Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-24
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST "a, 1888.
Our Foreign Relations


who are VIGOROUSLY unreliable, it may turn out
that the reports now flying through the coun-
try are greatly exaggerated or sheer tabrlcatonS'
Nevertheless, general desire is felt to hear what
is talked about in the great world, as well as to
learn what events have actually aud we
shall endeayor to crafty this natural curiosity OF
our readers.
In the first place then, the fishery difficulty is
under consideration at Washington. The progress
made BY the negotiaors the particular difficult
ty in the way of speedy settlement, is not known.
1t hardly admits of doubt, however, that the
matter will some time or other be amicably ar
ranged The telegraph reporters and ncwS-mon-
gers generally have done their best to bring 1t to
a crisis BY alleging every day or two some outrage
perpetrated upon our fishermen by British cruisers
but the patriotic efforts Of these gentlemen are
continually defeated by the subsequent mtelll-
gence that there is nothing Of the kind for us to
90 to war about. The STIRLING claim, OF which
we gave some account last week, is generally con
sidered bare faced humbug, Notwithstanding the
Hon. r. j. WALKER and other distinguished per-
sonages have taken shares in the speculation.
In the next place, it is rumored that Great Brit
ain has inerlered with slavery in the island Of
Cuba-seeliug to promote the abolition of invo-
untary seryitude there-and that the interests of
tue United States require us to look into the al
fair. Secretaries DAVIS aud DoBBINar said to
have the documents relating to the matter in their
keeping, to investigate and report upon.
Then comes up the KOsTA affair at Smyrna, in
Asia Minor KosTA, at the date of the last ac-
counts, was IN the custody of the French Consul,
and could be liberated only upon the joint request
of the American aud Austrian Consuls. If Aus
tra, therefore, does not see fit to set him free, he
is prisoner for life, and so far Capt. INGRA-
HAMS Intervention has proited nothing. 1t is
surmised by some that Austria will demand salts
faction of the United States for the course pursued
by Capt INGRAHAM; but Others conclude that as
satisfaction is not likely to be readily granted to
her, and she has no means of compelling it, she
will rest cOntented with virtually possessing the
person of the unfortunate Hungarian. The ques-
tion next arises whether the United States will
require the release of kosrA-that is more than
we can tell and we must wait patiently the de-
cision of Gen. PIERCE and his Cabinet 1t would
seem, however, that if Capt. lNGRAHAM acted
properly in rescung KosTA from the Austrian Off
Gals our Government is bound to see him safely
through his difficulties. During the administra-
Zion of NJ EYY hnwavar ~ ,pac decided
that a foreigner making declaration of intention to
become citizen, as KosTA did, was entitled to
protection previous to his actually taking the oath
of allegiance, only 50 long as he remained within
our jurisdiction. This decision is founded upon
good reasons, and will probably be adhered to.
Next, we have the case of Capt. GIBSON, fthe
schooner Flirt, who was arrested and Imprisoned
for some time by the Dutch authorities Of the is
land of Java, in the West Indies, on the charge
of being engaged in fillibustering expedition
After suffering many hardships, he effected his es-
cape, and was recently in Washington laying his
complaints before the Government. The Nation
al hteHigencer says, "We find him highly intel
ligent, and one of the most gentemanly persons in
presence and manners that we have seen in any
walk in lite" The narrative of his sufferings
and adventures has excited general interest in
his behalf, and Mr.. BELMONT, who is about to 90
out as United States Charge to the Hague, has
been instructed to demand satisfaction from that
Government. 1t would no doubt be more agreea-
bic to the genius of some Of our people, for ship
or two to be sent to Java direct to teach the Dutch
in authority there better manners, if not to annex
the island to the United States, forthwith.
In the last place, unless all the signs fall trouble
with Mexico is brewing. Our Government has
been lately concentrating large military force on
the Rio Grande, for some purpose or other not pre-
eisely known; the pryiug letter-writers now throw
little light upon the movement, as well as upon
some other matters. In the course of their re-
searches into Government secrets, they having dis
covered the instructions given to Mr.. GADsDEN
our Minister to Mexico, which are substantially
as follows;
"He is instructed to ask for and insist on the
grant by Mexico TO the United States of a free
Right Of Way for a railroad along the 32ud par
allel of latitude. The Uuited States, in return,
agree to relinquish all claims to Tehuantepec; to
give Mexico certain sum as indemnity for In
dian depredations. and TO share with Mexico the
advantages aud use of the Road. This arrange
ment, it is hoped, will practically annul the llth
Article Of the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty, rem
dering the keeping up "a line of military posts along
the Mexican Border no longer necessary"
This proposition is thought to be adv antageous
to Mexico, but SANTA ANNA may prove impracti
cable, or resent the manner in which it is made
lie viii naturally feel suspicious of every over
ture from this quarter. Should he refuse the ap-
plicatioa, our troops will be at hand on the frontier
to meet whatever emergency may arise. These
instructions are supposed, moreover, to give a
clue to the meaning of the speeches delivered in
New York by members of the Cabinet. The
railroad advocated by Messrs DAVIS and GUTHRIE
is that proposed ''along the Sind parallel of lati
tude, for which we now understand Gen. CUsH-
ING as having expressed the determination of the
Executive to fight.
New English Grammer.
We have received copy of an English Gram
mar by the Rev. r. w. BAILEY, formerly of this
place, just issued from the press Of MeSSrs CLARKE
& HEssER, of Philadelphia. To persons acquaint-
ed with the author his name is a sufficient guar