 Section 1 of State of the Union Addresses, 1885 to 1888. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. State of the Union Address, Grover Cleveland, December 8, 1885, Part 1. To the Congress of the United States. Your assembling is clouded by a sense of public bereavement, caused by the recent and sudden death of Thomas A. Hendricks, Vice President of the United States, his distinguished public services, his complete integrity and devotion to every duty, and his personal virtues, will find honourable record in his country's history. Ample and repeated proofs of the esteem and confidence in which he was held by his fellow countrymen were manifested by his election to offices of the most important trust and highest dignity, and at length, full of years and honours, he has been laid at rest amid universal sorrow and benediction. The Constitution, which requires those chosen to legislate for the people to annually meet in the discharge of their solemn trust, also requires the President to give Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem necessary and expedient. At the threshold of a compliance with these constitutional directions, it is well for us to bear in mind that our usefulness to the people's interests will be promoted by a constant appreciation of the scope and character of our respective duties, as they relate to federal legislation. While the Executive may recommend such measures as he shall deem expedient, the responsibility for legislative action must and should rest upon those selected by the people to make their laws. Contemplation of the grave and responsible functions assigned to the respective branches of the government under the Constitution will disclose the partitions of power between our respective departments and their necessary independence, and also the need for the exercise of all the power entrusted to each in that spirit of comity and cooperation which is essential to the proper fulfillment of the patriotic obligations which rest upon us as faithful servants of the people. The jealous watchfulness of our constituencies, great and small, supplements their suffrages and before the tribunal they establish every public servant should be judged. It is gratifying to announce that the relations of the United States with all foreign powers continue to be friendly. Our position after nearly a century of successful constitutional government, maintenance of good faith in all our engagements, the avoidance of complications with other nations, and our consistent and amicable attitude toward the strong and weak alike, furnish proof of a political disposition which renders professions of goodwill unnecessary. There are no questions of difficulty pending with any foreign government. The Argentine government has revived the long dormant question of the Falkland Islands by claiming from the United States indemnity for their loss, attributed to the action of the commander of the sloop of war Lexington in breaking up a piratical colony on those islands in 1831 and their subsequent occupation by Great Britain. In view of the ample justification for the act of the Lexington and the derelict condition of the islands, before and after their alleged occupation by Argentine colonists, this government considers the claim as wholly groundless. Question has arisen with the government of Austria-Hungary touching the representation of the United States at Vienna, having under my constitutional prerogative appointed an estimable citizen of unimpeached probity and competence as minister at that court, the government of Austria-Hungary invited this government to take cognizance of certain exceptions based upon allegations against the personal acceptability of Mr. Kiley, the appointed envoy, asking that in view thereof the appointment should be withdrawn. The reasons advanced were such as could not be acquiescin' without violation of my oath of office and the precepts of the constitution, since they necessarily involved a limitation in favour of a foreign government upon the right of selection by the executive and required such an application of a religious test as a qualification for office under the United States as would have resulted in the practical disfranchisement of a large class of our citizens and the abandonment of a vital principle in our government. The Austro-Hungarian government finally decided not to receive Mr. Kiley as the envoy of the United States and that gentleman has since resigned his commission, leaving the post vacant. I have made no new nomination and the interests of this government at Vienna are now in the care of the Secretary of Legation acting as charge to affairs at interim. Early in March last, war broke out in Central America, caused by the attempt of Guatemala to consolidate the several states into a single government. In these contests between our neighbouring states, the United States forebored to interfere actively, but lent the aid of their friendly offices in deprecation of war and to promote peace and concord among the belligerents and by such counsel contributed importantly to the restoration of tranquility in that locality. Emergencies growing out of civil war in the United States of Columbia demanded of the government at the beginning of this administration the employment of armed forces to fulfil its guarantees under the 35th article of the Treaty of 1846 in order to keep the transit open across the Isthmus of Panama. Desirous of exercising only the powers expressly reserved to us by the treaty and mindful of the rights of Columbia, the forces sent to the Isthmus were instructed to confine their action to positively and efficaciously preventing the transit and its accessories from being interrupted or embarrassed. The execution of this delicate and responsible task necessarily involved police control where the local authority was temporarily powerless but always in aid of the sovereignty of Columbia. The prompt and successful fulfilment of its duty by this government was highly appreciated by the government of Columbia and has been followed by expressions of its satisfaction. High praise is due to the officers and men engaged in this service. The restoration of peace on the Isthmus by the re-establishment of the constituted government, there being thus accomplished, the forces of the United States were withdrawn. Pending these occurrences, a question of much importance was presented by decrees of the Colombian government proclaiming the closure of certain ports then in the hands of insurgents and declaring vessels held by the revolutionists to be piratical and liable to capture by any power. To neither of these propositions could the United States assent an effective closure of ports not in the possession of the government but held by hostile partisans could not be recognized. Neither could the vessels of insurgents against the legitimate sovereignty be deemed hostess-humani-generous within the precepts of international law. Whatever might be the definition and penalty of their acts under the municipal law and the state against whose authority they were in revolt. The denial by this government of the Colombian propositions did not, however, imply the admission of a belligerent status on the part of the insurgents. The Colombian government has expressed its willingness to negotiate conventions for the adjustment by arbitration of claims by foreign citizens arising out of the destruction of the city of Aspenwall by the insurrectionary forces. The interest of the United States in a practicable transit for ships across the strip of land separating the Atlantic from the Pacific has been repeatedly manifested during the last half-century. My immediate predecessor caused to be negotiated with Nicaragua a treaty for the construction by and at the sole cost of the United States of a canal through Nicaraguan territory and laid it before the Senate. Pending the action of that body thereon I withdrew the treaty for re-examination. Attentive consideration of its provisions leads me to withhold it from resubmission to the Senate. Maintaining as I do the tenets of a line of precedence from Washington's day which proscribe entangling alliances with foreign states I do not favor a policy of acquisition of new and distant territory or the incorporation of remote interests with our own. The laws of progress are vital and organic and we must be conscious of that irresistible tide of commercial expansion which as the concomitant of our active civilization day by day is being urged onward by those increasing facilities of production, transportation and communication to which steam and electricity have given birth but our duty in the present instructs us to address ourselves mainly to the development of the vast resources of the great area committed to our charge and to the cultivation of the arts of peace within our own borders though jealousy alert and preventing the American hemisphere from being involved in the political problems and complications of distant governments. Therefore I am unable to recommend propositions involving paramount privileges of ownership or right outside of our own territory when coupled with absolute and unlimited engagements to defend the territorial integrity of the state where such interests lie while the general project of connecting the two oceans by means of a canal is to be encouraged I am of opinion that any scheme to that end to be considered with favor should be free from the features alluded to. The Tahuantopec route is declared by engineers of the highest repute and by competent scientists to afford an entirely practicable transit for vessels and cargoes by means of a ship railway from the Atlantic to the Pacific the obvious advantages of such a route if feasible over others more remote from the axial lines of traffic between Europe and the Pacific and particularly between the valley of the Mississippi and the western coast of north and south America are deserving of consideration whatever highway may be constructed across the barrier dividing the two greatest maritime areas of the world must be for the world's benefit a trust for mankind to be removed from the chance of a domination by any single power nor become a point of invitation for hostilities or a prize for warlike ambition an engagement combining the construction ownership and operation of such a work by this government with an offensive and defensive alliance for its protection with the foreign state whose responsibilities and rights we would share is in my judgment inconsistent with such dedication to universal and neutral use and would moreover entail measures for its realization beyond the scope of our national polity or present means the lapse of years has abundantly confirmed the wisdom and foresight of those earlier administrations which long before the conditions of maritime intercourse were changed and enlarged by the progress of the age proclaimed the vital need of inter-oceanic transit across the American Isthmus and consecrated it in advance to the common use of mankind by their positive declarations and through the formal obligation of treaties toward such realization the efforts of my administration will be applied ever bearing in mind the principles on which it must rest and which were declared in no uncertain tones by Mr. Kass who, while secretary of state in 1858 announced that what the United States want in Central America next to the happiness of its people is the security and neutrality of the inter-oceanic routes which lead through it the construction of three transcontinental lines of railway all in successful operation wholly within our territory and uniting the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans has been accompanied by results of a most interesting and impressive nature and has created new conditions not in the roots of commerce only but in political geography which powerfully affect our relations toward and necessarily increase our interests in any trans-isthmian route which may be opened and employed for the ends of peace and traffic or in other contingencies for uses inimical to both transportation is a factor in the cost of commodities scarcely second to that of their production and weighs as heavily upon the consumer our experience already has proven the great importance of having the competition between land carriage and water carriage fully developed each acting as a protection to the public against the tendencies to monopoly which are inherent in the consolidation of wealth and power in the hands of vast corporations these suggestions may serve to emphasize what I have already said on the score of the necessity of a neutralization of any inter-oceanic transit and this can only be accomplished by making the uses of the route open to all nations and subject to the ambitions and warlike necessities of none the drawings and report of a recent survey of the Nicaraguan canal route made by chief engineer Menocal will be communicated for your information the claims of citizens of the United States for losses by reason of the late military operations of Chile in Peru and Bolivia are the subject of negotiation for a claims convention with Chile providing for their submission to arbitration the harmony of our relations with China is fully sustained in the application of the act slightly passed to execute the treaty of 1880 restrictive of the immigration of Chinese laborers into the United States individual cases of hardship have occurred beyond the power of the executive to remedy and calling for judicial determination the condition of the Chinese question in the western states and territories is despite this restrictive legislation far from being satisfactory the recent outbreak in Wyoming territory were numbers of unoffending Chinaman indisputably within the protection of the treaties and the law were murdered by Amab and the still more recent threatened outbreak of the same character in Washington territory are fresh in the minds of all and there is apprehension lest the bitterness of feeling against the Mongolian race on the Pacific slope may find vent in similar lawless demonstrations all the power of this government should be exerted to maintain the ampolist good faith toward China in the treatment of these men and the inflexible sternness of the law and bringing the wrong doers to justice should be insisted upon every effort has been made by this government to prevent these violent outbreaks and to aid the representatives of China in their investigation of these outrages and it is but just to say that they are traceable to the lawlessness of men not citizens of the United States engaged in competition with Chinese laborers race prejudices the chief factor in originating these disturbances and it exists in a large part of our domain jeopardizing our domestic peace and the good relationship we strive to maintain with China the admitted right of a government to prevent the influx of elements hostile to its internal peace and security may not be questioned even where there is no treaty stipulation on the subject that the exclusion of Chinese labor is demanded in other countries where like conditions prevail is strongly evidenced in the Dominion of Canada where Chinese immigration is now regulated by laws more exclusive than our own if existing laws are inadequate to compass the end in view I shall be prepared to give earnest consideration to any further remedial measures within the treaty limits which the wisdom of Congress may devise the independent state of the Congo has been organized as a government under the sovereignty of His Majesty the King of the Belgians who assumes its chief majesty in his personal character only without making the new state a dependency of Belgium it is fortunate that a benighted region owing all it has of quickening civilization to the beneficence and philanthropic spirit of this monarch should have the advantage and security of his benevolent supervision the action taken by this government last year in being the first to recognize the flag of the International Association of the Congo has been followed by formal recognition of the new nationality which succeeds to its sovereign powers a conference of delegates of the principal commercial nations was held at Berlin last winter to discuss methods whereby the Congo basin may be kept open to the world's trade delegates attended on behalf of the United States on the understanding that their part should be merely deliberative without imparting to the results any binding character so far as the United States were concerned this reserve was due to the indisposition of this government to share in any disposal by an international congress of jurisdictional questions in remote foreign territories the results of the conference were embodied in a formal act of the nature of an international convention which laid down certain obligations purporting to be binding on the signatories subject to ratification within one year not withstanding the reservation under which the delegates of the United States attended their signatures were attached to the general act in the same manner as those of the plenipotentiaries of other governments thus making the United States appear without reserve or qualification as signatories to a joint international engagement imposing on the signers the conservation of the territorial integrity of distant regions where we have no established interests or control this government does not however regard its reservation of liberty of action in the premises as at all impaired and holding that an engagement to share in the obligation of enforcing neutrality in the remote valley of the Congo would be an alliance whose responsibilities we are not in a position to assume I abstain from asking the sanction of the senate to that general act the correspondence will be laid before you and the instructive and interesting report of the agent sent by this government to the Congo country and his recommendations for the establishment of commercial agencies on the African coast are also submitted for your consideration the commission appointed by my predecessor last winter to visit the central and South American countries and report on the methods of enlarging the commercial relations of the United States therewith has submitted reports which will be laid before you no opportunity has been omitted to testify the friendliness of this government toward Korea whose entrance into the family of treaty powers the United States were the first to recognize I regard with favor the application made by the Korean government to be allowed to employ American officers as military instructors to which the ascent of Congress becomes necessary and I am happy to say this request has the concurrent sanction of China and Japan the arrest and imprisonment of Julio Arsantos a citizen of the United States by the authorities of Ecuador gave rise to a contention with that government in which his right to be released or to have a speedy and impartial trial on announced charges and with all guarantees of defense stipulated by treaty was insisted upon by us after an elaborate correspondence and repeated and earnest representations on our part Mr. Santos was after an alleged trial and conviction eventually included in a general decree of amnesty and pardoned by the Ecuadorian executive and released leaving the question of his American citizenship denied by the Ecuadorian government but insisted upon by our own the amount adjudged by the late French and American claims commission to be due from the United States to French claimants on account of injuries suffered by them during the war of secession having been appropriated by the last Congress has been duly paid to the French government the act of February 25 1885 provided for a preliminary search of the records of French prize courts for evidence bearing on the claims of American citizens against France for spoilations committed prior to 1801 the duty has been performed and the report of the agent will be laid before you I regret to say that the restrictions upon the importation of our pork into France continue not withstanding the abundant demonstration of the absence of sanitary danger in its use but I entertain strong hopes that with a better understanding of this matter this fexatious prohibition will be removed it would be pleasing to be able to say as much with respect to Germany, Austria and other countries where such food products are absolutely excluded without present prospect of reasonable change the interpretation of our existing treaties of naturalization by Germany during the past year has attracted attention by reason of an apparent tendency on the part of the imperial government to extend the scope of the residential restrictions to which returning naturalized citizens of German origin are asserted to be liable under the laws of the empire the temperate and just attitude taken by this government with regard to this class of questions will doubtless lead to a satisfactory understanding the dispute of Germany and Spain relative to the domination of the Caroline Islands has attracted the attention of this government by reason of extensive interests of American citizens having grown up in those parts during the past 30 years and because the question of ownership involves jurisdiction of matters affecting the status of our citizens under civil and criminal law while standing wholly aloof from the proprietary issues raised between powers to both of which the United States are friendly this government expects that nothing in their present contention shall unfavorably affect our citizens carrying on a peaceful commerce or their domicile and has so informed the governments of Spain and Germany the market goodwill between the United States and Great Britain has been maintained during the past year the termination of the fishing clauses of the Treaty of Washington in pursuance of the joint resolution of March 3, 1883 must have resulted in the abrupt cessation of the 1st of July of this year in the midst of their ventures of the operations of citizens of the United States engaged in fishing in British American waters but for a diplomatic understanding reached with Her Majesty's government in June last whereby assurance was obtained that no interruption of these operations should take place during the current fishing season in the interest of good neighborhood and of the commercial intercourse of adjacent communities the question of the North American fisheries is one of much importance following out the intimation given by me when the extensory arrangement above described was negotiated I recommended that the Congress provide for the appointment of a commission in which the governments of the United States and Great Britain shall be respectively represented charged with a consideration and settlement upon a just, equitable and honorable basis of the entire question of the fishing rights of the two governments and their respective citizens on the coasts of the United States and British North America the fishing interests being intimately related to other general questions dependent upon contiguity and intercourse consideration thereof and all their equities might also properly come within the purview of such a commission and the fullest latitude of expression on both sides should be permitted the correspondence in relation to the fishing rights will be submitted the Arctic exploring steamer alert which was generously given by Her Majesty's government to aid in the relief of the Greeley expedition was after the successful attainment of that humane purpose returned to Great Britain in pursuance of the authority conferred by the act of March 3 1885 the inadequacy of the existing engagements for extradition between the United States and Great Britain has been long apparent the tenth article of the treaty of 1842 one of the earliest compacts in this regard entered into by us stipulated for surrender in respect of a limited number of offenses other crimes no less inimical to the social welfare should be embraced and the procedure of the extradition brought in harmony with present international practice negotiations with Her Majesty's government for an enlarged treaty of extradition have been pending since 1870 and I entertain strong hopes that a satisfactory result may be soon attained the frontier line between Alaska and British Columbia as defined by the treaty of session with Russia follows the demarcation assigned in a prior treaty between Great Britain and Russia modern exploration discloses that this ancient boundary is impracticable as a geographical fact in the unsettled condition of that region the question has lacked importance but the discovery of mineral wealth in the territory the line is supposed to traverse admonishes that the time has come when inaccurate knowledge of the boundary is needful to avert jurisdictional complications I recommend therefore that provision be made for a preliminary reconnaissance by officers of the United States to the end of acquiring more precise information on the subject I have invited Her Majesty's government to consider with us the adoption of a more convenient line to be established by meridian observations or by known geographical features without the necessity of an expensive survey of the whole the late insurrectionary movements in Haiti having been quelled the government of that republic has made prompt provision for adjudicating the losses suffered by foreigners because of hostilities there and the claims of certain citizens of the United States will be in this manner determined the long-pending claims of the two citizens of the United States Pelletier and Lazar have been disposed of by arbitration and an award in favor of each claimant has been made which by the terms of the engagement is final it remains for Congress to provide for the payment of the stipulated moiety of the expenses a question arose with Haiti during the past year by reason of the exceptional treatment of an American citizen Mr. Van Bulkilan a resident of Port-au-Prince who on suit by creditors residing in the United States was sentenced to imprisonment and under the operation of a Haitian statute was denied relief secured to a native Haitian this government asserted his treaty right to equal treatment with natives of Haiti in all suits at law our contention was denied by the Haitian government which however while still professing to maintain the ground taken against Mr. Van Bulkilan's right terminated the controversy by setting him at liberty without explanation an international conference to consider the means of arresting the spread of cholera and other epidemic diseases was held at Rome in May last and adjourned to meet again on further notice an expert delegate on behalf of the United States has attended its session and will submit a report our relations with Mexico continue to be most cordial as befits those of neighbors between whom the strongest ties of friendship and commercial intimacy exist as the natural and growing consequence of our similarity of institutions and geographical propinquity the relocation of the boundary line between the United States and Mexico westward of the Rio Grande under the convention of July 29, 1882 has been unavoidably delayed but I apprehend no difficulty in securing a prolongation of the period for its accomplishment the lately concluded commercial treaty with Mexico still awaits the stipulated legislation to carry its provision into effect for which one year's additional time has been secured by a supplementary article signed in February last and since ratified on both sides as this convention so important to the commercial welfare of the two adjoining countries has been constitutionally confirmed by the treaty making branch I express the hope that legislation needed to make it effective may not be long delayed the large influx of capital and enterprise to Mexico from the United States continues to aid in the development of the resources and in augmenting the material well-being of our sister republic lines of railway penetrating to the heart and capital of the country bring the two peoples into mutually beneficial intercourse and enlarged facilities of transit add to profitable commerce create new markets and furnish avenues to otherwise isolated communities I have already adverted to the suggested construction of a ship railway across the narrow formation of the territory of Mexico at Tuantopec with the gradual recovery of Peru from the effects of her late disastrous conflict with Chile and with the restoration of civil authority in that distracted country it is hoped that pending war claims of our citizens will be adjusted in conformity with notification given by the government of Peru the existing treaties of commerce and extradition between the United States and that country will terminate March 31, 1886 our good relationship with Russia continues an officer of the Navy detailed for the purpose is now on his way to Siberia bearing the testimonials voted by Congress to those who generously secured the survivors of the unfortunate Jeannette expedition it is gratifying to advert to the cordiality of our intercourse with Spain a long pending claim of the owners of the ship Masonic for loss suffered through the admitted dereliction of the Spanish authorities in the Philippine Islands has been adjusted by arbitration and an indemnity awarded the principle of arbitration in such cases to which the United States have longed and consistently adhered thus receives a fresh and gratifying confirmation other questions with Spain have been disposed of or are under diplomatic consideration with a view to just an honourable settlement the operation of the commercial agreement with Spain of January 2 to February 13, 1884 has been found inadequate to the commercial needs of the United States and the Spanish Antilles and the terms of the agreement are subjected to conflicting interpretations in those islands negotiations have been instituted at Madrid for a full treaty not open to these objections and in the line of the general policy touching the neighbourly intercourse of proximate communities to which I elsewhere advert and aiming moreover at the removal of existing burdens and annoying restrictions and although a satisfactory termination is promised I am compelled to delay its announcement an international copyright conference was held at Bern in September on an invitation of the Swiss government the envoy of the United States attended as a delegate but refrained from committing this government to the results even by signing the recommendatory protocol adopted the interesting and important subject of international copyright has been before you for several years action is certainly desirable to affect the object in view and while there may be question as to the relative advantage of treating it by legislation or by specific treaty the matured views of the Bern conference cannot fail to aid your consideration of the subject the termination of the commercial treaty of 1862 between the United States and Turkey has been sought by that government while there is question as to the sufficiency of the notice of termination given yet as the commercial rights of our citizens in Turkey come under the favourite nation guarantees of the prior treaty of 1830 and as equal treatment is admitted by the Porte no inconvenience can result from the assent of this government to the revision of the Ottoman tariffs in which the treaty powers have been invited to join questions concerning our citizens in Turkey may be affected by the Porte's non-acquiescence in the right of expatriation and by the imposition of religious tests as a condition of residence in which this government cannot concur the United States must hold in their intercourse with every power that the status of their citizens is to be respected and equal civil privileges accorded to them without regard to creed and affected by no considerations save those growing out of domiciliary return to the land of original allegiance or of unfulfilled personal obligations which may survive under municipal laws after such voluntary return the negotiation with Venezuela relative to the rehearsing of the awards of the mixed commission constituted under the treaty of 1866 was resumed in view of the recent acquiescence of the Venezuelan envoy in the principal point advanced by this government that the effects of the old treaty could only be set aside by the operation of a new convention a result in substantial accord with the advisory suggestions contained in the joint resolution of March 3, 1883 has been agreed upon and will shortly be submitted to the Senate for ratification under section 3659 of the revised statutes all funds held in trust by the United States and the annual interest of accruing thereon when not otherwise required by treaty or to be invested in stocks of the United States bearing a rate of interest not less than 5% per annum there being now no procurable stocks paying so high a rate of interest the letter of the statute is at present applicable but its spirit is subserved by continuing to make investments of this nature in current stocks bearing the highest interest now paid the statute however makes no provision for the disposal of such accretions it being contrary to the general rule of this government to allow interest on claims I recommend the repeal of this provision and the disposition under a uniform rule of the present accumulations from investment of trust funds the inadequacy of existing legislation touching citizenship and naturalization demands your consideration while recognizing the right of expatriation no statutory provision exists providing means for renouncing citizenship by an American citizen native born or naturalized nor for terminating and vacating an improper acquisition of citizenship even a fraudulent decree of naturalization cannot now be cancelled the privileges and franchise of American citizenship should be granted with care and extended to those only who intend in good faith to assume its duties and responsibilities when attaining its privileges and benefits it should be withheld from those who merely go through the forms of naturalization with the intent of escaping the duties of their original allegiance without taking upon themselves those of their new status or who may acquire the rights of American citizenship for no other than a hostile purpose toward their original governments these evils have had many flagrant illustrations I regard with favor the suggestion put forth by one of my predecessors that provision be made for a central bureau of record of the decrees of naturalization granted by the various courts throughout the United States now invested with that power the rights which spring from domicile in the United States especially when coupled with a declaration of intention to become a citizen are worthy of definition by statute the stranger coming hither with intent to remain establishing his residence in our midst contributing to the general welfare and by his voluntary act declaring his purpose to assume the responsibilities of citizenship thereby gains an incoate status which this legislation may properly define the laws of certain states and territories admit a domiciled alien to the local franchise conferring on him the rights of citizenship to a degree which places him in the anomalous position of being a citizen of a state and yet not of the United States within the purview of federal and international law is important within the scope of national legislation to define this right of alien domicile is distinguished from federal naturalization the commercial relations of the United States with their immediate neighbors and with important areas of traffic near our shores suggest especially liberal intercourse between them and us following the treaty of 1883 with Mexico which rested on the basis of a reciprocal exemption from customs duties and other similar treaties were initiated by my predecessor recognizing the need of less obstructed traffic with Cuba and Puerto Rico and met by the desire of Spain to succor the languishing interests in the Antilles steps were taken to attain those ends by a treaty of commerce a similar treaty was afterwards signed by the Dominican Republic subsequently overtures were made by her Britannic Majesty's government for a like mutual extension of commercial intercourse with the British West Indian and South American dependencies but without result on taking office I withdrew for re-examination the treaty signed with Spain and Santo Domingo then pending before the Senate the result has been to satisfy me of the inexpediency of entering into engagements of this character not covering the entire traffic these treaties contemplated the surrender by the United States of large revenues for inadequate consideration upon sugar alone duties were surrendered to an amount far exceeding all the advantages offered in exchange even where it intended to relieve our consumers it was evident that so long as the exemption but partially covered our importation such relief would be illusory to relinquish a revenue so essential seemed highly improvident at a time when new and large drains upon the treasury were contemplated moreover embarrassing questions would have arisen under the favored nation causes of treaties with other nations as a further objection it is evident that tariff regulation by treaty diminishes that independent control over its revenues which is essential for the safety and welfare of any government emergency calling for an increase of taxation may at any time arise and no engagement with a foreign power should exist to hamper the action of the government by the 14th section of the shipping act approved June 26 1884 certain reductions and contingent exemptions from tonnage dues were made as to vessels entering ports of the United States from any foreign port in north and central America the West Indian islands the Bahamas and Bermudas Mexico and the Isthmus as far as Aspenwall and Panama the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Portugal and Sweden and Norway have asserted under the favorite nation clause in their treaties with the United States a claim to like treatment in respect of vessels coming into the United States from their home ports this government however holds that the privileges granted by the act are purely geographical in yearning to any vessel of any foreign power that may choose to engage in traffic between this country and any port within the defined zone and no warrant exists under the most favorite nation clause for the extension of the privileges in question to vessels sailing to this country from ports outside the limitation of the act undoubtedly the relations of commerce with our near neighbors whose territories form so long a frontier line difficult to be guarded and who find in our country and equally offer to us natural markets demand special and considerate treatment it rests with Congress to consider what legislative action may increase facilities of intercourse which contiguity makes natural and desirable End of Part 1 End of Section 1 Section 2 of State of the Union Addresses 1885 to 1888 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org State of the Union Address Grover Cleveland, December 8, 1885, Part 2 I earnestly urge that Congress recast the appropriations for the maintenance of the diplomatic and consular service on a footing commensurate with the importance of our national interests at every post where a representative is necessary the salary should be so graded as to permit him to live with comfort with the assignment of adequate salaries the so-called notorial extra official fees which our officers abroad are now permitted to treat as personal perquisites should be done away with every act requiring the certification and seal of the officer should be taxable at scheduled rates and the fee therefore returned to the Treasury by restoring these revenues to the public use the consular service would be self-supporting even with a liberal increase of the present low salaries in further prevention of abuses a system of consular inspection should be instituted the appointment of a limited number of secretaries of legation at large to be assigned to duty wherever necessary and in particular for temporary service at missions which for any cause may be without a head should also be authorized I favor also authorization for the detail of officers of the regular service as military or naval attaches at legations some foreign governments do not recognize the union of consular with diplomatic functions Italy and Venezuela will only receive the appointee in one of his two capacities but this does not prevent the requirement of a bond and submission to the responsibilities of an office whose duties he cannot discharge the super added title of consul general should be abandoned at all missions I deem it expedient that a well devised measure for the reorganization of the extraterritorial courts in oriental countries should replace the present system which labors under the disadvantage of combining judicial and executive functions in the same office in several oriental countries generous offers have been made of premises for housing the legations of the United States a grant of land for that purpose was made some years since by Japan and has been referred to in the annual messages of my predecessor the Siamese government has made a gift to the United States of commodious quarters in Bangkok in Korea the late minister was permitted to purchase a building from the government for a legation use in China the premises rented for the legation are favored as to local charges at 10 year the house occupied by our representative has been for many years the property this government having been given for that purpose in 1822 by the Sultan of Morocco I approve the suggestion here to for made that view of the conditions of life and administration in the eastern countries the legation buildings in China Japan Korea Siam and perhaps Persia should be owned and furnished by the government with a view to permanency and security to this end I recommend that authority be given to accept the gifts adverted to in Japan and Siam and to purchase in the other countries named with provision for furniture and repairs a considerable saving in rentals would result the world's industrial exposition held at New Orleans last winter with the assistance of the federal government attracted a large number of foreign exhibits and proved of great value in spreading among the concourse of visitors from Mexico and Central and South America a wider knowledge of the varied manufacturers and productions of this country and their availability in exchange for the production of those regions past Congresses have had under consideration the advisability of abolishing the discrimination made by the tariff laws in favor of the works of American artists the odium of the policy which subjects to a high rate of duty the paintings of foreign artists and exempts the productions of American artists residing abroad and who receive gratuitously advantages and instruction is visited upon our citizens engaged in art culture in Europe and has caused them with practical unanimity to favor the abolition of such an ungracious distinction and in their interest and for other obvious reasons I strongly recommend it the report of the Secretary of the Treasury fully exhibits the condition of the public finances and of the several branches of the government connected with his department the suggestions of the Secretary relating to the practical operations of this important department and his recommendations in the direction of simplification and economy particularly in the work of collecting customs duties are especially urged upon the attention of Congress the ordinary receipts from all sources for the fiscal year ended June 30th 1885 were $322,690,706.38 of this sum $181,471,939.34 was received from customs and $112,498,725.54 from internal revenue the total receipts as given above were $24,829,163.54 less than those for the year ended June 30th 1884 this diminution embraces a falling off of $13,595,550.42 in the receipts from customs and $9,687,346.97 in the receipts from internal revenue the total ordinary expenditures of the government for the fiscal year were $260,226,935.50 leaving a surplus in the Treasury at the close of the year of $63,463,771.27 this is $40,929,854.32 less than the surplus reported at the close of the previous year the expenditures are classified as follows the amount paid on the public debt during the fiscal year ended June 30th 1885 was $45,993,235.43 and there has been paid since that date and up to November 1,1885 the sum of $369,828 leaving the amount of the debt at the last name date $1,514,475,860.47 there was however at that time in the Treasury applicable to the general purposes of the government the sum of $66,818,292.38 the total receipts for the current fiscal year ending June 30th 1886 ascertained to October 1,1885 and estimated for the remainder of the year are $315,000,000 the expenditures ascertained and estimated for the same time are $245,000,000 leaving a surplus at the close of the year estimated at $70,000,000 the value of the exports from the United States to foreign countries during the last fiscal year was as follows sum of the principal exports with their values and the percentage they respectively bear to the total exportation are given as follows our imports during the year were as follows the following are given as prominent articles of import during the year with their values and the percentage they bear to the total importation of the entire amount of duties collected 70% was collected from the following articles of import the fact that our revenues are in excess of the actual needs of all economical administration of the government justifies a reduction in the amount exacted from the people for its support our government is but the means established by the will of a free people by which certain principles are applied which they have adopted for their benefit and protection and it is never better administered and its true spirit is never better observed than when the people's taxation for its support is scrupulously limited to the actual necessity of expenditure and distributed according to a just and equitable plan the proposition with which we have to deal is the reduction of the revenue received by the government and indirectly paid by the people from customs duties the question of free trade is not involved nor is there now any occasion for the general discussion of the wisdom or expediency of a protective system justice and fairness dictate that in any modification of our present laws relating to revenue the industries and interests which have been encouraged by such laws and in which our citizens have large investments should not be ruthlessly injured or destroyed we should also deal with the subject in such manner as to protect the interests of American labor which is the capital of our working men its stability and proper remuneration furnish the most justifiable pretext of a protective policy within these limitations a certain reduction should be made in our customs revenue the amount of such reduction having been determined the inquiry follows where can it best be remitted and what articles can best be released from duty in the interest of our citizens I think the reduction should be made in the revenue derived from a tax upon the imported necessaries of life we thus directly lessen the cost of living in every family of the land and release to the people in every humble home a larger measure of the rewards of frugal industry during the year ended November 1 1885 145 national banks were organized with an aggregate capital of $16,938,000 and circulating notes have been issued to them amounting to $4,274,910 the whole number of these banks in existence the day above mentioned was 2,727 the very limited amount of circulating notes issued by our national banks compared with the amount the law permits them to issue upon a deposit of bonds for their redemption indicates that the volume of our circulating medium may be largely increased through this instrumentality nothing more important than the present condition of our currency and coinage can claim your attention since February 1878 the government has under the compulsory provisions of law purchased silver bullion and coined the same at the rate of more than $2,000,000 every month by this process up to the present date 215,759,431 silver dollars have been coined a reasonable appreciation of a delegation of power to the general government would limit its exercise without express restrictive words to the people's needs and the requirements of the public welfare upon this theory the authority to coin money given to congress by the constitution if it permits the purchase by the government of bullion for coinage in any event does not justify such purchase and coinage to an extent beyond the amount needed for a sufficient circulating medium the desire to utilize the silver product of the country should not lead to a misuse or the perversion of this power the necessity for such an addition to the silver currency of the nation as is compelled by the silver coinage act is negative by the fact that up to the present time only about 50 million of the silver dollars so coined have actually found their way into circulation leaving more than 165 million in the possession of the government the custody of which has entailed a considerable expense for the construction of vaults for deposit against this latter amount there are outstanding silver certificates amounting to about 93 million dollars every month two millions of gold in the public treasury are paid out for two millions or more of silver dollars to be added to the idle mass already accumulated if continued long enough this operation will result in the substitution of silver for all the gold the government owns applicable to its general purposes it will not do to rely upon the customs receipts of the government to make good this drain of gold because the silver thus coined having been made legal tender for all debts and dues public and private at times during the last six months 58% of the receipts for duties has been in silver or silver certificates while the average within that period has been 20% the proportion of silver and its certificates received by the government will probably increase as time goes on for the reason that the nearer the period approaches when it will be obliged to offer silver in payment of its obligations the greater inducement there will be to hoard gold against depreciation in the value of silver or for the purpose of speculating this hoarding of gold has already begun when the time comes that gold has been withdrawn from circulation then will be apparent the difference between the real value of the silver dollar and a dollar in gold and the two coins will part company gold still the standard of value and necessary in our dealings with other countries will be at a premium over silver banks which have substituted gold for the deposits of their customers may pay them with silver bought with such gold thus making a handsome profit rich speculators will sell their hoarded gold to their neighbors who need it to liquidate their foreign debts at a ruinous premium over silver and the laboring men and women of the land most defenceless of all will find that the dollar received for the wage of their toil has sadly shrunk in its purchasing power it may be said that the latter result will be but temporary and that ultimately the price of labor will be adjusted to the change but even if this takes place the wage worker cannot possibly gain but must inevitably lose since the price he is compelled to pay for his living will not only be measured in a coin heavily depreciated and fluctuating and uncertain in its value but this uncertainty in the value of the purchasing medium will be made the pretext for an advance in prices beyond that justified by actual depreciation the words uttered in 1834 by Daniel Webster in the Senate of the United States are true today the very man of all others who has the deepest interest in a sound currency and who suffers most by mischievous legislation in money matters is the man who earns his daily bread by his daily toil the most distinguished advocate of bimetalism discussing our silver coinage has lately written no American citizens hand has yet felt the sensation of cheapness either in receiving or expending the silver act dollars and those who live by labor or legitimate trade never will feel that sensation of cheapness however plenty silver dollars may become they will not be distributed as gifts among the people and if the laboring man should receive four depreciated dollars where he now receives but two he will pay in the depreciated coin more than double the price he now pays for all the necessaries and comforts of life those who do not fear any disastrous consequences arising from the continued compulsory coinage of silver as now directed by law and who suppose that the addition to the currency of the country intended as its result will be a public benefit are reminded that history demonstrates that the point is easily reached in the attempt to float at the same time two sorts of money of different excellence when the better will seize to be in general circulation the hoarding of gold which has already taken place indicates that we shall not escape the usual experience in such cases so if this silver coinage be continued we may reasonably expect that gold and its equivalent will abandon the field of circulation to silver alone this of course must produce a severe contraction of our circulating medium instead of adding to it it will not be disputed that any attempt on the part of the government to cause the circulation of silver dollars worth 80 cents side by side with gold dollars worth 100 cents even within the limit that legislation does not run counter to the laws of trade to be successful must be seconded by the confidence of the people that both coins will retain the same purchasing power and be interchangeable at will a special effort has been made by the secretary of the treasury to increase the amount of our silver coin in circulation but the fact that a large share of the limited amount thus put out has soon returned to the public treasury in payment of duties leads to the belief that the people do not now desire to keep it in hand and this with the evident disposition to hoard gold gives rise to the suspicion that there already exists a lack of confidence among the people touching our financial processes there is certainly not enough silver now in circulation to cause uneasiness and the whole amount coined and now on hand might after a time be absorbed by the people without apprehension but it is the ceaseless stream that threatens to overthrow the land which causes fear and uncertainty what has thus far been submitted upon this subject relates almost entirely to considerations of a home nature unconnected with the bearing which the policies of other nations have upon the question but it is perfectly apparent that a line of action in regard to our currency cannot wisely be settled upon or persisted in without considering the attitude on the subject of other countries with whom we maintain intercourse through commerce trade and travel an acknowledgement of this fact is found in the act by virtue of which our silver is compulsorily coined it provides that the president shall invite the governments of the countries composing the Latin Union so-called and of such other European nations as he may deem advisable to join the United States in a conference to adopt a common ratio between gold and silver for the purpose of establishing internationally the use of bimetallic money and securing fixity of relative value between those metals this conference absolutely failed and a similar fate has awaited all subsequent efforts in the same direction and still we continue our coinage of silver at a ratio different from that of any other nation the most vital part of the silver coinage act remains inoperative and unexecuted and without an ally or friend we battle upon the silver field in an illogical and losing contest to give full effect to the design of Congress on this subject I have made careful and earnest endeavor since the adjournment of the last Congress to this end I delegated a gentleman well instructed in fiscal science to proceed to the financial centers of Europe and in conjunction with our ministers to England, France and Germany to obtain a full knowledge of the attitude and intent of those governments in respect of the establishment of such an international ratio as would procure free coinage of both metals at the mince of those countries and our own by my direction our Consul General at Paris has given close attention to the proceedings of the Congress of the Latin Union in order to indicate our interest in its objects and report its action it may be said in brief as the result of these efforts that the attitude of the leading powers remains substantially unchanged since the Monetary Conference of 1881 nor is it to be questioned that the views of these governments are in each instance supported by the weight of public opinion the steps thus taken have therefore only more fully demonstrated the uselessness of further attempts at present to arrive at any agreement on the subject with other nations in the meantime we are accumulating silver coin based upon our own peculiar ratio to such an extent and assuming so heavy a burden to be provided for in any international negotiations as will render us an undesirable party to any future Monetary Conferences of Nations it is a significant fact that four of the five countries composing the Latin Union mentioned in our coinage act embarrassed with their silver currency have just completed an agreement among themselves that no more silver shall be coined by their respective governments and that such has been already coined and in circulation shall be redeemed in gold by the country of its coinage the resort to this expedient by these countries may well arrest the attention of those who suppose that we can succeed without shock or injury in the attempt to circulate upon its merits all the silver we may coin under the provisions of our silver coinage act the condition in which our treasury may be placed by a persistence in our present course is a matter of concern to every patriotic citizen who does not desire his government to pay in silver such of its obligations as should be paid in gold nor should our condition be such as to oblige us in a prudent management of our affairs to discontinue the calling in and payment of interest bearing obligations which we have the right now to discharge and thus avoid the payment of further interest thereon our so-called debtor class for whose benefit the continued compulsory coinage of silver is insisted upon are not dishonest because they are in debt and they should not be suspected of a desire to jeopardize the financial safety of the country in order that they may cancel their present debts by paying the same in depreciated dollars nor should it be forgotten that it is not the rich nor the money lender alone that must submit to such a readjustment enforced by the government and their debtors the pittance of the widow and the orphan and the incomes of helpless beneficiaries of all kinds would be disastrously reduced the depositors in savings banks and in other institutions which hold in trust the savings of the poor when their little accumulations are scaled down to meet the new order of things would in their distress painfully realize the delusion of the promise made to them that plentiful money would improve their condition we have now on hand all the silver dollars necessary to supply the present needs of the people and to satisfy those who from sentiment wish to see them in circulation and if their coinage is suspended they can be readily obtained by all who desire them if the need of more is at any time apparent their coinage may be renewed that disaster has not already overtaken us furnishes no proof that danger does not wait upon a continuation of the present silver coinage we have been saved by the most careful management and unusual expedience by a combination of fortunate conditions and by a confident expectation that the course of the government in regard to silver coinage would be speedily changed by the action of Congress prosperity hesitates upon our threshold because of the dangers and uncertainties surrounding this question capital timidly shrinks from trade and investors are unwilling to take the chance of the questionable shape in which their money will be returned to them all enterprise halts at a risk against which care and sagacious management do not protect as a necessary consequence labor lacks employment and suffering and distress are visited upon a portion of our fellow citizens especially entitled to the careful consideration of those charged with the duties of legislation no interest appeals to us so strongly for a safe and stable currency as the vast army of the unemployed I recommend the suspension of the compulsory coinage of silver dollars directed by the law passed in February 1878 the steamboat inspection service on the 30th day of June 1885 was composed of 140 persons including officers clerks and messengers the expenses of the service over the receipts were 138,822 and 22 cents during the fiscal year the special inspection of foreign steam vessels organized under a law passed in 1882 was maintained during the year at an expense of $36,641.63 since the close of the fiscal year reductions have been made in the force employed which will result in a saving during the current year of $17,000 without affecting the efficiency of the service the supervising surgeon general reports that during the fiscal year 41,714 patients have received relief through the marine hospital service of whom 12,803 were treated in hospitals and 28,911 at the dispensaries active and effective efforts have been made through the medium of this service to protect the country against an invasion of cholera which has prevailed in Spain and France and the smallpox which recently broke out in Canada the most gratifying results have attended the operations of the life-saving service during the last fiscal year the observance of the provisions of law requiring the appointment of the force employed in this service to be made solely with reference to their fitness and without reference to their political or party affiliation has secured the result which may confidently be expected in any branch of public employment where such a rule is applied as a consequence this service is composed of men well qualified for the performance of their dangerous and exceptionally important duties the number of stations in commission at the close of the year was 203 the number of disasters to vessels and craft of all kinds within their field of action was 371 the number of persons endangered in such disasters was 2,439 of whom 2,428 were saved and only 11 lost other lives which were imperiled though not by disasters to shipping were also rescued and a large amount of property was saved through the aid of this service the cost of its maintenance during the year was 828,474.43 the work of the coast and geodetic survey was during the last fiscal year carried on within the boundaries and off the coasts of 32 states two territories and the District of Columbia in July last certain irregularities were found to exist in the management of this bureau which led to a prompt investigation of its methods the abuses which were brought to light by this examination and the reckless disregard of duty and the interests of the government developed on part of some of those connected with the service made a change of superintendency and a few of its other officers necessary since the bureau has been in new hands an introduction of economies and the application of business methods have produced an important savings to the government and a promise of more useful results this service has never been regulated by anything but the most indefinite legal enactments and the most unsatisfactory rules it was many years ago sanctioned apparently for a purpose regarded as temporary and related to a survey of our coast having gained a place in the appropriations made by Congress it has gradually taken to itself powers and objects not contemplated in its creation and extended its operations until it sadly needs legislative attention so far as further survey of our coast is concerned there seems to be a propriety in transferring that work to the navy department the other duties now in charge of this establishment if they cannot be profitably attached to some existing department or other bureau should be prosecuted under a law exactly defining their scope and purpose and with a careful discrimination between the scientific inquiries which may properly be assumed by the government and those which should be undertaken by state authority or by individual enterprise it is hoped that the report of the congressional committee heretofore appointed to investigate this and other like matters will aid in the accomplishment of proper legislation on this subject the report of the secretary of war is herewith submitted the attention of Congress is invited to the detailed account which it contains of the administration of his department and his recommendations and suggestions for the improvement of the service the army consisted at the date of the last consolidated returns of two thousand one hundred and fifty four officers and twenty four thousand seven hundred and five enlisted men the expenses of the departments for the fiscal year ended June thirtieth eighteen eighty five including thirteen million one hundred and sixty four thousand three hundred and ninety four dollars and sixty cents for public works and river and harbor improvements were forty five million eight hundred and fifty thousand nine hundred and ninety nine dollars and fifty four cents besides the troops which were dispatched in pursuit of the small band of Indians who left their reservation in Arizona and committed murders and outrages two regiments of cavalry and one of infantry were sent last July to the Indian territory to prevent an outbreak which seemed imminent they remained to aid if necessary in the expulsion of intruders upon the reservation who seemed to have caused the discontent among the Indians but the executive proclamation warning them to remove was complied with without their interference troops were also sent to rock springs in Wyoming territory after the massacre of Chinese there to prevent further disturbance and afterwards to Seattle in Washington territory to avert a threatened attack upon Chinese laborers and domestic violence there in both cases the mere presence of the troops had the desired effect it appears that the number of desertions has diminished but that during the last fiscal year they numbered two thousand nine hundred and twenty seven and one instance is given by the lieutenant general of six desertions by the same recruit I am convinced that this number of desertions can be much diminished by better discipline and treatment but the punishment should be increased for repeated offenses these desertions might also be reduced by lessening the term of first enlistments thus allowing the discontented recruit to contemplate a nearer discharge and the army a profitable reddance after one term of service a reenlistment would be quite apt to secure a contented recruit and a good soldier the acting judge advocate general reports that the number of trials by general courts Marshall during the year was two thousand three hundred and twenty eight and that eleven thousand eight hundred and fifty one trials took place before garrison and regimental courts Marshall the suggestion that probably more than half the army have been tried for offenses great and small in one year may well arrest attention of course many of these trials before garrison and regimental courts Marshall were for offenses almost fervolous and there should I think be a way devised to dispose of these in a more summary and less inconvenient manner than by court Marshall if some of the proceedings of courts Marshall which I have occasioned to examine present the ideas of justice which generally prevail in these tribunals I am satisfied that they should be much reformed if the honor and the honesty of the army and navy are by their instrumentality to be vindicated and protected the board of fortifications or other defenses appointed in pursuance of the provisions of the act of congress approved March three eighteen eighty five will in a short time present their report and it is hoped that this may greatly aid the legislation so necessary to remedy the present defenseless condition of our seacoasts the work of the signal service has been prosecuted during the last year with results of increasing benefit to the country the field of instruction has been enlarged with a view of adding to its usefulness the number of stations in operation June thirtieth eighteen eighty five was four hundred and eighty nine telegraphic reports are received daily from one hundred and sixty stations reports are also received from twenty five canadian stations three hundred and seventy five volunteer observers fifty two army surgeons at military posts and three hundred and thirty three foreign stations the expense of the service during the fiscal year after deducting receipts from military telegraph lines was seven hundred and ninety two thousand five hundred ninety two dollars and ninety seven cents in view of the fact referred to by the secretary of war that the work of this service ordinarily is of a scientific nature and the further fact that it is assuming larger proportions constantly and becoming more and more unsuited to the fixed rules which must govern the army I am inclined to agree with him in the opinion that it should be separately established if this is done the scope and extent of its operations should as nearly as possible be definitely prescribed by law and always capable of exact ascertainment the military academy at West Point is reported as being in a high state of efficiency and well equipped for the satisfactory accomplishment of the purposes of its maintenance the fact that this class which graduates next year is an unusually large one has constrained me to decline to make appointments to second of lieutenancies in the army from civil life so that such vacancies as exist in these places may be reserved for such graduates and yet it is not probable that there will be enough vacancies to provide positions for them all when they leave the military school under the prevailing law and usage those not thus assigned to duty never actively enter the military service it is suggested that the law on this subject be changed so that such of these young men as are not at once assigned to duty after graduation may be retained as second lieutenants in the army if they desire it subject to assignment when opportunity occurs and under proper rules as to priority of selection the expenditures on account of the military academy for the last fiscal year exclusive of the some taken for its purposes from appropriations for the support of the army were two hundred and ninety thousand seven hundred and twelve dollars and seven cents the act approved March 3 1885 designed to compensate officers and enlisted men for loss of private property while in the service of the United States is so indefinite in its terms and apparently admits so many claims the adjustment of which could not have been contemplated that if it is to remain upon the statute book it needs amendment there should be a general law of Congress prohibiting the construction of bridges over navigable waters in such manner as to obstruct navigation with provisions for preventing the same it seems that under existing statutes the government cannot intervene to prevent such a construction when entered upon without its consent though when such consent is asked and granted upon condition the authority to insist upon such condition is clear thus it is represented that while the officers of the government are with great care guarding against the obstruction of navigation by a bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Paul a large pier for a bridge has been built just below this place directly in the navigable channel of the river if such things are to be permitted a strong argument is presented against the appropriation of large sums of money to improve the navigation of this and other important highways of commerce the report of the secretary of the Navy gives a history of the operations of his department and the present condition of the work committed to his charge he details in full the course pursued by him to protect the rights of the government in respect of certain vessels unfinished at the time of his ascension to office and also concerning the dispatch boat dolphin claimed to be completed and awaiting the acceptance of the department no one can fail to see from recitals contained in this report that only the application of business principles has been insisted upon in the treatment of these subjects and that whatever controversy has arisen was caused by the exact on the part of the department of contract obligations as they were legally construed in the case of the dolphin with entire justice to the contractor an agreement has been entered into providing for the ascertainment by a judicial inquiry of the complete or partial compliance with the contract in her construction and further providing for the assessment of any damages to which the government may be entitled on account of a partial failure to perform such contract or the payment of the some still remaining unpaid upon her price in case a full performance is a judge the contractor by reason of his failure in business being unable to complete the other three vessels they were taken possession of by the government in their unfinished state under a clause in the contract permitting such a course and are now in process of completion in the yard of the contractor but under the supervision of the navy department Congress at its last session authorized the construction of two additional new cruisers and two gunboats at a cost not exceeding in the aggregate two million nine hundred and ninety five thousand dollars the appropriation for this purpose having become available on the first day of July last steps were at once taken for the procurement of such plans for the construction of these vessels as would be likely to ensure their usefulness when completed these are of the utmost importance considering the constant advance in the art of building vessels of this character and the time is not lost which is spent on their careful consideration and selection all must admit the importance of an effective navy to a nation like ours having such an extended sea coast to protect and yet we have not a single vessel of war that could keep the seas against the first class vessel of any important power such a condition ought not longer to continue the nation that cannot resist aggression is constantly exposed to it its foreign policy is of necessity weak and its negotiations are conducted with disadvantage because it is not in condition to enforce the terms dictated by its sense of right and justice inspired as I am by the hope shared by all patriotic citizens that the day is not very far distant when our navy will be such as benefits our standing among the nations of the earth and rejoice that every step that leads in the direction of such a consummation I deem it my duty to especially direct the attention of Congress to the close of the report of the secretary of the navy in which the humiliating weakness of the present organization of his department is exhibited and the startling abuses and waste of its present methods are exposed the conviction is forced upon us with the certainty of mathematical demonstration that before we proceed further in the restoration of a navy we need a thoroughly reorganized navy department the fact that within 17 years more than 75 million dollars have been spent in the construction repair equipment and armament of vessels and the further fact that instead of an effective and creditable fleet we have only the discontent and apprehension of a nation undefended by war vessels added to the disclosures now made do not permit us to doubt that every attempt to revive our navy have thus far for the most part been misdirected and all our efforts in that direction have been little better than blind groupings and expensive aimless follies unquestionably if we are content with the maintenance of a navy department simply as a shabby ornament to the government a constant watchfulness may prevent some of the scandal and abuse which have found their way into our present organization and its incurable waste may be reduced to the minimum but if we desire to build ships for present usefulness instead of naval reminders of the days that are past we must have a department organized for the work supplied with all the talent and ingenuity our country affords prepared to take advantage of the experience of other nations systematized so that all effort shall unite and lead in one direction and fully imbued with a conviction that war vessels though new are useless unless they combine all that the ingenuity of man has up to this day brought forth relating to their construction I earnestly recommend the portion of the secretaries report devoted to this subject to the attention of Congress in the hope that his suggestions touching the reorganization of his department may be adopted as the first step toward the reconstruction of our navy end of part two end of section two