Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-12-10


past fishing season may be fully disclosed and
the action and the attention Of the admin
islration closely comprehended. More e1-
tended reference is not deemed necessary In
this communication
WITH OTHER POWERS.
Special Attention Directed to the
Hawaiian Islands and Japan.
Tho recommendation submitted last year,
that provision be made for preliminary
reconnaissance of the conventional boundary
line between Alaska and British Columbia, is
renewed. express my unhesitating convlc-
ton that the intimacy of relation with Hawaii
should be emphasized. As = result
of the reciprocity treaty of 1875,
those islands. on the highway of
Oriental and Australian traffic are virtually an
outpost of American commerce and stepping
stone to the growing trade of the Pacific. The
Poynesian leland groups have been so alb
sorbcd by other and more powerful govern
ments, that tn Hawaii Islands are left almost
alone in the enjoyment of au tonomy which it is
important for US should the preserved. Our
treaty is now terminable on one years notice,
but propositions to abroga.e it would be in my
judgement, most illadvised. The para
mount influence we have there acquired, once
relinquished, could only with difficulty be
regained, and a valuable coign Of vantage for
ourselves might be converted
into stronghold for our commercial competi
tors. earnestly recommend that existing
treaty stipulations be extended for further
term Of seven years. A recently signed treaty
to this end is now before the senate. The i'm.
pertance Of telegraphic communication be-
tween these islands and the United States
should not be overlooked.
The question Of general revision OF the
TREATIES OF JAPAN.
is again under discussion at Toxic. AS the
first open relations with that empire and as
the nation is in most direct commercial rela-
ton with Japan, the United States has lost no
opportunity to testify their consistent friend
ship by supporting the just claims Of Japan to
autonomy and independence among nations.
treaty Of extradtion between the United
States and Japan, the first conducted by that
empire, has been lately proclaimed. The
weakness Of Liberia and the diff
Guilty Of maintaining effective aover-
eighty over it's outlying districts
have exposed that republic to entertainment.
1t cannot be forgotten that this distinct CON-
munity is an otfshoot Of our own system,
owing its origin to the associated benevolence
Of American citizens, whose praiseworthy
efforts to create Nucleus of civilization in
the Dark Continent have commanded respect
and sympathy everywhere. especially In this
country. Although formal protectorate over
Liberia is contrary to 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 o5vions, and has
been consistently announced during
nearly half century. I recommend
that, in the reorganization of our navy, small
vessel. 10 longer found adequate to our needs,
be presented to Liberia 10 be employed by 1t
in the protection of its coast wise revenues.
MEXICO.
The encouraging development OF beneficial
and intimate relations between the Cni'ed
States and Mexico which has been so marked
within the past few years, is at once the Occa-
sion Of conyratulation aud Of friendly solicl.
tude urgently renew my former repre-
sentation OF the need of speedy Legislation by
congress to carry into effect the reciprocity
commercial convention OF January 20,
1888. Our commercial treaty OF 1881
with Mexico was terminated according to its
provisions, n SS1, upnn notification given by
Mexico III pursuance OF her announced policy
of recasfing all her commercial treaties. Mex
leo has since concluded with several foreign
governments new treaties OF commerce and
navigation defining alien rights Of traGe, prop
erty and residence, treatment Of shipping, con.
sular privileges and the like. Our yet pncx-
ecuted reciprocity convention OF 1853 covers
none of these points, the settlement of which
is necess ary to good relationship. propose
and changed treaty Of commerce and naviya-
ton.
CUTTINGS CASE.
In compliance with resolution OF the senate
I communicated to that body on August 2 last,
and also to the house of representatives, the
correspondence in the case Of A. n. Cutting,
an American citizen then Imprisoned in Mexico
charged with the commission OF penal Of
tense in Texas, OF which a Mexican citizen
tho ftar dom had M aCe
for his release the charge against HIM was
amended so as to include a violation Of Mex
lean law within Mexican territory. This
joinder of alleged offences, one within and
the other exterior to Mexico, induced me
to order special investigation OF the case
pending when MI. Cutting was released. The
incident has, however, disclosed claim OF
jurisdiction by Mexico novel in our history
| whereby any offense committed anywhere, aud
of which . Mexican is the object, may, If the
offender be found in Mexico, be there tried
and punished in conformity to Mexican laws
Jurisdiction was sustained by the courts Of
Mexico in the Cutting case and approved by
the executive branch Of the government. Upon
the authority Of Mexican statutes the appellate
| court in releasing Mr.. Cutting. decided that
| the abandonment Of the complaint by the
| Mexican citizens aggrieved by the alleged
| crime "a libelous publication). removed the
| basis Of further prosecution aud also declared
justice to have been satisfied by the enforce
meut Of small part of the original sentence.
The admission of such pretension would be
attended with serious results, invasive OF the
| Jurisdiction of the government and highly
dangerous to our citizens in foreign lands.
! Therefore have denied it, and protested
against its attempted exercise as I'M
warranted by the principle of
| law and International usages. A sovereign
has jurisdiction of offences which take effect
within his territory. although concerted or
| commenced outside it; but the right is denied
| OF any foreign sovereign to punish q citizen OF
| the United States for an ofense committed on
| our soil, even though the offense De against
subject or citizen Of such sovereign. The
Mexican statute in question makes the claim
| bodily, and the principle, II conceded. would
create Qua! responsibility in the citizen and
| lead to confusion OF that certainty In law
which is
AN ESSENTIAL OF LIBERTY.
When citizens OF the United States voluntar-
| lily 90 into \ fereign country, they must abide
by the laws there in force, and viii not be
protected by their own government from the
| consequences of an offense against those laws
committed IN such foreign country. But the
! wate hful care and interest OF this government
| over its csszens are not relinqulshed because
| they have gone abroad, AID il charged with
crime committed in the foreign land, fs'r
and open trisl, conducted with decent regard