Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-06
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Continued from First PINE

tCbHtinued from First Pare,
emphasized As a result OF the reciprocity treaty
OF 1919, those islands, on the highway of Oriental
and Austraasian traffic, are virtually an outpos,
OF American commerce and a stepping-stone tC
the growing trade OF the Pacific The Polynesiar
lsland groups have been so absorbed by other and
more powerful governments. that the Hawaiian
Islands are LETT almost alone In the enjoyment OF
tnelr autonomy, which IL Is important for u
should be preserved Our treaty IL now termin-
able on one years notice, but propositions to abro
gate II would b., in my judgment, most ill-advSed
The paramount Influence We have there ACQUIRED
once reinquished. could only with difflcuIty b.
regained, and valuable ground OF vantage fol
ourselves might be converted into q stronghold
recommend that the existing treaty stipulations
be extended for "a further term OF seven years. A
recently signed treaty TO this end is now before
the Senate.
The Importance of Geographic communication
between those islands and the United States
should not De overlooked.
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
Is the nation in most direct commercial relation
with Japan, the United States have lost no oppor-
tUnty To testify their consistent friendship by
supporting the just claims Of Japan to autonomy
and Independence among nations.
A treaty of extradition between the United
States and Japan, the first concluded BY that en-
pire, has been lately proclaimed.
oUR OBLIGATIONS TO LIBERIA.
The weakness OF Liberia and the difficulty OF
maintaining effective sovereignty over its outly-
ing districts, have exposed that republic to en-
croaehment. 1t cannot be forgotten that this
distant community is an offshoot Of our own sys-
tenn, owing its origin to the associated benevo-
lence OF American citizens, whose praisewOrthy
Efforts to create a nucleus OF civilization i'm the
dark continent have commanded respect and SYM
patty sverywnere, especially In this country.
contrary 10 our traditional policy, the moral right
and duty OF the United States to assist in all
proper ways In the maintenance OF its integrity Is
consistently
during nearly half century. / recommend that,
In the reorganization OF our navy, small vessel,
no longer found adequate TO our needs, be pre-
sented 10 Liberia To be employed by IL in the pro-
lection OF its coastwise revenues.
The encouraging development of beneficial and
intimate relations between the United states and
Mexico. which has been so marked within the past
lew years, Is at once the occasion OF cOngratula-
ton and OF friendly SOlicitude. / urgently renew
my former representation OF the need OF speedy
legislation by Congress to carry into effect the
20, 1883.
our commercial treaty of 1881 with Mexico was
terminated, according to its provisions, In 1881,
her announced policy OF recast1ng all her CONNER
cial treaties Mexico has since concluded with
several foreign governments new treaties OF COM
merce and navigation, defining alien rights OF
trade, property and residence treatment OF ship
ping consular prvieges and the Ike LIZ our yet
none OF these points, the settlement OF which is so
necessary TO good relationship. I propose to ini-
tate with Mexico negotiations for new and en-
Erged treaty OF commerce and navigation.
THE CUTTING CASE.
In compliance with resolution OF the Senate
communicated 10 that body on August cd last and
also to the House of Representatives, the CORE
spondence In the case OF A. K. Cutting, an Ameri-
can citizen, then imprisoned in Mexico, charged
with the commission OF penal OfrenSe In Texas
of which a Mexican citizen was the object
After demand had been made for his release the
charge against him was amended so as to include
Violation OF Mexican law within Mexican terri
tory.
This joinder Of alleged ofYenses, one within and
the other exterior TO Mexico. induced me to order
special 1nvestiga5ion Of the case, pending which
The incident has however, disclosed a claim Of
whereby any ofrense, committed anyWhere ' by 4
foreigner, penal In the place OF its commission,
and q which Mexican Is the object, may, If the
onender be found In Mexico, be there tried and
punished In conformity with Mexican laws.
This jurisdiction was sustained by the courts Of
executive branch OF That government. upon the
authority OF a Mexican statute. The appellate
court, In releasing Mr.. Cutting, decided that the
citizen aggrieved by the alleged crime "a nbelOus
publcatiOn). removed the basis Of further prose-
isfied by the enforcement OF small part Of the
original sentence.
MExICOS PRETENsIoNS rNADMssIBLE.
The admission Of such pretenSiOn would be at
tended with serious results, invasive Of the jurs-
dicttOn OF this government, and highly dangerous
denied IT, and protested against its attempted
exercise, as unwarranted by the principles OF law
and International usages
A sovereign has jurisdiction Of ofYenses which
take enect within his territory although concocted
or commenced outside OF it, but the right is denied
OF any foreign sovereign to punish citizen OF the
United States for an Onense consummated on oul
onense be against subject or citizen OF such
sovereign. The Mexican statute In question makes
1ne RS5nep
and lead TO fnextrfcable confusion, destructive OF
that certainty in the law which Is essential OF
liberty.
When citizens Of the United States voluntarily &c
into foreign country they must abide by the laws
there IN force, and win not be protected by their
oneDse against those laws committed in such
foreign country but watchful care and interest OF
pushed because they have gons abroad; and II
charged with crime committed in the forsign
land fair ~, and open trial conducted with decent
manded for them. With less than this Govern
ment win not be content when the Life or liberty
whatever the degree to which extraterrftorfal
criminal jurisdiction may have been formerly al
certain OF the European states, no such doctrine
or practice was ever known TO the laws Of this
country or OF that from which our institutions
In the case OF Mexico there are reasons
especially strong for perfect harmony In the
mutual exercise OF jurisdiction. Nature has made
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 In
building up the prosperity OF both countries.
10 assist THIS good work all grounds OF appre-
hension for the security Of person and property
should be removed; and trust that In the inter-
eStS OF good neighbOrhOOd the statute referred 70
Will be so modified as to eliminate the present
possibilities OF danger to the peace OF the two
countries
The government Of the Netherlands has ex.
htbted concern In relation TO certain features OF
our tartn laws, which are supposed by them TO bt
aimed at class OF tobacco produced in the Dut n
East Indies Comment would seem unnecessary
upon the unWfSdOm OF legislation appearing &c
have special national discrimination for its Oh
jet which, although unintentional. may give ris4
10 injurious retaliation.
The establishment, less than four years ago. OF a
legation at Teheran Is bearing frut In the interest
trfal activity OF the United states and the OppOr
tunlties VI beneficial tnterchangeS
Stable government IS now happily restored In
Peru oy the election OF constitutional President
and . period OF rehabilitation Is entered upon
But the recovery Il necessarily slow from the ey
haustton caused by the late war; and civil disfurh
anceS A convention To adjust, by arbitration
Claims OF our ~ lens has been proposed and i,
under considerati.a
The naval oficer who bore 70 Siberia the testi
the aid given TO the Jeanette survivors, has snc
cessfuily accomplished his mission. HIS interest
Ing report VIII be submitted IL Is pIeasant n
Know that this mark OF appreciation has been wei
coined oy the Russian government and peOpk. a
oents the tramuonA friendship OF the two cOun
trteA
TIE SAMOAN AFFAIR
Civil perturbations In the samoan Islands hayt
during the past few years been source or consi,l
eFablN ef0ha yrassmenf IN tho ,hroa ,rcxarrrno,..