CONGRESS. (TiiK PRKSIDEXT'S Mi 



147 



in tin- performance of their duties by that entire 

 impartiality which is their just due." 



The following oilier officers were chosen to com- 

 plete the organization: Alexander McDowell, of 

 Pennsylvania, Clerk ; Benjamin F. Russell, of Mis- 

 souri. Sergeant-at-Arms: William J. Glenn, of New 

 York. Doorkeeper: Jo>eph ('. McKlroy. of Ohio, 

 Postmaster; Henry M. Couden, of Michigan, Chap- 

 lain. 



The President's Message. Dec. 3, the Presi- 

 dent sent in his annual message as follows: 



To the Congress of the United States: 



The present assemblage of the legislative branch 

 of our Government occurs at a time when the in- 

 sta of our people and the needs of the country 

 give especial prominence to the condition of our 

 foreign relations and the exigencies of our national 

 finances. The reports of the heads of the several 

 administrative departments of the Government 

 fully and plainly exhibit what has been accom- 

 plished within the scope of their respective duties 

 and present such recommendations for the better- 

 ment of our country's condition as patriotic and 

 intelligent labor and observation suggest. 



I therefore deem my executive duty adequately 

 performed at this time by presenting to the Con- 

 gress the important phases of our situation as re- 

 lated to our intercourse with foreign nations, and a 

 statement of the financial problems which confront 

 us. omitting, except as they are related to these 

 topics, any reference to departmental operations. 



I earnestly invite, however, not only the careful 

 consideration, but the severely critical scrutiny of 

 the Congress and my fellow-countrymen to the re- 

 ports concerning these departmental operations. 

 If justly and fairly examined they will furnish 

 proof of assiduous and painstaking care for the 

 public welfare. I press the recommendations they 

 contain upon the respectful attention of those 

 charged with the duty of legislation, because I be- 

 lieve their adoption would promote the people's 

 good. 



By amendatory tariff legislation in January last, 

 the Argentine Republic, recognizing the value of 

 the large market opened to the free importation of 

 its wools under our last tariff act. has admitted 

 certain products of the United States to entry at 

 reduced duties. It is pleasing to note that the 

 efforts we have made to enlarge the exchanges of 

 trade on a sound basis of mutual benefit are in this 

 instance appreciated by the country from which our 

 woolen factories draw their needful supply of raw 

 material. 



The missions boundary dispute between the Ar- 

 gentine Republic and Brazil, referred to the Presi- 

 dent of the United States as arbitrator during the 

 term of my predecessor, and which was submitted 

 to me for determination, resulted in an award in 

 favor of Brazil upon the historical and documentary 

 evidence presented, thus ending a long-protracted 

 controversy, and again demonstrating the wisdom 

 and desirability of settling international boundary 

 disputes by recourse to friendly arbitration. 



gotiations are progressing for a revival of the 

 United States and Chilian Claims Commission, 

 whose work was abruptly terminated last year by 

 the expiration of the stipulated time within which 

 awards could be made. 



The resumption of specie payments by Chili is a 

 step of great interest and importance both in its 

 direct consequences upon her own welfare and as 

 evincing the ascendency of sound financial prin- 

 ciples in one of the most influential of the South 

 American Republics. 



The close of the momentous struggle between 

 China and Japan, while relieving the diplomatic 



agents of this Government from the delicate duty 

 they undertook at the request of both countries of 

 rendering such service to the subjects of either 

 belligerent within the territorial limits of the other 

 ;r neutral position permitted, developed a do- 

 niotic condition in the Chinese Empire which has 

 caused much anxiety and called for prompt and care- 

 ful attention. Either as a result of a weak control by 

 the Central Government over the provincial adminis- 

 trations, following a diminution of traditional gov- 

 ernmental authority under the stress of an over- 

 whelming national disaster, or as a manifestation 

 upon good opportunity of the aversion of the Chinese 

 population to all foreign ways and undertakings, 

 there have occurred in widely separated provinces 

 of China serious outbreaks of the old fanatical 

 spirit against foreigners, which, unchecked by the 

 local authorities, if not actually connived at by 

 them, have culminated in mob attacks on foreign 

 missionary stations, causing much destruction of 

 property and attended with personal injuries as 

 well as loss of life. 



Although but one American citizen was reported 

 to have been actually wounded, and although the 

 destruction of property may have fallen more heav- 

 ily upon the missionaries of other nationalities than 

 our own, it plainly behooved this Government to 

 take the most prompt and decided action to guard 

 against similar or perhaps more dreadful calamities 

 befalling the hundreds of American mission stations 

 which have grown up throughout the interior of 

 China under the temperate rule of toleration, cus- 

 tom, and imperial edict. The demands of the 

 United States and other powers for the degrada- 

 tion and punishment of the responsible officials of 

 the respective cities and provinces who by neglect 

 or otherwise had permitted uprisings, and for the 

 adoption of stern measures by the Emperors Gov- 

 ernment for the protection of the life and property 

 of foreigners, were followed by the disgrace and 

 dismissal of certain provincial officials found dere- 

 lict in duty and the punishment by death of a 

 number of those adjudged guilty of actual partici- 

 pation in the outrages. 



This Government also insisted that a special 

 American commission should visit the province 

 where the first disturbances occurred, for the pur- 

 pose of investigation. This latter commission, 

 formed after much opposition, has gone overland 

 from Tientsin, accompanied by a suitable Chinese 

 escort, and by its demonstration of the readiness 

 and ability of our Government to protect its citi- 

 zens, will act, it is believed, as a most influential 

 deterrent of any similar outbreaks. 



The energetic steps we have thus taken are all 

 the more likely to result in future safety to our 

 citizens in China, because the Imperial Government 

 is. 1 am persuaded, entirely convinced that we de- 

 sire only the liberty and protection of our own 

 citizens and redress for any wrongs they may have 

 suffered, and that we have no ulterior designs or 

 objects, political or otherwise. China will not for- 

 get either our kindly service to her citizens during 

 her late war nor the further fact that, while fur- 

 nishing all the facilities at our command to further 

 the negotiations of peace between her and Japan, 

 ught no advantages and interposed no counsel. 



The governments of both China and Japan have 

 in special dispatches transmitted through their re- 

 spective diplomatic representatives expressed in a 

 most pleasing manner their grateful appreciation 

 of our assistance to their citizens during the un- 

 happy struggle, and of the value of our aid in pav- 

 ing the way to their resumption of peaceful relations. 



The customary cordial relations between this 

 country and France have been undisturbed, with 

 the exception that a full explanation of the treat- 



