Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-12-08

necessary by great rebellion, there
is no reason why we should not ad-
vance in material prosperity and
happiness as no other nation ever
did after so protracted and devasta-
tating war.
UNITED STATES PROTECTION EXTEND
ED TO FOREIGN RESIDENTS OF PARIS.
Soon after the existing war broke
out in Europe, the protection of the
United States Minister in Paris was
invoked in favor of the North Ger
mans domiciled in French territory.
Instructions were issued to grant
protection. This Mas been followed
by an extension of American pro-
lection to citizens of Saxony, ,Gotha,
Hesse, and Saxe-Coburg, Colombia,
Portugal, Uruguay, the Dominican
Venezuela in Paris. The charge
was an onerous one, requiring con-
| slant and severe labor as well as the
exercise of patience, prudence and
good judgement. 1t has been per-
formed to the entire satisfaction of
this government; and as am official
" informed, equally so to the salts
faction of the government of North
Germany.
RECOGNITION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.
As soon as learned that repub-
lie had been proclaimed at Paris, and
that the people of France had ac-
quiesced in the change, the Minister
of the United States was directed
by teleghraph to recognize it, and
tender my congratulations and
those of the people of the United
States. The re-establishment in
France of system of government
disconnected with the dynastic ira
ditions of Europe, appeared to be
a proper subject for the felicitation
of Americans. Should the present
struggle result in attaching the
hearts of the French to our simpler
forms of representative government,
it will be subject of still further
satisfaction to our people. While
we make no effort to impose our in
stitution upon the inhabitants OF
other countries, and while we adhere
to our traditional neutrality in civil
contests elsewhere, we cannot be in
different to the spread of American
political ideas in great and highly
! civilized country like France.
OUR REFUSAL TO INTERFERE IN THE
STRUGGLE.
We were asked by the new gov
| ernment to use our good offices joint
| " with those of the European pow
ers in the interests of peace. An
swer was made that the established
policy and the interests of the United
States forbade them to interfere in
the European powers. Iascertained
informally and unofficially that the
government of North Germany was
not then disposed to listen to such
representations from powers, and
though earnestly wishing to see the
blessings of peace restored to the
belligerents, with all of whom the
United States are on terms of friend
ship, I declined on the part of this
government to take step which
could only result in the injury to our
true interests without advancing the
object for which our Intervention
was invoked. Should the time
come when the action of the United
States can hasten the return of peace
by a single hour, that action will be
heartily taken.
OUR NEUTRALITY OBLIGATIONS.
/ deemed it prudent, in view of
the number of persons of German
and French birth living in the United
States, to issue, soon after official
notice of state of war had been
received from both belligerents, a
proclamation defining the duties OF
the United States as neutral, and
the obligations of persons residing
within the territory to observe their
laws and the laws of nations. The
proclamation was followed by others
as circumstances seemed to call for
them. The people, thus acquainted
in advance of their duties and obli-
cations have assisted in preventing
violations of the neutrality of the
United States.
THE CUBAN INsURREcTIoN.
1t is not understood that the con-
dition of the insurrection in Cuba
has materially changed since the
close of the last session of Congress,
In an early stage of the contest, the
authorities of Spain inaugurated a
system of arbitrary arrests of
close confinement, of military trial
and execution of persons suspected
of completely with the insurgents,
and of summary embargo of their
properties and requisitions of their
revenues by executive warrant.
Such proceedings, as far IS they
affected the persons or property of
citizens of the United States, were
in violation of the treaty of 1875,
between the United States and Spain.
Representations of injuries result
ing to several persons claiming to
be citizens of the United States, by
by reason of such violations, were
made to the Spanish government.
From April, 1869 to June last, the
Spanish Minister at Washington
had been clothed with limited pow
er to aid in redressing such wrongs.
That power was found to be with
drawn, in view, as it was said, of the
favorable situation in which the is
land of Cuba then was, which how
ever. did not lead to revolution or
suspension Of the extraordinary and
arbitrary functions exercised by the
executive power in Cuba; and we
were obliged to make our complaint
at Madrid. In the negotiations thus
opened, and still pending there, the
United States only claimed that for
future the rights secured to their
citizens by treaty should be respect
ed in Cuba, and that as to the past
a joint tribunal should be establish
ed in the United States, with full
jurisdiction over all such claims.
Before such an impartial tribunal