The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-09

Judgment, most Ill advised. The paramount in
nuence we have acquired once relinquished
could only with difficulty be regained and q val
liable ground of vantage for ourselves might be
converted into stronghold for our commercial
competitors. l earnestly recommend that the
existing treaty stipulatiOns be extended for a
farther term Of seven years. A recently signed
treaty 10 this end is now before the Senate. The
importance of ielegraphic communication be-
tween those islands and the United States should
not be overlooked.
JAPAN AND LIBERIA.
The question OF a general revision of the
treaties of Japan is again under discussion at
Toxic. As the first TO open relations with that
empire and as the nation IN most direct COM
mercial relations with Japan, the United States
have lost no opportunity to testify their consis-
tent friendship by supporting the just claims Of
Japan to autonomy and independence among
nations. treaty OF extradtion between the
United States and Japan. the first concluded by
that empire, has been lately proclaimed.
The weakness of Liberia and the difficulty of
maintaining effective sovereignty over its out
lying districts have exposed that republic to en-
croachmeni. II cannot be forgotten that this
distant community is off-hoot of our own
system, owing its origin to the associated benev-
olence OF American citizens, whose praise
worthy efforts TO create nucleus of civilization
in the Dark Continent have commanded re-
spect AMI sympathy everywhere, especially in
tins country. Although a formal pruttcto
over Liberia is contrary to our traditional policy,
the moral right ana duty oi the United States to
assist in all proper ways in the maintenance of
its integrity is obvious and has been consistently
announced during nearly half century. re-
commend that out of the organic iton of our
navy small vessel, longer found ADEQUATE
To our needs be presented to Liberia. TO be en-
ployed by 1t IN the protection of coast ise re-
venues.
OUR MEXICAN RELATIONS.
The enc puraging development Of beneficial
and intimate relations between the United States
and Mexico, which has been So markell within
the past few years. is al once the occasion of
cnngratu'atIon and OF friendly snlicitude ear
nestly renew nav former representation of The
need OF speedy legislation by Congress to carry
INTO effect the reciprocity comm rcal convention
vi january ~, 1855. Our commercial lreaIv of
1881 with Mexico was terminated according to
its provisions in 1881, upon notification given NV
Mexico in pursuance OF her announced policy OF
recasung all her commercial treaties Mexico
has since concluded with several foreign govern.
ments new treaties OF commerce and navigation
defining alien Fights of trade, property and resi-
dence, treatment OF shipping, consular privileges
and the Ike Our yet unexpired reciprocity
convention of 1888 covers none tf these poin,s
the settlement OF which is so necessary to good
relationship. propose 10 initiate with Mexico
negotiations for n-w. enlarged treaty of COM
merce and navigation
In compliance with resolution of the Senate
Communicated to that body on Aug 2. last and
also 10 the House OF Representatives the cores
pondence in the case of A. K. Cutting, an Ameri-
can cltlZen hen imprisoned in NJ .xicu CHARGED
with the commission OF penal offence in Texas
of which Mexican citizen was the object. AZ
ter the demand had been made for his release
the Charge against him was amended so as to in
clude a violation al Mexican law, within Mexi.
can territory. This joinder of alleged offences
one within and the other exterior, induced me
to order IA special invest CATION of the case
pending which Mr.. Cutting was released. The
incident has, however, disclosed claim of uris
diction by Mexico, novel in our history whereby
any offence, committed anywhere by foreigner
penal in the place of its commission, and of
which u Mexican is the object, may, if the
offender be found in Mexico, be there tried and
punished in conformity with Mexican laws
This ju isdcton was sustained by The courts of
Mexico in The Cutting Case and approved by the
executive branch of that government upon the
authority OF Mexican statute The appellate
court in releasing MIR. Cutting decided that the
Abandonment of the complaint by the Mexican
citizen aggrieved by the allie, ed crime "a lib-lous
publIcdiOn) removed the basis of further prose
culion, and also declared justice TO have been
satisfied by the enforcement of small part Of
the original sentence. The admission IF such
preiensun wnuld be attended with serious re-
ment and highly dangerous to our citizens in for
egn lands. Therefore have denied it, and pro,
tested against its attempted exercise as unwar
ranted by The principles Of law and international
usages. sovereign has jurisdiction of Offences
which take effect within his territory, although
concocied or commenced outside OF It, but the
right is denied oi any foreign sovereign ta pun-
ish citizen of the United States tor AN offence
consummaled on our soil IN violation OF our
laws, even though the offence be against a sub
ject or citizen oi such sovereign. The Mexican
statute in question makes the claim broadly
and the principle, it conceded, would create
a dual responsibility in the ciliZrn and lead
to ineXtricabe 'nfusiOn, destructive Of that GER
talnty in the law which is an essen ial of liberty
When ciiizens of the United States voluntarily
go into foreign country they must abide by the
laws there in force, and will not be protected by
their own government from the CONSEQUENCES of
an offence against those laws committed in such
foreign country. But the waichiul care and in
terest of ihi- government over its citizens are
not relnquished because they have gone abroad,
and if charged with crime committed in the for
eign land II fair and open trial, conducted with
decent regard for justice and humanity will be
demanded for them. With less Than this the
government will not be content when the life or
liberty of its citizens is al stake. Whatever the
degree 10 which extra-territOrnl criminal juris-
diction may have been formerly allowed by con-
sent or reciprocal agreement among certain of
the European Staies no such doctrine or prac
tice was ever known to the laws of this country
or Of that from which our institutions have
mainly been derived.
In the case OF Mexico, there are reasons es
pecialy strong for perfect harmony in the mu-
tual exercise of jurisdiction Nature has made
US irrevocably neighbors, and wisdom and kind
feeling should make US friends The overflow of
capital and enterprise from the United States is
potent factor in assisting the development of the
resources of Mexico. and building up the prosper
ity of both countries To assist this good work
all grounds of apprehension for the security of
person and property should be removed, and
trust that in the interests OF good neighborhood
the statute referred to will be 80 modified as TO
eliminate the present possibilities of danger TO
the peace OF the two countries
THE TOBACCO TARIFF
The government of The Netherlands has ex-
hi5ted concern in relation to certain features of
our tariff laws, which are supposed by them to
be aimed at a class of tobacco produced in the
Dutch East Indies. Comment would seem un-
necessary upon the unwisdom of legislation ap-
pearing 10 have a special national discrimination
for its object which, although unintentional, may
give rise 10 injurious retaliation.
The establishment less than four years ago of
a legation ut Teheran is bearing fruit in the in
terost exhibited by the Shah's government in the
industrial activity of the Unied States and the
opportunities Of beneficial inierchanGes.
Stable government is now happily restored in
Peru BY the election OF Constitutional Presi
dent, and period of rehabilitation is entered
upon, but the recovery is necessarily slow from
the exhaustion caused by the late war and civil
disturbances A convention to adjust by arb-
and 10 under consideration.
Tho naval nfic.r ho hnra IN 2ihoy;a ha to,