Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-07

ciprscity treaty OF 1873, those is ands on The
highway OF Oriental and Austria asian traffic,
are virtually an OUTPOST II American COM
Inerce and a stepping stone to the growing
trade OF the Pacific. The POlynesian Island
groups have been 50 absorbed by other aud
more powerful governments, tnat the
Hawaiian Islands are left almost alone in the
enjoyment OF their autonomy. which II is
I important for us should be preserved Our
trra Y is now term mated on one years notice,
but proposition TO anrogate It would be. n
m5 judgment. most ii-advised. The para
mount influence we have there acquired once
reilnqulshed could only with difficulty be re-
gained. and a valuable ground of vantage
for ourselves might be converted into a
stronghold for our commercial competitors.
l earnestly recommend that the existing
treaty stipulatlOns be extended for a further
term OF seven years. a recently signed treai y
TO this end now before
the Senate. The importance of tele-
graphlc communication between those islands
looked.
The question OF a general revision of the
treatlts OF Japan is again under discussio n
AZ Ioklo. As the nrst 70 open relations with
thar EN- Dire, and as the nation in most direct
commercial relations with JaDan, the United
states nave lost no opportunity TO testify
their consistent friendship hY supporting the
just claims OF Japan to autonomy and indie
pendcnce among nations. A treaty OF extra
dltlon between the United States and Japan.
tne nrst concluded by that empire, has been
latel. proclaimed
sIBERIA'S WEAKNESS.
The weakness Of Liberia and the difficulty
OF maintaining effective sovereignty over its
outlying districts have exposed that republic
10 encroachment. 1t cannot be forgotten that
this distant community is an Of-shoOt of our
own system, owing its origin to tue associated
benevOlence Of American citizens whose praise
worthy efforts to create nucleus of civIliZi-
tion in the dark continent ha e cJmnanded
respect and sympathy everywhere. special
IN TINS country. Although a formal protect
crate over Liberia Is contrary to our tradi-
tlonal policy the moral right aHd duty of the
nltGd tates to assist in al proper WAYS in
the maintenance OF its integrity Is obvious
ana mas been consistently announced dur
Ing nearly half century. | recommend
thdt, IN the reorganization of our navy, a
small vessel no longer found adequate to our
needs, be presented 10 Liberia. to be mploved
by 1t IN the protection Of coastwise revenues.
MExICo's TREATIES.
The encouraging development Of beneficial
and Intimate relation between the United
sta e. and Mexico, which has been so marked
thin the past few years l. at once the ucc
sion OF Generalization and of friendly solicit
tude. earnestly renew my former repre-
sentation of The need of speedy legislation hy
congress to carry into effect the reciprocity
commercial convention of January ~.
1888. Our commercial treaty of 1881
win Mexico was terminated according to It's
provisions in 1881. Upon notification given
~ Mexico in pursuance of her announced
policy of recasting all her commercial treaties,
Mexico has since concluded with several for
elgn governments new treaties of commerce
and nayl cation, defining alien rights Of trade,
property aud residence, treatment of ship
ping. consular privileges and the like. Our
yet uneXcCuted reciprocity convention OF
1888 covers none OF these points, tue settle
menJ OF which IS 80 necessary to good re a.
tionship. propose to initiate with Mexico
negotiations for a new and enlarged treaty of
commerce and navigation.
CUTTINGS INCARCERATION.
In compliance with resoiut on of the
Senate, communicated to that body on Aug.
last, and also to the House of Representa-
tlves, the correspondence IN the case of A. X
Cutting, an American citizen then imprisoned
in Mexico charged wi h The commission of
penal Ofense In Texas, of which an American
citizen was the object After demand mad
been made for his release The charge against
him was amended so as to include a
violation Of the Mexican law within Mexican
territory. This joinder of alleged offenses-
one within and the other eXterior-induced m
to order a special investigation of the case,
pending which Mr.. Cutting was released.
Tne incident has, however. disclosed a claim
OF jurisdic ion by Mexico, novel in our his
tory, whereby any Uffense committed any
where by a foreigner, penal in t place of IFS
commission, aud OF which Mexican il the
object, may, If the offender be found IN Mex
leo. be there tried ana punished in conformity
with Mexican laws. This jurisdiction was
sustained by the courts of Mexico IN the Cut
ting case and approved by the executive
branch OF that government upon the author.
ity OF a Mexican statute. The Appellate
Court in releasing Mr.. Cutting decided that
the abandonment of the complaint by the
Mexican citizeus aggrieved by the alleged
crime "a lloelous puNlcatlonl removed the
basis Of further prosecution, and also declared
Justice to have been satisfied by the enforce
ment OF a small part OF the original sentence
The admission of such preten,ion would be
attended with serious results, invasive of The
jurisdiction of this government, and highly
dangerous to our citizens in foreign lands
Therefore | have denied it and protested
- at Tod
warranted by the principles of law
and international usages. A sovereign
has jurisdiction OF offences which take effect
within his Territory, although concerted or
commenced outside OF II, but tue right Is de-
niel of any foreign sovereign to punish a
citizen of the Uni, Ell States for an oifense
consumated on our soil IN violation OF our laws,
even though IN Unense OeaGa nsJ 4 subject or
cltiZen of such sovereign. The American
statute in question makes the clam broadly
aud the principle If conceded would crea a
dual r. spOnoibilILy in the citizen and lead t }
ineXtrlcable confusion, destructive of that GER
essential of liberty. When citizens
Of the United States voluntarily go into a
foreign country they must abide by the laws
there IN force. and Will not be protected by
their own government from the 'nsequences
of an oGense against tho e laws committed ia
such foreign country. But he wdtchlul ca o
and interest OF this government over its citi-
Zens are not relinq uished because they have
gone abroad, aud II charged with crime COM
miLtu III lnb iOFclRn lduu, a Idlr anu OIGn
trial conducted with decent regard for justice
ami humanity will be demanded for them.
With less than this this gov
eminent will not be content when the
life or liberty OF its citizens Is at stake.
Whatever the degree to which extra terrific
rial criminal juris dlction may have been for
merry allowed by consent and reciprocal
agreement among certain of tine European
states, no such doctrine or practice was
ever known TO the Jaws OF this country, or of
that from which our institutions have ma My
been derived. In the case of Mexico there
are reasons especially strong for perfect har-
mony in the mutual exercise OF jurisdiction.
Nature has made us irrevocably neigh
Oors, and wisdom and kind feel
ing should make US friends. The over
flow of capital and enterprise from the
United states Is a potent factor in assisting
n development OF the resources Of Mexico
and building up the prosperity of both coun-
OF apprehension for the security OF person
an properly should be removed. and trust
that N the interests OF good neighborhOod the
statute referred to Will be 50 modified as TO
eliminate the present poss bilitles OF danger
TO the peace OF the two countries.
COMPLAINT OF THE NETHERLANDS.
The government of the Netherlands has ex-
hibited concern IN relation to certain features
OF our tarIh laws, which are supposed by
| them to be almeu at n Class Of tobacco pro-
| duced in the Dutch East Indies. Comment
would seem unnecessary upon the unwisdoln
! OF legislation appearing TO have speci u ma
tiunai discrimination for its objects. which,
though unintentional, may give rise TO inju-
rious retaliation.
al "A igHT N srn