The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-09


neither could the vessels of insurgents against
the legitimate sovereignty be deemed hostes
humani generis within the precepts of interna-
tional law. whatever might be the definition and
penalty of their acts under the municipal law OK
the state against whose authority they were in
revolt The denial by this government of the
Colombian propositions did not however, imply
the admission of belligerent status on the part
of the insurgents The Colombian government
has expressed its willingness to negotiate conven-
tons for the adjustment by arbitration. OF claims
by foreign citizens arising out of the destruction
of the city of Aspinwall by the insurrectionary
forces
The claims of citizens of the United States
for losses by reason of the late military opera
tons of Chill in Peru and Bolivia are the sub
ject of negotiation for claims convention with
Chilli providing for their submission to arbitra-
ton.
The harmony of our relations with China
is fully sustained. In the application OF
OF 1880. restrictive of the immigration
OF Chinese laborers into the United
States, individual cases of hardship have occur
red. beyond the power of the executive to rem
edy, and calling for judicial determination.
The condition of the Chinese question in the
Western States and Territories is, despite this
restrictive legislation, far from being satisfac-
tory. The recent outbreak in Wyoming Terri
tory. where numbers of unoffending Cinnamon,
indsputably within the protection of the treaties
and the law. were murdered by mob and the
still more recent threatened outbreak of the
same character in Washington Territory, are
sion lest the bitterness of feeling against
the Mongolian race the Pacific
slope may find vent in similar
lawless demonstrations. All the power of this
government should be exerted to maintain the
amplest good faith toward China In the treat
ment of these men, and the iniexbe sternness
OF the law IN bringing the wrong doers to JUS
tice should be insisted upon. Every effort has
been made by this government to prevent these
violent outbreaks and to aid the representatives
of China in their investigation Of the outrages,
and 1T Is but for US to say that they are trace
able to the lawlessness of men not citizens Of
the United States and engaged in competition
with Chinese labor. Race prejudice is the chief
it exists in large part of our
domain, jeopardizng our domestic peace and the
good relationship we strive to maintain with
China. The admitted right of government to
prevent the influx of elements hostile TO its in
ternal peace and security may not be ques-
toned, even where there is no treaty stipulation
on the subject. That the exclusion of Chinese
labor is demanded in other countries where like
conditions prevail is strongly evidenced in the
Dominion of Canada. where Chinese immigra-
ton is now regulated by laws moro exclusive
than our own. If existing laws are inadequate
to compass the end in view, shall be prepared
to give earnest consideration to any further
measures, within the treaty limits, which the
wisdom Of Congress may devise.
The independent State of the Congo has been
organized government under the soveignty
of mis- Majesty the King of the Belgians, who
assumes its chief magistracy in his personal char
acter only, without making the new state q de-
tendency on Belgium. 1t is fortunate that this
benighted region has been placed under quicken
ing civilization; this fact is due to the benef-
cence and philanthropic spirit of this monarch,
and the movement should have the advantage
and security of benevolent supervision. The
action taken by this government last year in be-
ing the first to recognize the flag of the Interna-
tional Association of the Congo has been fol-
lowed by formal recognition Of the new nation
ality which succeeds to its sovereign power. A
conference of delegates of the principal CONNER
cial nations was held at Berlin last winter to
discuss methods whereby the Congo basin might
be kept open to the worlds trade. Delegates at
tended on behalf of the United States on the un-
derstanding that their part should be merely de-
Lucrative, without imparting to the results any
binding character, SO far the United States
were concerned. This reserve was due to the
indisposition of this government to share in any
disposal by an international congress of Jurisdic-
tional questions in remote foreign territories.
The results of the conference were embodied in
a formal act OF the nature of an international
convention. which laid down certain obligations
purporting to be binding on the signatories,
subject to ratification within one year. Not
withstanding the reservation under which the
delegates of the United States attended, their
signatures were attached to the general act
in the same manner as those Of
the plenipotentiaries of other governments,
thus making the United States appear, without
reserve qualification, as sgnatories to joint
international engagement imposing on the sign.
ers the conservation of the territorial integrity
of distant regions where we have no established
interests or control. This government does not,
however, regard its reservation Of liberty OF
action III the premises as at all impaired. and,
holding that an engagement to share in the obli-
CATION of enforcing neutrality in the remote val.
&c %ba I,ac oil; ,b
responsibilities we are not in position to assume.
l abstain from asking the sanction
of thee Senate to that general act.
The correspondence will be laid before
you, and the instructive and interesting report
of the agent sent by this government to the
Congo country, and his recommendations for
the establishment of commercial agencies on the
African coast, are also submitted for your con-
sideratiou.
The commission appointed by my predecessor,
last winter, to visit the Central and South
American cou n tries and report on the methods
of enlarging the commercial relations of the
United States herewith has submitted reports,
which will be laid before you
No opportunity has been omitted to testify the
friendliness of this government toward Corea,
whose entrance into the family of treaty powers
the United States were the first to recognize. I
regard with favor the application made by the
Corean government to be allowed to employ
American officers military instructors, to which
the assent of Congress becomes necessary, and
am happy to say this request has the concurrent
sanction of China and Japan.
The arrest and imprisonment of Julio r. San
tos. citizen of the United States, by the au-
thorities of Ecuador, gave rise to contention
with that government, in which mis- right to be
released, or to have a speedy and impartial trial
on announced charges, and with all guarantees
of defense stipulated by treaty, was insisted
upon by US. After an elaborate correspondence
and repeated md earnest representations on our
part, Mr. Santos was, after an alleged trial and
conviction. eventually included in general de-
cree of amnesty, and pardoned by the Ecuador
ian executive and released. leaving the question
of his American citizenship denied by the Ecua-
dorian government, but insisted upon by our
own.
The amount adiudged due the late French
and American claimants on account Of injuries
suffered by them during the war OF secession