The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-07

or to informers
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE.
The office of Commissioner of Internal Reye-
nue. is one of the most arduous and responsible
IN the government. 1t falls but little, if any,
short of Cabinet position in its Importance
and responsibility. L would ask therefore such
legislation as in your judgment will place the
once on footing Of dignity commensurate
with It's Importance and with character and
qualification of the class of men required to fill
it properly.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
AS the United States is the freest of all ma
tons, so, too, do our people sympathize with
all people struggling for liberty and self gov
But while SO sympathizing it is
due to our honor that we should abstain from
enforcing our views upon unwilling nations,
and from taking an interested part without
invitation in the quarrels between different
nations or between Governments and their
subiecte. Our course should always be in con-
formity with strict justice and law -interna-
tional and local: Such has been the policy of
the administration in dealing with those ques-
tiOns.
SPAIN AND CUBA.
For more than year valuable province of
Spain, and near neighbor of ours, in whom
all our people cannot but feel deep interest,
has been struggling for independence and free
dom. The people and Government of the
States entertain the same warm feelings and
sympathieS for the people of Cuba in their
pending struggle that they manifested through
out the previous struggle between Spain and
her former colonies in behalf of the latter.
But the contest has at no time assumed the
condition which amount to war in the sense
of international law, or which would show the
existence of de fdctO political organization of
the insurgents sufficient to justify recogni-
ton OF belligerency. The principle is main
tanned, however, that this nation is its own
judge when to accord the rights of belgeren-
cy, either to people struggling to free them
selves from Government they believe to be
oppressive or to Independent nations at war
with each other. The United States has not a
disposition to interfere with the existing rela-
tions of Spain to her colonial possessions on
this continent. They believe that in due time
Spain and other European powers will ind
their interest in terminating these relations
and in establishing their present dependence
as independent powers and members of the
family of nations. These dependencies are no
longer regarded as subject to transfer from one
European power to another. When the pres
ent relations of colonies Ecease they are to be-
come independent powers, exercise the right
of choice of self-cOntrOl in the determination
of their future condition and relations with
other powers.
The United States, in order to put stop to
blOodshed in Cuba and in the interest of a
neighborins people, proposed their good offices
to bring the existing contest to termination
The offer not being accepted by Spain on a
basis which we believed could be received bv
Cuba was withdrawn. 1t is hoped that the
good offices of the United States may vet prove
advantageous for the settlement of this unhap-
by struggle.
Meanwhile, a number of illegal expeditions
against Cuba have been broken up. 1t has
been the endeavor of the administration to ex-
ecute the neutrality laws in good faith, no mat
ter how unpleasant the task made SO by the
suffering we have endured for lack of like good
faith towards us by their violation. On the
18th OF March last the schooner Lizzie Major
was arrested on the high seas by Spanish
frigate and two passengers taken from it and
carried prisoners to Cuba. Representations of
these facts were made to the Spanish govern
ment as soon as official information of them
reached Washington. The two passengers
were set at liberty and the Spanish Minister
as assured the United States that the captain of
the frgate in making the capture had acted
without the law, that he had been reprimand-
ed tor 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
nation.
The question of the seizure of the brig Mary
Lowell at one of the Bahama Islands by the
Spanish authorities is now the subject of the
between this government and
those of Spain and Great Britain. The Can
tain General of Cuba, about May last, issued a
proclamation and authorized search to be
made of all vessels on the high seas Immedi-
ate demonstration was made against this, where
upon the Captain General issued a new proc
amation limiting the right of search to vessels
d the United States so far as authorized by
The treaty of 1892. This proclamation, however,
was Immediately withdrawn.
OUR RELATIONS WITH AMERICAN REPUBLICS.
l have always felt that the most intimate re-
ations should be cultivated between the re-
public ofthe United States and all independ-
mt nations on the continent. 1t may be well
worth considering whether the new treaties
between us and them may not be prof ably en-
cred into to secure more intimate relations,
rlendly, commercial and otherwise.
THE DARIEN CANAL.
The subject of an interoceanic canal to con-
lect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through
he lsthmus of Darien is one in which COM
nerce is greatly interested. Instructions have
,een given to our Minister to the republic of
he Y nited States of Colombia to endeavor to
'btaln authority for survey by this govern
nent in order to determine the practicability
# such an undertaking, and a charter for the
light of way to build by private enterprise
UGH work, if the survey proves it to be prac-
icable. "
In order to comply with the agreement of
lie United States and the mixed commission
t Lima for the adjustment of claims it became
necessary to send a commissioner and secre-
airy to Lima in August last. No appropria-
Ion having been made by Congress for this
purpose it is now asked that one be made COW
ring the past and future expenses OF the com
mission.
PEACE CONGRESS.
The government officers of the United States
bring about peace between Spain and the
south American Republics with which she has
een at war, ha Ting been accepted by Spain.
'eru and Chill, congress has been invited to
e held IN Washington during the present
7Inter.
NICARAGUA.
A grant has been given to Europeans of an
Xcluslve right of transit over the territory of
Nicaragua, to which Costa RIGA has given its
ssent, which it is alleged conflicts with the
ested rights OF the citizens of the United
,tates The Department of State has now
his subject under consideration.
THE SPANISH GUNBoATs.
The Minister of Peru having made represen-
alton that there was state of war between
cru and Spain, and that Spain was construct
ng in and near New York thirty gunboats.
1hlch might be used by Spain in such war
8 to relieve the naval force of Cuba 90 az 70
perate against Peru, orders were given 70
revent their dedarture. No other steps hay-
ng been taken by the representative of the
'eruvlan government to prevent the departure
these vessels, and 1 not feeling authorized to
etaln the property of nation with which we
re at peace, on a mere Executive order the
natter has been left to the courts to decide
PARAGUAY
The conduct of the war between the allies
"a the Republic of Paraguay has made the
has been deemed advisable to withdraw orr
representative there,
THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.
Towards the last of the last administration
convention was signed ut London for the set
ement OF all outstanding claims between |
Treat Britain and the United States. which |
'Iled to receive the advice and consent of the |
enate to its ratification. The time and the |
nc, rcu . attending the negotiations of |
le people OF the United States, but its pro
slons were wholly inadequate for the settle |
eht OF the grave wrongs that had been ses-
'lhed py TINS government as well as by its cit.
ems. The injuries resulting to the United
. moo. ny reason OF the course adopted by
reat britain during oar late civil war has in
leased the rates of insurance and has resulted
the dlminutiOn of the exports and the i'm
orts, and distractions to the domestic iudus-
y and production. Its effect upon the FOREIGN
OF the country has been the decrease
az transfer 10 Great Britain of our CONNER
- .no PiOiohSdtiou VI tne war and |
q increased cost of both in treasure and in
res for its suppression. These claims should
1t he adjusted and satisfied as ordinary COM |
ercial claims which continually arise between
numerical nations, and yet the convention
Gated them simply as such ordinary claims
'm which they differ more widely in the gray
y of their character than in the magnitude of
e amount. Great even as is that difference
It a word was found in the treaty, and not an
ference could be drawn from it to prove the
nse CT the nnfriendly feeling of the course of
reat Britain in our struggle for existence,
lich had SO deeply and universally impressed
ei1 upon the people Of this country
Believlng that convention thus miscon-
lved in its hope and inadequate in its pro-
SONS would not have produced the hearty
d cordial settlement of pending questions.
llch alone is consistent with the relations |