Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1886-12-16

| islands have been soDabsorbed by other and
more powerful governments that the Ha-
in the enjoyment of their pGv leges. which
! it ia Important for should be preserved
years notice but the proposition to
abrogate it wouId be in my Judgment
most jIi advised The paramount influence
could only with dlfiicl9xs be rega ned. and "a
valuable ground of vantage for ourselves
might be converted info a strongh old for our
commercial compel tors ] earnestly recon-
| mend that the ex sting treaty stipulnt ons be
a recently signed treaty TO this end is now
before the Senate.
J'be Importance oftelegrapH;c communica-
ton between these islands and the United
States should not be overlooked.
JAPAN.
The question of a general rev sion of the
treaties of Japan is again under discussion
at To.s O, A S tue first to open relations Eltls
! that Empire and as ( 4e Nation in most di-
United States have lost opportunity to
testify Their consistent friepdshp b. sup
pOrtng the jus, clasmSsof Japan TO autonomy
and independence among Tat nns. AtreatT
or eXerad ton hetween rhe IN ted states and
Japan the first concludes by that Empire,
has been lately proclSam
LIBERIA.
The weakness of Liberia and the Difficulty
of mainta ming 8ffective sovereignty over its
outlyingd stricts have exposed that Republic
to encroachment. Ii can not he forgotten
Gus own system. Ow ng its r4Gn TO the as
secated benevolence CT Amer can citizens
whose pralS6Wortny EFFORTS 10 cre;lt6 u nu-
cleus OF civilization in the dark continent
have commanded respect and sympathy
everywhere. especially III this country, Al
though a formal prOtectorate over Llber
is contrary to Traditional policy, the
moral right and duty of the United States to
assist in all roper ways in the ma ntenance
of its integrity IS ObV GUS aud has been con-
stanflv announced dur ng half a century.
| recommend that in the reorganization of
our nav. Il small vessel no longer found ad-
equate to our needs be presented to Liberia
to lac employed by it in the protection OF its
MExICo-CUTTING's CASE.
The encourag ng development of benefc al
States and Mexico which has been so marked
within the past few months is at once the &C.
cas:on of congratulaton and friendly solicit
tude. ] urgently renew nv former repre-
sentation of the need of speedy Legislation
by Congress TO carry into effecC the recipro-
city conimerc AL convention of January 70,
1888. Our commercial treaty of 1881 with
Mexico was Terminated. according to its pro-
" sions in 1861. upon notification given by Mex
leo In 6ursuunce of her announced Lolicy
of recaSt ng all her commercial treat eS Mex
leo has 5 nee concluded with several foreign
Governments new treat cS of commerce and
navigation defining alien rights of trade,
property and residence, treatment of ship
ping, consular privileges and the Ike. Our
vet uneXecuted reciprocity convention of
1855 covers none of these points. the settle
tonship. propose to iniSiate with Mexico
negot 'ations for IL new and enlarged treaty
of commerce and navigation.
In compliance with Il resolution of the
Senate / communicated to that body on All
gust , last, and also TO the House OF Repre-
sentatives the correspondence in the case of
a X. Cutting. an American CITIZEN. then i'm.
pr. SOned i'll Mexico. charged with the COM
miss on of a penal otrense in Texas of VIII; ch
Mex can C zen was the object. After de-
mand had been made for his release. the
charge against him was amended so 10 in
Mexican terriuort. This joiner of alleged
OHenseS, one within, the other eXter or to,
tigation OF the case pending which Mr. Cut
ting was Recessed. The incident has. how
ever, disclosed Il ella m of jur sdiction bv
Mexico, novCd in our history, whereby any
o1cnse committed any where be- Al fore gner.
penal i'll the phase of its commission and of
which Mex can is the object, may. if the
and punished in conform ty with Mexican
laws T5is jurisdiction was sustal ned bv the
courts of Mexico in the Cutting case and ap-
proved by the executive branch of that Gov
eminent upon the authority OF Mexican
statute.
The court in releas'pS Mr. Cutting decided
that the abandonment OF the complaint by
tne Mexlcan cltTen aggrcred by Vie
alleged crime O. lihelous publ cation) re-
moved the basis of further prosecution and
also declared Justice TO have been satisfied
by the enfErcement OF small part of the
original sentence. The adm ssion OF such
pretenson would be attended with serious
results and invasive of the jur sd ct of
this Government and highly dangerous to
our C items an foreig n lands. Therefore, L
have den ed it and protested against Us at
tempted exercise unwarranted by the
principles of Jaw and international uSagcs.
4 sovereign has jur.sd ction of otfenses
which take effect within his Serritory al
though concocted or commenced outside of
it. but the right is denied OF any foreign SOW
ereign TO pun Sh citizen of the United
Suites for an Offcnse conSummated on our
soil in violation of our laws. even slough the
offense be against IL subject or C .tiZen OF
such sovereign The Mexican statute in
question makes the claim broadly, and the
respons bility i'm tho citizen and lead TO innlt-
tricabe confus on, destructive OF that GER
@'inty in the law which IS an essential Of b
erty. When citizens of the On ted States
voluntarily go INTO a foreign country, thef
must abide by the laws there IN force nith
will not be protected by Their own Govern
ment from the consequences of an oficn>e
aga INST those laws committed III such
foreign country, but watchful care
it's citizens are not relnqu shed because
they have gone abroad ana If charged with
and open tr nj conducted with decent regard
for just ce and humanity Will be demanded
for them With less than that this Govern
ment w II not be content when life or liberty
OF its cit zens is at stake. whatever the de-
been formerly allowed by consent sand re-
ciprocal agreement among certain of the
European states. No such doctr ne or prac
tice was ever known 10 the laws OF TINS
country or of$that from which our .nstitu-
uons have been ma MY derived.
In the case of Mex co. there are reasons
especially strang for perfect harmony in the
mutual exercise of jurisdiction. Nnture mas
made us lrrey5scabiy neigh0ors. and W sdom
and kind tees ny should make frien dS.
The overflow of caPital and enterprise from
the United States is a potent factor N assist
Mexico ard III building up the prosperity 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 neigh
borhood the statute referred 20 will be so
modified as to eliminate the present posi-
hiiities of danger toe the peace OF the two
countries,
1t appearing that the Government of Spain
did not extend TO the flag of the United
m 10 N me N
ciprocity requisite under our statutes for the
continuance of the suspensi on of scrmina-
tions aga INST the Span sh flag in our ports.
was constrained in October last TO rescind my
predecessors proclamation of February 4.
1854. permitting such suspension. An ar