was raised for support of the public hospital already built by subscription.

Mr. Alfred Sharpe, C.B., who had been Acting-Commissioner, was appointed in September her Majesty's Commissioner and Consul-General for the territories under British influence to the north of the Zambesi, with Captain Manning as his deputy. An expedition, commanded by Captain Manning, was sent in August to the country south of Lake Shirwa to punish the Anguru chiefs implicated in slave dealing and highway robberies within the Protectorate.

Rinderpest made its appearance in the game preserves formed by the Administration of the Protectorate, and among the game in the West Shiré and Ruo districts. Prompt measures were taken to endeavour to prevent the disease from spreading into the Shiré Highlands.

CHAPTER VII.

AMERICA.

I. UNITED STATES.

THE state of parties in the Congress of the United States at the beginning of the year 1897 (the second regular session of the fifty-fourth Congress) was as follows: In the Senate-fortyfour Republicans, thirty-nine Democrats, six Populists. In the House of Representatives the Republicans had a majority of nearly 150.

Among the limited number of acts which passed during the short session before March 4 were the following: An act prohibiting the sale of intoxicating drinks to Indians, providing penalties therefor, and an act to provide for the representation of the United States by commissioners at any international monetary conference hereafter to be called, and to enable the President to promote an international agreement. Among the measures that were defeated or failed was a bill to settle the indebtedness to the Government of the bonded railroads. An alien immigration bill which passed in Congress was vetoed by President Cleveland.

On January 11 the general arbitration treaty between Great Britain and the United States was signed at Washington by Mr. Olney, Secretary of State, and Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British Ambassador, and was sent at once to the Senate with a message from President Cleveland recommending ratification. The President said that the treaty embodied a practical plan by which disputes between the two countries might reach a peaceful adjustment as a matter of course, that its success ought not to be doubtful, and that it would make a new epoch in civilisation

because the example afforded by the successful operation of such a treaty would be taken to heart by other nations. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom it was referred, reported it (Jan. 30), with three amendments which emasculated the treaty. On March 23 the Senate accepted without a division the amendments proposed by the committee. Article I., which read, "The high contracting parties agree to submit to arbitration in accordance with the provisions and subject to the limitations of this treaty all questions in difference between them which they may fail to adjust by diplomatic negotiations," had finally the following amending clause, " And any agreement to submit, together with its formulations, shall, in every case before it becomes final, be communicated by the President of the United States to the Senate with his approval and be concurred in by two-thirds of the senators present, and shall also be approved by her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland."

The second amendment substituted "jurists of repute" for Supreme Court judges, and the third amendment provided that the umpire should be chosen by the four arbitrators provided for in the treaty.

The Senate went on amending and discussing the shadow of a shade to which they reduced the treaty till May 5, when by a small vote of 43 yeas to 26 nays, they refused to ratify the few words that were left of the original treaty. Yeas were 30 Republicans, 13 Democrats; Nays, 10 Republicans, 11 Democrats and 5 Populists.

The Venezuela Arbitration Treaty was signed at Washington on February 2, and the final ratifications were exchanged on June 15. The arbitration it was thought would probably occupy about eighteen months.

The electoral votes for President and Vice-President of the United States were counted by Congress on February 10 and Messrs. McKinley and Hobart were declared elected for four years, from March 4, 1897. The inauguration ceremonies were held at the Capitol in Washington on March 4. In the Senate Chamber the oath of office was taken by Garret A. Hobart, the new Vice-President; and after the usual address by the Vice-President and the new Senators were sworn the assemblage proceeded to the central eastern portico of the huge building, where Chief Justice Fuller administered the oath of office to Mr. William McKinley, the incoming President. Then from the great platform, with a vast multitude before him, he read out his inaugural address, in which he naturally gave prominence to his protectionist views. He deprecated any further increase of debt; to avoid that a sufficient revenue ought to be raised by tariff on foreign products on behalf of American interests and labour, and the paramount duty of Congress was to stop deficiencies by restoring protective legislation, which was always the firmest prop of the Treasury.

"In revising the tariff," he said, "special attention should be given to the re-enactment and extension of the reciprocity principle law of 1890, under which a great stimulus was given to our foreign trade in new markets for surplus agricultural and manufactured products. The brief trial given to this legislation justifies amply further experiments and further discretionary power in making commercial treaties, the end in view always to be the opening of new markets for the products of our country by granting concessions to the products of other lands, which we need but cannot produce ourselves, which do not involve a loss of labour to our own people, but increase employment."

The following were Mr. McKinley's references to foreign affairs:

:

“It has been the policy of the United States since the foundation of the Government to cultivate relations of peace and amity with all nations. This accords with my conception of duty. Now we have cherished the policy of non-interference in the affairs of foreign Governments wisely inaugurated by Washington-keeping free from entanglement either as allies or foes, and being content to leave undisturbed with them the settlement of their own domestic concerns. It will be my aim to pursue a firm and dignified foreign policy which shall be just and impartial, ever watchful of the national honour, and always insisting upon the enforcement of the lawful rights of American citizens everywhere. Our diplomacy should seek nothing more and accept nothing less than what is due. The United States want no wars of conquest, and must avoid the temptation of territorial aggression. War should never be entered upon until every agency of peace fails. Peace is preferable to war in almost every contingency.

"Arbitration is the true method of settlement for international as well as local or individual differences. It was recognised as the best means for the adjustment of differences between employers and employed by the forty-ninth Congress in 1886, and the application of the principle was extended to diplomatic relations unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the fifty-first Congress in 1890. A later resolution was accepted as the basis of negotiations with the United States by the British House of Commons in 1893, and upon our invitation a treaty of arbitration between the United States and Great Britain was signed at Washington and transmitted to the Senate for ratification in January last. Since this treaty is clearly the result of our own initiative, since it has been recognised as a leading feature in our foreign policy throughout our entire national history-namely, the adjustment of difficulties by judicial methods rather than force of arms-and since it presents to the world a glorious example of reason and peace, not passion and war, controlling the relations between the two greatest nations of the world, an example certain to

be followed by others, I respectfully urge early action by the Senate thereon, not merely as a matter of policy, but as a duty to mankind. The importance and moral influence of the ratification of such treaties can hardly be overestimated in the cause of advancing civilisation, and may well engage the best thought of statesmen and people of every country. I cannot but consider it fortunate that it was reserved to the United States to have the leadership in so grand a work."

Mr. McKinley alluded to the necessity of legislation restricting combinations of capital organised as trusts, advocated the further reform of the Civil Service, urged measures for the restoration of the American merchant marine, and announced his purpose of convening Congress for a special session on March 15 to consider the question of tariff revision.

The President recommended a revision of the coinage, banking and currency laws, and announced his intention of appointing a non-partisan commission to investigate the subject. He would endeavour to secure international bimetallism by cooperation with other great commercial Powers.

The Senate confirmed the Cabinet nominations without delay or question, viz.: For Secretary of State, John Sherman of Ohio; Secretary of the Treasury, Lyman J. Gage of Illinois; Secretary of War, Russell A. Alger of Michigan; Secretary of the Interior, Cornelius N. Bliss of New York; Secretary of the Navy, John D. Long of Massachusetts; Secretary of Agriculture, James Wilson of Iowa; AttorneyGeneral, Joseph M'Kenna of California; and PostmasterGeneral, James A. Gary of Maryland. John W. Griggs of New Jersey became Attorney-General in place of Mr. M'Kenna later in the year.

The first session of the fifty-fifth Congress began on March 15-a special session, called by President McKinley, to adjust and increase the tariff.

The nominal state of parties was as follows: In the Senate -46 Republicans, 34 Democrats, 5 Populists, 3 Independents, and the two Nevada senators, the nucleus of the Silver party; in the House of Representatives-202 Republicans, 130 Democrats, 21 Populists, 1 Fusionist, and 3 Silver party.

Thirty-five Senators and 127 Representatives declared themselves ready for the free coinage of silver.

The Vice-President was the presiding officer of the Senate, and Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, was re-elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Debate on the Tariff Bill began on March 22 in the House of Representatives. Mr. Dingley, the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, defended the new bill proposed, and estimated that it would ultimately yield more than $75,000,000 additional revenue. He estimated the average yearly deficit at $50,000,000, and declared that free wool cost the Treasury yearly $21,000,000. This was in reply to members from New

England, who said that the new duties on wool would ruin their manufacturing constituents.

The bill passed the House in April by 205 to 122 votes. All the Republicans, five Democrats, and one Populist voted yea. Twenty-one (Fusionists, Populists, and Silverites) declined to vote at all.

The bill then went to the Senate and was referred to the Finance Committee, where it was considerably modified. A retroactive clause was struck out, and generally the new duties were for revenue only. Reductions were made in first and second class wool duties. Some Western senators were in favour of a large increase of the Dingley duties on raw wool, and President McKinley expressed his dislike of these reductions and also of the concessions made to the sugar trust monopoly. A clause raising the duty on sugar from $1.85 to $1.95 was carried in the Senate (June 11) by 32 to 30 votes, the sugar schedule by 35 to 32 votes, and the bill as amended passed the Senate (July 7) by 38 to 28 votes. It was received by the House of Representatives with a message from the Senate requesting a conference. The Joint Committee of Conference met, and some time was necessary to consider the Senate amendments, which numbered about 800. Sugar, wool, and hides raised the chief points of difference. The conference report was accepted by the Senate (July 24). The act was at once signed by the President, and became law on the day of its passage. Mr. Dingley predicted that the measure would produce $250,000,000 yearly.

In August Attorney-General M'Kenna gave his decision as to the meaning of section 22 of the Dingley Tariff Act, to the effect that goods coming direct to the United States from foreign countries through Canadian ports, and foreign goods shipped from countries other than British possessions in British vessels, were not subject to the discriminating duty of 10 per cent.

Attempts to promote international bimetallism were unsuccessful. Early in January Senator Wolcott went to Europe to gather information on the subject, and returning in March to the United States he reported his impressions to the newly inaugurated President. By an act approved on March 3, provision was made for the appointment of a commission to promote bimetallism. Under this act Senator Wolcott, with two colleagues, Adlai E. Stevenson and General Paine, was appointed. They went directly to France, where they were courteously received by M. Meline, the French Premier, and the French Ambassador in London was instructed to support them in their proposals to the British Government. In the discussions which followed in London when the Indian Government were asked if they favoured the reopening of the Indian mints to the free coinage of silver they replied that they were strongly opposed, and therefore Lord Salisbury informed the bimetallist