Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-12-15
Annual Review Of the Affairs OF
the Nation.
Our Foreign Relations.
FIGURES AND SUGGESTIONS.
To The Senate and House of Repr ese7ndtipe:

Providence. been blessed with abundant crops
and have been spared from complications and
war with foreign nations. In our midst com
parative harmony has been restored.
II il to be regretted, however, mat Tree
exercise of the elective franchise has, by vio-
lcnce and intimidation, been denied to citizens,
in exceptional cases. in several Of the states
lately in rebellion, and the verdict OF the peo-
pie has thereby been reversed.
Tho States Of Virginia, Mississippi and Tex
ss have been restored TO representation IN our
national councils. Georgia. the only state
now without representation, may confidently
be expected to take her place there also at the
beginning Of the new year, and then, let ub
hope, will be completed the work of recon-
strnction, with an acquescence on the part OF
the whole people in the national obligation
to pay tho public debt created IA the pr1ce OF
our Union, the pensions to our disabled sold
iers and sailors and their widows and orphans,
and in the changes to the Constitution which
have been made necessary by the great re-
bellion There is no reason why we
should not advance in national prosper
ity and happiness AZ no other nation
did after protracted and devastating war
THE FRANco-PRUssIAN WAR.
Soon after tho existing war broke out in
Europe the protection Of the United States
Minister in Paris was invoked in favor of the
North Germans domicilled in French territory.
Instructions were issued to grant the pro-
lection. This has been followed
by an extension of American protection to
citizens Of Saxony, Hesse and Sax Coburg Go
tina, Columbia, Portugal, Uruguay, the Domin-
clan Republic, Ecuador, Chill, Paraguay and
Venezuela, in Paris The charge was an oner-
GUS one, requiring constant and severe labor
az well al the exercise of patience, pru-
dence, and good judgment II has been
performed to the entire satisfaction OF
this government, and as l am
officially informed, equally 80 to the satisfac-
ton of the government Of North Germany.
AS soon AZ I learned that Republic had been
proclaimed at Paris, and that the people OF
France had acquiesced in the change, the min
ister of the United States was directed by tele-
graph to recognize it and tender my congratu-
lations and those of the people Of the United
States. The re-establishment in France Of q
system OF government disconnected with the
dynastc traditions Of Europe appeared to be
II proper subject for the felicitation of Amen-
cans. Should the present struggle result in at
taching the hearts of the French to our sim
pier forms of representative government, 1t
will be n subject of still further satisfaction to
our people. While we make no effort to impose
our institutions upon the inhabitants of
other countries, and while we adhere
to our traditional neutrality in civil
interests elsewhere, we cannot be Indifferent
to the spread of American polite ideas in a
great and highly civilized country like France.
We were asked by the NV government to use
our good Offices jointly with those of European
powers in the interest of peace. Answer was
made that the established policy and true in
terests of the United States forbade them to
interfere in the European questions jointly
with European powers | ascertained
informally aud unoicially, that the govern
ment of North Germany was not then disposed
to listen to such representations from any
powers, and though earnestly desiring to sec
the blessings OF peace restored to the belliger-
ents, with all of whom the United States are
on terms of friendship, | declined on the part
of this government to take step
which could only result in injury
TO our true interests without advancing
the object for which our Intervention was in
voked. Should the time come when the action
of The United States can hasten the return of
peace by single hour, that action will be
heartily taken. deemed 1t prudent, in Wow
of the number of persons of German and
French birth living in the United States, to is
aue, soon after the official notice of a state of
war had been received from both belligerents, a
proclamation defining the duties of the United
States as a neutral, and the obligations of per-
sons residing within their territory to observe
their laws and the laws of nations. The proc
lamation was followed by others, az circum-
stances seemed to call for them. The people
thus acquainted i'll advance of their duties
and Obligations. have assisted in preventing
violations of the neutrality of the United States.
THE CUBAN REVOLUTION.
II IL not understood that the condition of the
instruction in Cuba has materially changed
since the close of the last session of Congress-.
In the early stage of the contest the authorities
of Spain inaugurated system of arbitrary
al ,i,,n, fy,,1
and execution of all persons suspected of COM
plcity with insurgents and of summary embargo
OF their properties and requisition of their reye-
nues by executive warrant, such proceedings,
as far as they effected the persons or property
of tho citizens of the United States, were III
violation of the provisions of the treaty of 1915
between the United States and Spain. Represen-
tations of injuries resulting to several persons
claiming to be citizens of the United States
by reason of such relations, We're made
to the Spanish government. From
April. 1869 to June last, the Spanish
Minister at Washington had been clothed Will
limited power to aid IN redressing suct
wrongs. That power was found TO be with
drawn. In view, ~ 1t was said of the wayera
BILE situation III which the Island Of. Cuba ther
was, which, however, did not leaC
to the revocation of the suspension
of the extraordinary and arbitrary
functions exercised bv the executive power
III Cuba; and we were obliged to make oul
complaint at Madrid. In the negotiations thus
opened and still pending there, the United
States only claimed that for the future the
lights secured to their citizens 10y treaty should
be respected in Cuba; that as to the past
joint tribunal should be established in the
United States with full jurisdiction over al
such claims. Before such an impartial tri
bunal, each claimant should be obliged to prov,
his case. On the other hand Spain would b,
at liberty TO traverse every material fact, an,
thus complete equity would be done. A cas-,
which at one time threatened seriously TO eiIec
the relations between the United States anl
Spain has already been disposed Of in thi
way. The claim OF the Col Loyd-Aspinwal
for the Illegal seizure and detention of tina
vessel was referred to arbitration by mutua
consent and has resulted in an award to tin
United States for the owners OF the sum o
nineteen Thousand seven hundred and two dol