1890 State of the Union Address

The 1890 State of the Union address was delivered by Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the United States, on December 1, 1890. This address was Harrison's second.

1890 State of the Union Address

Date	December 1, 1890 (1890-12-01)
Venue	House Chamber, United States Capitol
Location	Washington, D.C.
Coordinates	38°53′23″N 77°00′32″W
Type	State of the Union Address
Participants	Benjamin Harrison
Previous	1889 State of the Union Address
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Themes

The President discussed the success of the International Marine Conference as well as the Conference of Brussels which was held to extinguish the last breaths of the slave trade in Africa. The address also contained details on the budget, other foreign policy developments, and the International American Conference. On the subject of the conference, the President wrote:

I had occasion in May last to transmit to Congress a report adopted by the International American Conference upon the subject of the incorporation of an international American bank, with a view to facilitating money exchanges between the States represented in that conference. Such an institution  would greatly promote the trade we are seeking to develop. I renew there commendation that a careful and well-guarded charter be granted. I do not think the powers granted should include those ordinarily exercised by trust, guaranty, and safe-deposit companies, or that more branches in the United States should be authorized than are strictly necessary to accomplish the object primarily in view, namely, convenient foreign exchanges. It is quite important that prompt action should be taken in this matter, in order that any appropriations for better communication with these countries and any agreements that may be made for reciprocal trade may not be hindered by the inconvenience of making exchanges through European money centers or burdened by the tribute which is an incident of that method of business.