The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-12-10

az war with other. The United
States have no disposition to inter
fere with the existing relations of
Spain to her colonial possessions on
this continent They believe that in
due time Spain and other European
powers will find their interest in ter
minating those relations and estsb-
fishing their present dependencies as
independent poEers-members Of the
family of nations. These dependenc-
les are no longer regarded as subject
to transfer from one European power
TO another. When the present rsla-
tions Of colonies cease they are to be-
come independent powers, exercising
the right Of choice and of self control
in the determination Of their future
condition and relations with thero
powers. The United States, in order
to put stop to bloedshed in Cuba,
and in the interest Of a neighboring
people, proposed their good Offices to
bring the existing contest to termi-
nation. The offer, not being accept
ed by Spain on basis which we be-
IieYed could be received by Cuba,
was withdrawn. 1t is hoped that the
good Office of the United States may
yet prove advantageous for the settle
ment Of the unhappy strife. Mean
while a number of illegal expeditions
against Cuba have been broken up.
/ 1t has been the endeavor of the ad-
ministration to execute the neutrality
laws in good faith, no matter how IN
pleasant the task, made so by the
suffering we have endured from lack
of like good faith towards us by other
nations. The United States schooner
Lizzie Major was arrested on the high
seas by Spanish frigate, and two
passengers taken from it and carried
as prisoners to Cuba. Representa-
tions of these facts were made to the
Spanish government as soon as Of
fetal information of them reached
Washington. The two passengers
were set at liberty, and the Spanish
government assured the United
States that the captain of the frigate
in making the capture had acted with
out law; that he had been reprrmand-
ed for the irregularity of his conduct,
and that the Spanish authorities in
Cuba would not sanction any act that
could violate the rights or treat with
disrespect the sovereignty of this na-
ton.
The question of the seizure of the
brig Mary Lowell, at one of the Ba-
hama Islands, by the Spanish author
tiles, is now the subject of correspon-
dsnce between this government and
those of Spain and Great Britain.
The Captain General of Cuba,
about May last issued proclamation
authorizing search to be made of ves-
sells on the high seas, An immediate
remorstranee was made against this,
whereupon the captain-general issued
a new proclamation, limiting the right
of search of vessels of the United
States, so far as authorized under the
treaty of 1895. This proclamation,
however, was Immediately Withdrawn.
I have always felt that the most init
mate relation should be cultivated
between the republic of the United
Statese and all independent nations
on this continent. 1t may be well
worth considering whether new treat
les between US and them may not be
proftably entered into to secure more
intimate relations, friendly, CONNER
cial and otherwise.
THE DARIEN CANAL.
The subject of an interoeeanic ca
nal to connect the Atlantic and Pa
cifc oceans through the Isthmus Of
Darien is one in which commerce is
greatly interested. Instructions have
been given to our minister to the Re-
public of the United States of Co.
lumbia to endeavor to obtain author
ity for a survey by this government
in order to determine the practicable
ty of such an undertaking, and a
charter for the right of way to build
by private enterprise such work if
the survey proves it to be practica-
BILE. In order to comply with the
agreement of the United States as to
a mixed commission at Lima, for the
adjustment of claims, it became nec-
essary to send a commissioner and
secretary to Lima in August last.
No appropriation having been made
by Congress for this purpose, it is
now asked that one be made, cover
ing the past and future expenses of
the commission.
MEDIATION BETWEEN SPAIN AND
PERU.
The good Offices of the United
States to bring about peace between
Spain and the South American re-
publics with which she is at war, hav-'
ing been accepted by Spain, Peru and
Chill, a congress has been invited to
be held in Washington during the
present winter. A grant has been
given to Europeans of an exclusive
right of transit over the territory of
Nicaragua, to which Costa Rica has
given its assent, which, it is alleged,
conflicts with vested rights of the
citizens of the United States. The
department of state has now this SUBJ
ject under consideration.
THE SPANISH GUNBoATs.
The minister of Peru having made
representations that there was a state
of war between Peru and Spain, and
that Spain was constructing in and
near New York thirty gunboats,
which might be used by Spain in
such a way as to relieve the naval
force at Cuba SO as to operate against
Peru, orders were given to prevent
their departure. No further steps
having been taken by the represen-
tative of the Peruvian government to
prevent the departure of these yes
sells, and l not feeling authorized to
detain the property of a nation with
which we are at peace on a mere exc
eutive order, the matter has been re-
ferred to the courts to decide. The
conduct of the war between the AL
lies and Republic of Paraguay has
made our intercourse with that coun-
try so difficult that it has been deme-
ed advisable to withdraw our repre-
sentative from there
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Toward the close of the last admin
istration convention was signed at
London for the settlement of all out
standing claims between Great Brit
ian and the United States, which
failed to receive the advice and con-
sent of the Senate to its ratification.
The time and the circumstances at
tending the negotiation of the treaty
were favorable to its acceptance by
the people of the United States, hut
its provisions were wholly inadequate
for the settlement of the grave wrongs
that had been sustained by this gov