The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-12-17

Such has been the policy of the Admin.
istration in dealing with these ques-
tions. For more than year a valua-
BILE province OF Spain, and q near neigh
Dor Of ours, in whom all our people
cannot but feel a deep interest, has been
struggling for independence and free
dom. The people and government of
the United States entertain the same
warm feelings and sympathies for the
people OF Cuba in their pending strug-
gle that they manifested throughout
the previous struggles between Spain
and her former colonies, in behalf of the
latter; but the contest has never assum-
ed condition which amounts TO war
in the sense of International law, or
which would show the existence of q
dsJacto political organization of the in
surgents sufficient to justify a recogni.
tion OF belligerency. The principle is
maintained, however, that this nation
is its own judge when to accord the
rights of belligerency, either to a people
struggling to free themselves from a
government they believe to be oppress-
i've, or to independent nations at war
with each other The United { States
have no disposition to interfere with
the existing relations of Spain to her
colonial possessions on this continent.
They believe that in due time Spain
and the European powers will find their
interest in terminating these relations
and establishing their present depen-
denotes independent powers, members
of the family ofnations. These depen-
dencies are no longer regarded as subject
to transfer from one European power to
another. When the present relation OF
the colonies ceases, they are to become
independent powers, exercising the
right of choice and 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
neighboring people, proposed their
good offices to bring the existing contest
to termination. The offer not being
accepted by Spain on basis which we
believed could be received by Cuba was
withdrawn. 1t is hoped that the good
offices of the United States may yet
prove advantageous for the settlement
of this unhappy strife. Meanwhile, il
legal expeditions against Cuba have
been broken up. 1t has been the en-
deavor of the Administration to execute
the neutrality laws i'm good faith, no
matter how unpleasant the task, made
so by the sufferings we have endured
from lack like good faith towards US
by other nations. On the Goth of
March last the U. S. schooner Lizzie
Major was arrested on the high seas
by Spanish frigate and two passengers
taken from it and carried as prisoners
to Cuba. Representations of these facts
were made to the Spanish Government
as soon rs official information of them
reached Washington. The two passen-
gers were set at liberty, and the Spanish
Government assured the United States
that the capita in Of the frigate in MAX
ing the capture had acted without law;
that he had been reprimanded for the
irregularity of his conduct, and that
the Spanish authorities in Cuba would
not sanction any act that would 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 correspondence be-
tween 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 vessels on the high SEAS
Immediate remonstrance was made
against this, whereupon the Captain
General issued a new proclamation,
limiting the right of search to vessels
of the United States, SO far as author
lied under the treaty of 1895. This
proclamation, however, was immediate
ly withdrawn. have always felt that
the most intimate relations should be
cultivated between the Republic OF the
United States and all independent na-
tions On this continent. 1t may be
we'll worth considering whether new
treaties between the United States and
them may not be protitably entered
into to secure more intimate relations,
friendly, commercial or otherwise
The subject of an inter oceanic canal to
connect the Atlantic and Paci fic Oceans
through the Isthmus of Darien, is one
in which commerce is greatly interested.
Instructions have been given to our
Minister to the Republic of the United
States of Colombia to endeavor to OBJ
tain authority for a survey by this
Government in order to determine the
practicability Of such an undertaking,
and charter for the right of way to
build, by private enterprise, such a
work, if the survey proves it to be
practicable. In order to comply with
the agreement of the United States as
to mixed commission at Lima for the
adjustment claims, it became necessary
to send Commissioner and Secretary
to Lima in August last. Noappropria-
tion having been made by Congress for
this purpose, it is now asked that one
be made covering the past and future
expenses of the commission.
The good offices of the United States
to bring about a peace between Spain
and the South American republics, with
which she is at wal, having been accept
ed by Spain, Peru and Chill, congress
has been invited to be heldin Washing
ton during the present winter. A grant
has been given to Europeans of an ex-
elusive right of transit over theterritory
of Nicaragua, to which Costa Rica has
given its assent, which, it il alleged,
conflicts with the vested rights Of citi-
zens OF the United States. The De.
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