The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-12-12


citizens should be no longer delayed.
The case of he Masonic has not We.
reached a settlement. The Manila
Court has found that the proceed
iDgs of which this Government has
complained were unauthorized. and
it is hoped that the Government of
Spain will not withhold the speedy
reparation which its sense of Justice
should impel it to offer for the un-
usual severity and unjust action of
its subordinate colonial officers in
the case of this vessel.
WHAT Is BEING DONE IN THE OLD
WORLD.
The Helvetian Confederation has
proposed the inauguration of class
of international treaties for the refer
ment to arbitration of grave ques-
tons between nations. This Gov
ernment has assented to the propos-
ed negotiation of such a treaty with
Switzerland.
Under the Treaty of Berlin liberty
of conscience and civil rights are as
sured to all strangers in Bulgaria.
As the United States have no dis
tinciive relations with that country
and are not a party to the treaty,
they should, in my opinion, main
tain diplomatic representation at
Sofia for the improvement of inter
course and the proper protection of
the many American citizens who re-
sort to that country as missionaries
and teachers. | therefore suggest
that | be given authority to estab
lish an agency and Consulate Gener-
al at the Bulgarian capital.
The United States are now partic
ipating in a revision of the Tariff of
the Ottoman Empire. They have
assented to the application of a IL
cense tax to foreigners doing busi
ness in Turkey, but have opposed
the oppressive storage tax upon pc
troleum entering the ports of that
country.
The government of the Khedive
has proposed that the authority of
the mixed judicial tribunals in Egypt
be extended so as to cover citizens of
/ the United States accused of crimes
who are now tried before the consul
lar courts. This Government is not
indisposed to accept the change, but
believes that its terms should be sub
mitted, for criticism, 20 the commits
sion appointed to revise the whole
subject.
OUR BOND OF UNION WITH MEXICO.
At no time in our national history
has there been a more manifest need
of close and lasting relations with a
neighboring State than now exists
with respect to Mexico. The rapid
influx of our capital and enterprise
into that country shows by what has
already been accomplished the vast
reciprocal advantages which must
attend the pregress of its internal
development. The Treaty of Com
merce and Navigation of lS4S has
been terminated by the Mexican
government, and in the absence of
conventional engagements the rights
of our citizens in Mexico now de-
pend upon the domestic statutes of
that republic. There have been in
stances Of the harsh enforcement of
the laws against our vessels and cit
izens in Mexico and of a denial of
the diplomatic resort for their pro-
lection. The initial step toward a
better understanding has been taken
in the negotiations by the commits
sion authorized by Congress of a
treaty, which is still before the Sen
ate awaiting its approval. The pro-
visions for the reciprocal crossing of
the frontier by the troops in pursuit
of hostile Indians have been pro-
longed for another year. The oper-
ations of the forces of both govern
ments against the savages have been
successful, and several of their most
dangerous bands have been captured
or dispersed by the skill and valor
of the United States and Mexican
soldiers fighting in common cause !;
and the convention for the reserva-
ton OF the boundary of the Rio
Grande to the Pacific having been
ratified and exchanged by the two
governments, the preliminary recon
noisance therein stipulated has been
effected, and it now rests with Con-
gress to make provision for complet-
ing the survey and locating the
boundary monuments.
A convention was signed with
Mexico on July 13, 1882, providing
for the referring of the cases of Ben
iamin Weiland and the Adra Silver
Mining Company, in whose favor
awards were made by the late Amer
lean and Mexican Claims Commits
sion. That convention still awaits
the consent of the Senate. Mean
while, because of the charges of
fraudulent awards which have been
made, a new commission is necessa.
ry. The Executive has begun the
supervision ofpayments of the dis
tributive quota received from Mex
leo.
INCREASE OF THE CONSULAR CORPS
RECOMMENDED.
Our geographical proximity to
Central America and our political
and commercial relations with the
States of that country justify. in my
judgement, such = material increase
of our Consular corps as will place
at each Capital a Consul General.
SOUTH AMERICAN QUESTIONS CoNsID-
Erred.
The contest between Bolivia, Chill |
ana Perue has passed from the stage |
of strategic hostility to that Of nego
tiation, in which the counsels of this
have been exercised.
The demands of Chill for tie abso-
lutte cession of territory have been
and accepted by the
party of Gen. Iglesias to the extent
of concluding treaty of peace with
the government of Chill in general
with the terms of the
protocol signed in May last between
the Chilian commander and General
Iplesias. As result of the conclu-
sion of this treaty General lglesias
hoe baar fnrroaIlv renoupi,ad hy