Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1872-12-05

Ilaue lHNcStiSutlOHS Nv .ttiict
quarter. Their report or tfe subject
will be communicated to You. Their
researches were necessarily imcom-
pletc, partly on account of the limited
appropriation made by Congress.
Mexico, on the part of that Govern
ment, has appointed asimilar Commits
sion to investigate these outragcs. 1t
Is not announced officially, but the
press of that country states that the
fullest investigation is desired and
that cooperation of parties concerned
is invited to secure that end. l there
fore recommend that q special appro-
priation be made, at the earliest day
practicable, to enable the Commission
ers on tho part of the United States to
return to their labors without delay.
CUBAN AFFAIRS.
1t is with regret that have again to
announce a continuance ofthe disturb
ed condition of the Island of Cuba.
No advance toward pacifcation of the
Disconnected portion Of the population
has been made, while the insurrection
has gained no advantages and exhibits
no more Of the elements Of power OF
of the prospect of ultimate success than
were exhibited q year ago.
Spain, on the other hand, has not
succeeded in it's repression and the
parties stand apparently in the same
relative attitude which they have occu-
pied in time past. This contest has
lasted now for more than four years.
Were it seen at q distance from our
neighborhood we might be Indifferent
to its result, although humanity could
not but be moved by many of its incl
dents, wherever they might occur. 1t
is however at our door.
SLAVERY IN CUBA.
1 cannot doubt that the continued
maintenance of slavery in Cuba is
among the strongest inducements to
the continuance of this strife. A ter
rible wrong is the natural cause of a
terrible evil. The abolition of slavery
and the introduction of other reforms
in the administration of the govern.
ment in Cuba, could not fail to adj
vance the restoration of peace and or.
der. 1t is to be hoped that the present
liberal government of Spain will vol.
UNFAIRLY adopt this view.
The law Of emancipation, which
was adopted some two years since, hal
remained unexecuted in the absence Of
the regulations for its enforcement. 1,
was but q feeble step toward emancipa.
ton, but it was the recognition o.
right, and was passed az such and ex.
hibited SPAN in harmony with the sen.
tfments of humanity and of justice
and in sympathy ofthe civilized world
Within the last few weeks the regula.
tons for carrying out the laws
emancipation lave been announced
giving evidence of the sincerity Of the
intention of the present government te
carry into effect the law of 1870. ]
have not failed to urge the considers.
ton Of the wisdom of the policy and
the justice of . more effective system
for the abolition of the great evi
which oppressed q race and continue.
a bloody and destructive contest close
to our border, as well rs tho expedien,
cy and the justice of ~conccding reforms
of which the propriety is not ques.
toned. Deeply impressed with the
conviction that the continuance oil
slavery is n of the most active cause.
ofthe continuance of the unhappy con.
ditiOnr Of Cuba, | regret to believe tina,
citizens 0fthe United Statesy or those
claiming to besuch, are large holders
in Cuba Of what is there claimed a.
property, but which is forbidden ant
denounced by the laws of the United
States. They are thus, in defiance O
the spirit of our w laws, contribu
ting to the continuance of this dis,
tressing and sickening contest.
In my last annual address I referred
to this subject, and l again recommend
such legislation as may be proper, te
denounce, and if not to prevent, a,
least to discourage American citi
zens from holding or dealing in slaves
THE RATIFICATION.
1t is gratifying to announce that tn,
ratification Of the Convention conclud
ed under the auspices of this Govern.
mcnt, between Spain OH the one part
and the allied Republics of the Pa.
cific on the other, providing for AT
armistice have been exchanged
A copy of the instrument is here
with submitted. 1t is hoped that this
may be followed by a permanent
peace between the same parties. The
differences which at one time threaten.
ed the maintenance of peace between
Brazil aud the Argentine Republic, il
is hoped are in the way of satisfactor,
adjustment. With these States, a:
with the Republics of Central and
South America, we continue to main.
tain the most friendly relations. 1t i.
with regret, however, ] announce that
the government of Venezuela ha:
made no further payments on accoun,
of the awards made under the conven.
ton of the 18th of April. 1866. THAI
republic is understood to be now al
most, if not quite, t%ranquilized. 1t il
hoped, therefore, that it win lose M
time in providing for the unpaid bal
ances of its debt to the United States
which having originated in injuries tc
its citizens by the Venezuelan authori.
ties, and having been acknowledged
pursuant to a treaty in the most sol,
emn form known among nations
would seem to deserve a preference
over debts of q different origin, and
contracted in a different manner. This
subject lie again recommended to the
consideration of Congress for such &C.
ton as may be deemed necessary.
OUR TREATY RELATIONS WITH JAPAN
remain unchanged. An imposing EN-.
bassy from that interesting and pro.
gressive nation visited this country
during the year that is passing, but be.
ing unprovided with the powers fol-
the signing of a convention in this
country, no conclusion in that direc-
ton was reached. 1t is hoped, how
ever, that the interchange Of opinion
which took place during their stay in
this country has led to a mutual appre-
citation of interests which may be pro-
NOTED when the revision Of the exist
ing treaty shall be undertaken. In this
connection l renew my recommends
ton of n year ago, that to give inn
p~ortance to and add to the efficiency
Of our diplomatic relations with Japan
and China, and to further aid in main
tanning the good opinion of these peo-
pie and to secure to the United States
its share of the commerce destined to
flow between these nations and the
balance of the commercial world, an
appropriation be made to support at
least four American youths in each of
these countries to serve as a part OF the
official family OF II ministers there.
Our Representatives would not even
then be placed upon an equality with
the representatives of Great Britain, or
some other powers. AS now situated
our representatives in Japan and Chi
ma have to depend for interpreters and
translations upon natives of those