Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-10
THEIOSEFA AFFAIR.
No Ground on Which to Base Quarrel With
the Spanish Officials.

the spanish OmclaIS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. PSF is learned at
the department of state that the case of
the brig Josefa against the Spanish
government for indignities, etc., alleged
TO have been imposed by thu customs
officers of Porto Rico, has been
Under investigation sinse July, 1887, and
since that time the state department has
been endeavoring to secure remittance of
the fine that mad be en- placed on the vessel.
The Spanish laws against smuggling
contain provision that if vessel comes
into a Spanish port With less cargo en-
board than her manifest shows, she will
be liable 10 fine of $500 for every pack
age missing. This ships manifest men
TONED twenty packages of corn starch
that could not be found and a fine of
four thousand dollars was accordingly
levied on her. It is the custom
to remit fine Il reasonable
excuse can be given, bat in this case the
missing packages could not be accounted
for. 0ue defense was an dvanced that the
goods had been put by mistake on the
bark Josephus, which lay next TO the
Josefa in New York. but the department
upon inVestig eating the case learned
that the Josephus had no
corn starch on board at that
time, and did notlay next TO the Josefa in
loading. In the correspondence one of
the officers of the Josefa admitted the
mistake may have been caused by care
less receipting for goods. In view of the
failure of the ship to explain the absence
OF the packages, the department could
see no ground on which so base a quar-
rel with the Spanish custom Office, and
the case has been dropped.
Assvoting strength of over 10000, and
an estimated population of 10000 intel
ligent, cultured and highly civilized
Americans, constitute oar righteous de-
mand for the full and free exercise of
the rights of American citiz snshIp. 1t
pollard to coa prehend the workings OF a
political policy that DISTINGUISHES large
is dies of The abiest and most progressive
citizens of a nation because they change
their place of residence from weil-set-
tied and overcrowded communities to be-
come pioneers in developing other por-
tions of the same country, And after the
pioneers are followed up by capital and
workers in all the pursuits of mankind
and become self-supporting and main
tain local government, superior. IN most
deny them the rights that newly landed
emigrant in Castle Garden has for the
asking is ore of the mysteries OF govern
ment. To people who ha re been in the
Territories for a major part OF a lifetime,
and have seen Governors, Judges, Score
taries and other officers sent here, as 80 a
conquered province to execut our laws,
cen but imagine the freedom and benefits
that will accrue froza home 'I7le. As a
Stste, capital will be anxious tt find in
vestments in working our mines, stock
ing osr valleys and grazing lands with
herds and fiocks, aiding farm to set
tie on and cultivate many an acre that is
now valuelees. With every dollar Of capt
tai comes workingman to do ! is part
lin making the dollar productive, and SO
with both the money aud the muscle we
will soon create g commonwealth that will
become a pride in the sisterlood of
States that comprise the nation.