Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-12-17

Lilioukalana, is seeking to promote
closer commercial relations with the
United States. Surveys, for the much
needed submarine cable from our Pa.
cific coast to Honolulu are in progress,
and this enterprise should have tine suit
able promotion of the two governments
made for improving the harbor of Pearl
river and the equipping it as naval sta
ton.
The Arbitration Committee,
formulated by the international Ameri-
can conference lasped by reason of the
failure to exchange ratifications fully
within the limit of time provided; but
several of the governments concerned
have expressed desire to save this i'm
portant result of the conference by an
extension of the period. 1t is, in my
judgement, incumbent on the United
States, to conserve the influential initi-
ative it has taken in this measure by
ratifying the instrument, and by advo-
eating the proposed extension Of the
time for exchange. These views have
been made known to the other sigma
tories. This government has found oc-
casion to express, in a friendly spirit.
but with much earnestness, to the gov
ernment of the czar, its serious concern
because of the harsh measures now being
enforced against
The Hebrews in Russia.
By the revival of anti-semitic laws,
long in allegiance great numbers of those
| unfortunate people have been constrained
| to abandon their homes and leave the
empire by reason of the impossibility Of
| finding subsistence within the pale to
which it is sought to confine them. The
immigration of these people to the Unit
| ed States, many other countries being
closed to them, is largely increasing and
| is likely to assume proportions which
may make it difficult to find homes and
employment for them here and to seri-
ously affect the labor market. 1t is es-
| timated that over one million will be
forced from Russia within a few years.
The Hebrew is never a beggar; he has
always kept the law--life by toil--often
under severe end oppressive civil restric-
tions. 1t is also true that no race, sect
or class has more fully cared for its own
| than the Hebrew race. But the sudden
transfer of such multitude, under con-
ditions that tend to strip them of their
small accumulations and to depress their
energies and courage, is neither good for
them nor for us. The Punishment,
whether by direct decree or by not less
certain indirect methods, of so large
number OF men and women is not local
question. A decree to leave one country
in the nature of things, in order to en-
ter another-some other-this ..consi;i-
GRAFTON, as well as the suggestions of hu
manity, furnish us ample ground for the
remonstrances which we have presented
| 20 L. L
for that government cannot fail to give
the assurance that our Representations
are those of a sincere well-wisher.
Nicaragua Canal.
The annual report of the Maritime
that much costly and necessary prepara
tory work has been done during TIL,
year in the construction of shops. rail
road track, and harbor piers. and brea',
waters. and that the work of canal co:
istruction had made some success. !.
deem it to be a matter of the hi1.iss
concern to the Unite:i States that tn
canal connecting the waters of IN.
Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and giving
to us a short water commune alton be
tween our ports upon those two grea
seas. should be speedily constructed
| dilsl at tilc SlldiiCSt pldCtiCdDlC ililiit VI
cost. The gain in freights to the people
and the direct saving to the government
of the United States, in the use of nava
vessels would pay the entire cost of thi
work within a short series of years. A
guaranty of the bonds of the canal com
pany, to an amount necessary to thu
completion of the canal, | think, be 81
given as not to inyolre any serious rlsl
of ultimate loss.
The Island of Navassa,
in the West Indian group, has, under th'
provisions of title u, of the revised stat
utes, been recognized by the presiden
as appertaining to the United States. L
contains guano deposits, is owned b,
the Navassa Phosphate company, ant
occupied solely by its employees. In Sep
tember, 1899, revolt took place among
these laborers, resulting in the killing 0
some of the agents Of the company
caused, as the laborers claimed, by crue
treatment. These men were arrestet
and tried in the United States courts a
Baltimore, as if the offenses had beel
committed on board l. ,rchant vesse
of the United States on the high seas
There appeared on the trial, and other
wise came to me, such evidences of tn
bad treatment of the men, that in con
| VI ILLS dill VI JllC 1dSU tiio
the men had no access to any public OF
.. ficer or tribunal for protection or the re
dress of their wrongs, commuted tn
death sentences that had been passed b.
!, the court upon three of them. In Apri
last my attention was again called t
this island, and to the unregulated con
dition of things there, by letter from
cOlored laborer, who complained that h
was wrongfully detained upon the islam
+ by the phosphate company after the e1
: pirat ION of his contract for service. 1
naval vessel was sent to examine into tn
case IF this man and generally into tn
condition of things on the island.
was found that the laborer referred
had been detained beyond the contrae
: limit, and that condition of revol
t again existed among the laborers.
. I recommend legislation that sha
: place labor contracts upon this an
{, other islands, giving the relation tina
3 Navassa has to the United States, unde
l the supervision of court. commissions
n and that shall provide, at the expense G
4 the owners, an officer to reside upon tn
t islands with power to judge, and adjus
s disputes and to enforce a just and human
: treatment of the employees.
International Copyright
has been secured in accordance with tn
!, conditions of the act of March 8, 1S9
!, with Belgium, France Great Britain an
a the British possessions, and Switzerland
the laws of those counteries permittin
> to our citizens the benefit of copyrigh
! ON substantially the same basis as the
. own citizens or subjects. With Ge
q many special convention has been n
:, gOtiated upon this subject, which Wi
!, bring that country within the reciproc
~ benefits of our legislation.
= The general interest in the operation
" " of the treasury department has bee
= much augmented during the last year
reason of the conflicting prediction
which accompanied and followed tt
tariff and other Legislation of the la
u congress
y Affecting the Revenues
4 as to the results of this legislation upc
- the treasury and upon the country