclaimers of any purpose of aggrandizement through the dismemberment of the empire. I am disi to think that due compensation maay be made in part by increased guarantees ot securities for forelgn rights and immuni- tles, and, most important of all, by the open- ing of China to the equal commerce of all the world. These views have been and will be irnestly advocated by our representatives. The Government of Russia has put forward « suggestion that In the event of protracted aperor have been consid- | | to raty onerous. We have been urgently solicited by Belgium v the international convention of June, mendatory of the previous convention in 1599, | 1890, in respect to the regulation of the liquor | trade In Africa. Combliance was necessarily withheld in the absence of the advice and con- sent of the Senate thereto. The principle in- volved has the cordial sympathy of this Gov- ernment, which in the revisionary negotiations advocated more drastic measures, and I would gladly see its extension, by international agreement, to the restriction of the lquor traffic with all uncivilized peoples, especially in the Western Pacific. A conference will be held at Brussels, De- cember 11, 1300, under the convention for the protection of industrial property, concluded at Paris, March 20, 1853, to which delegates from country have been appointed. Any lessen- ing of the difficulties that our Inventors en- counter in obtaining patents abroad for their inventions, and that our farmers, manufac- turers and merchants may have in the protec- tion of their trade marks, is worthy of care- ful consideration. and your attention will be called to the results of the conference at the | proper time. In the interest of expanding trade between this country and South America efforts have been made during the past vear to conclude conventions with the southern republics for the enlargement of postal facllitfes. Two such agreements were signed at Bolivia on April 24, of, which that establishing the money order system Is undergoing certain changes sug- gested by the Postoffice Department. A treaty of extradition with that country, signed on the same date, is before the Senate. BOUNDARY DISPUTE ADJUSTED. A boundary dispute between Brazil and Bo- livia, over the territory of Acre, is in a fair way of friendly adjustment, a protacol, signed in December, 1599, having agreed-on a definite frontier and provided for its demarcation by a Joint commisston. Conditions in Brazil have weighed heavily on our export trade to that country, in marked contrast to the favorable conditions upon which Brazillan products are admitted Into our markets. Urgent representations have been matle to that government on the subject, and some amelloration has been effected. We rely upon the reciprocal justice and good will of that government to assure to us a further improvement in our commercial relations, The convention signed May 24, 1887, for the final settlement of claims left in abeyance un- der the dissolution of the commission of 1333, was at length ratified by the Chilean Congre and the supplemental commission has been or- ganized. It remains for the Congress to ap- propriate for the necessary expenses of the commission, The insurrectionary movement which dis- turbed Colombia in the latter part of 1399 has been practically suppressed, although guerrillas still operate In some departments. The execu- tive power of that republic changed hands in August last by the act of Vice President Mar- roquin in assuming the reins of government during the absence of President San Clements from the capital. The change met with no serious opposition, and following the precedents in such cases, the United States Minister en- tered Into relations with the new®de facto Government on September 17. It is gratifying to announce that the residual questions between Costa Rica and Nicaragu: growing out of the award of President Cleve land in 1558, have been adfusted through the choice of an American engineer, General E. P. Alexander, as umpire to run the disputed line. His task has been accomplished to the satis. faction of both contestants. A revolution in the Dominican Republic to- ward the close of last year resulted in the in- stallation of President Jiminez, whose Govern- ment was formally recognized In January. Since then filnal payment has been made of the American claim In regard to the Ozama bridge. FRIENDSHIP OF FRANCE. The year of the exposition has been fruftful In occasions for displaying the goodwlill that exists between this country and France. This great competition. brought together from every natfon the best in natural productions, indu: try, science and the arts, submitted in generous rivalry to a judgment made all the more searching because of that rivalry. The extra- ordinary Increase of exportations from this country during the past three years and the activity with which our inventions.and wares had invaded new markets caused much inter- est to center upon the American exhibit, and every encouragement was offered In the way of space and facilities to permit of its being comprehensive as a whole and complete in every part. It was, however, not an easy tack to assem- ble exhibits that could fitly illustrate our gi- versified resources and manufactures. Singu- larly enough our national prosperity lessened the Incentive to exhibit. The dealers in raw materials knew that the user must come, te Bim; the great factories were contented with | was the task of the commission | | 3 | SPEAKER HENDERSON OF | THE HOUSE OF REPRESEN- | TATIVES. the phemomemal demand for thefr output, not alone at home, but also abroad, where merit had already won a profitable trade. Appeals had to be made to the patriotism of exhibitors to Induce them to Imcur outlays, promising no immediate return. This was es- pecially the case where it became needful t. complete an industrial sequence or fllustrate & class of processes. One manufacturer after another had to be visited and importuned, and at times, after a promise to exhibit in a par ticular section having been obtained, it would be withdrawn, owing to pressure of trade or- ders, and a new quest would have to be made, The installation of exhibits, too, encountersd mary obstacles and involved unexpected cost. The exposition was far from ready at the date fixed for its opening. The Frenen transporta- tion lines were congested with offered freight Belated goods had to be hastily installed in unfinished quarters with whatever labor ecould be obtained in the prevailing confusion. Nor lightened by the fact that, owing to the scheme of classi- fication adopted, it was Impossible to have the entire exhibit of any one country in the same buflding or more than one group of ex- hibits in the same part of any bullding. Our installations were scattered on both sides of the Seine and in widely remote suburbs of Pari; that additional assistants were need ed for the work cf supervision and arrange- ment. Despite all these drawbacks, the contribution of the United States was not only the largest foreign display, but was among the earliest in place and the most orde: in arrangement. Our exhibits were shown In one hundred an one out of one hundred and twenty-one classes, and more completely covered the entire cla: fication than those of any other nation. total number they ranked next afer those ot France, and the attractive form In which they were presented secured general A criterfon of the extent and success of perticipation and of the thoroughness which our exhibits were organized is seen in the awards granted to American exhibitors by the international jury, namely: Grand prizes, 240; gold medal stiver medals, 778; bronze medals, 541 and honorable mentions, 122—247% in all, belng the greatest total number given to the exhibit of any exhibiting nation, as well as the largest number In each grade. This sig- rificant recognition of merft in competition WItE the chosen exhibits of all other nations and at the Rands of juries almost wholly made up of representatives of France and other com- peting countries is mot only most gratifying. but is espectally valuable, since it sets us tc the front in international questions of supply and demand, while the large proportion awards from the classes of art and artistic manufactures afforded unexpected proof of the stimulation of national culture by the pre perity that flows from natural productiveness joined to industrial excellence. Apart from the exposition, several occasions for showing international good will occurred. The inauguration in Paris of the Lafayette monument, presented Ly the schoel children o the United States, and the designing of 2 commemorative coin by our Mint and the pre- sentation of the firet plece struck by the Presi- dent of the republic, were marked by approg priate ceremonies, and the Fourth of July wad especially observed in the French capital RELATIONS WITH GERMANY. Good will prevalls In our relations with the German empire. An amicable adjustment of the long pending question the admission of cur life insurance companies to do business in Prussia has been reached. One of the prinei- pal companies has already been readmitted the way Is opened for the others to share the privilege. The senttlement of the Samoan problem, to which I advertad In my last message, has ac- attenticn. our with complished good results. Peace and vontent- ment prevall in the islands, especially in Tutuila, where a convenient administratton that has won the confidence and esteem of the kindly disposed natives has been organized under the direction of the commander of thes United States naval station at Pago-Pago. An imperial meat inspection law has been enacted for Germany. While it may simplify the inspections, it prohibits certain products heretofore admitted. There is still great un- certaintly as to whether our well-nigh extin- guished German trade In meat products can revive under its new burdens. Much will de- pend upon regulations not yet promulgated. Which we confidently hope will be free from the discriminations which attended the enforce- ment of the old statutes. The remaining link 1 the new lines of direct telegraphle communicatior: betieen the UnitsJ States and the German empire has recently been completed, affording & gratifying occar