The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-10
THURSDAY [

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LEGISLATION as on that of the person chosen and
which, II admitted, would practically deOar The
selection OF any representative 50 long as exist
! ing laws remain In force.
You will be called oh to consider the exped-
iency OF making special provision by law for the
| and laborers in connection with ihe exhibit of
Chinese Industries at the approaching Columbian
| Exposition. regard 1t as desirable that the
Chinese exhibit be facilitated Ia every proper
| way.
A question has arisen with the government Of
| Spain touching the rights of American citizens
in the Caroline Islands. Our citizens there lJng
| prior TO the confirmation Of Spans claim TO the
| islands, had secured by settlement and purchase
| certain rights 10 the recognition and mainte-
| nance of which the faith Of Spain was pledged.
| have had reason within the past year very
strongly 70 protest against the ial5are 70 carry
| out this pledge on the part OF HIS Ma1estys
ministers, which has resulted in great injustice
| and injury to the American residents.
The government and people OF Spain propose
| to celebrate the four bundredth anniversary of
| the discovery Of America by holding an expo.
| sition at Madrid which will open on the 18th OF
| September and continue until the 31st OF
| December, 1892. A cordial Invitation has been
| extended to The United States TO take part in
this commemoration and as Spain was one OF
| tcipate In the Worlds Columbian Exposition at
| Chicago, 1t would be very appropriate for this
| government to give this invitation it3 friendly
promotion.
| AMERICAS BIGGEST RAILWAY.
| Surveys for the connecting links Of the pro-
Iected inter-continental railway are in progress
| not only in Mexico but at various points along
| the course mapped out Three surveying
| parties are now in the field under the direction
Of the commission. Nearly 1000 miles of the
proposed road have been surveyed. Including
| The most difficult part, that through Ecuador
and the southern part OF Columbis. The re-
ports Of the engineers are very satisfactory and
| show that no insurmountable obstacles have
been met with.
on November IL, 1884. treaty was con-
cluded with Mexico reaftirmlng the boundary
| between the two countries as described 10 the
| treaties OF February 2, 1S48, and December 80,
| 1858. March 1889. a further treaty was
negotiated to facilitate the carrying out OF the
principles OF the treaty OF 1884 and TO avoid
| the difficulties occasl0ned by reason OF the
changes aud alterations that take place from
natural causes 10 the Rio Grande and Colorado
river In the portions thereof constituting the
boundary line between the two republics. The
international boundary commission provided
for by The treaty of 1889, to have exclusive
jurisdiction of any question that may arise, has
been named by the Mexican government APP
proprist'on Is necessary TO enable the United
States to fulfill its treaty obligations m this re-
spect.
The death OF King Kalakaul in
the United states Afforded occasion 10 testify
our friendship for Hawaii by conveying the
kings body to his own land In a naval vessel
with all due honors. The government OF his
mote closer commercial relations With the
United States Surveys for the much needed
submarine cable from our Pacific coast to Hon.
oluu are in progress. and this enterprise should
have the suitable promotion OF the two govern
ments. strongly recommend that provisions
be made for improving the harbor OF Pearl
River and equ'pping 1t as naval station.
ARBITRATION TREATY.
The arbitration treaty formulated by the IT,
reason OF the failure to exchange ratifieatIons
fully within the limit of time provided; but
several OF the governments concerned have ex.
pressed desire to save this important result
of the conference by an extension Of the period.
Ut is in my Judgment incumbent upon the
United states to conserve the influential inita-
t'va 1t has taken in the measure by ratlfyng the
instrument and by advocating the proposed ex-
tension of the time for exchange. These views
lave been made known to the other slgnat0ries.
This government has found occasion to ex-
press In friendly spirit, but with much
earnestness, to the government OF the Gar It's
serious concern because of the harsh measures
now being enforced against the Hebrews in Rus
sia. By the revival OF antlSemtic 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
lmpossibility OF finding subsistence in the pale
to which II is sought to cOnfine them. The i'm
migration Of these people to the United States
many other ceuhtrieS being closed to
them-is largely incrraSiog and Is likely TO as
sumo proportions which may make it difficult to
find homes and employment for them here and
10 serious affycG Ire labor market. 1t is es-
timated that ever one million will be forced
from Russia within IL few years. The Hebrew
is never a beggar. He has always kepi the law.
life by toll, often under severe and Oppres-
siYe civil restrictions. IL Is also tue that no
race, sect or class has more fully Cared for its
own than the Hebrew race. But the sudden
transfer af such a multitude under conditions
that tend 10 strip them OF their small aecumu-
lstlons and to depress their energies ami cour-
/ age Is ueltler good for them nor for US; The
less certain indirect methods, Of so large
number of men and women is not local ques-
tion. A decree to leave one country is, In the
Thts eoests eratfon, as well as the snggestions
OF humanity, furnishes ample ground for the re-
mons.rances which We have presented to
government cannot tall to gis1n tie "a Easssrancss
that our representations are those OF a sincere
well wisher.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The annual report of the Maritime Canal Co,
of Nicaragua shows that much costly and nee.
essary preparatory work has been done during
the year In the construction of shops, railroad
tracks and harbor piers and breakwater and
that the work of canal construction has made
some progress. | deem 1t to be mater of
highest concern 10 the United States that this
canal connecting the waters OF the Atlantic and
Paclh oceans and giviog to us short water
communication between our ports on those Of
two great seas, should be speedily constructed
and at the smallest practicable limit of cost
The gal 10 freights 10 the people and the di.
rect saving 10 the government of the
United states IN the use OF its naval YES
sells would pay the entire cost OF this work
within short series of years. The report of
the Secretary of the Navy shows the saving In
our naval expenditures which would result
Tue senator from Alabama (Mr. Morgan) In
his argument upon this subject before the SEN
ate at the last session, old not overestimate the
importance OF this work when he said that "The
canal IS the most important subject now connect
w and Ara~n
the United States" II tnis work Is to be pro-
NOTED by the usual financial methods and with
out the aid OF this government, the expendi.
lures in its interest bearing securities and
stocks will probably be twice the actual cost
This will necessitate higher tolls and constitute
heavy and allogether needless burden upon
our commerce and that of the world. Every
dollar OF the bonds aud stocks of the COMPANY
should represent dollar expended in the le-
eitlmate aud economical prosecut oa Of the
work. This Is only possible by giving to the
bonds the guaran OF the United States gov.
ernment: Such guaranty would secure the
to time, as the money was needed 1 do nor
doubt that. built upon these business methrds
the canal would, when iully inaugurated. earn
It's hrst charges and operating expenses. But,
II its bonds are 10 be marketed at heavy dis
counts, and every bond Is TO lie accompanied by
gilt OF stock. as has come TO be expected by
investors In such enterprises, the traffic will be
seriously bui deDed to pay interest and civil
Cends. am quite willing to recommend gov
eminent promotion IN the prosecution Of a
securing its completion is OF such franscendent
interest that the government should In INV
opini n, secure it by direct appropriations from
us treasury. quantity of tue bonds OF the
canal company TO an amount necessary to the
completion of the canal could, l think, be SO
given as not 10 involve any serious risk Of ulti
mate loss. The things to be Carefully guarded
are the completion OF the work, within the limits
q the guaranty, the subrogation OF The United
states TO the rights OF first mortgage bond hold.
ers for any amounts 1t may have to pay and in
t1e meantims the control of the stock
OF the company as security against
mlsmanagement and loss. most
sincerely hope neither party nor secTiOn-
project, so iul of interest to the people of all
our states, and so influential in its effects on the
prestige and prosperity OF our c-mmOn country.
THE NAvAssA DISORDERS.
The island OF Nayassa In the West Indian
group, has, under the provisions of Title 70 of
the Revised Statutes, been recognized by the
President as appertaining to the United States.
1t contains guano deposits. is owned by the
Nayassa Phosphate Company and occupied
solely by its employees. In September, 1852 a
revolt LOOK place among the laborers resulting
IL ihe klling OF some OF the agents OF the cOu-
pany. caused as the laboIers claimed by cruel
treatmeat These men were arr eSted and tried
IN the United States court at Baltimore, under
section n516 Of the statute referred to- as II the
offenses bad been committed on board of a mer-
chantvesse OF the Unlted States on the high
seas. There appeared on the trial aud other
wise came TO me such evidences Of the bad
treatment OF the men that in consideration of
this aud OF the fact that the men had no access
| TO any pubic officer or tribunal for protection
or the redress Of their wrongs. commuted
| the death sentences that had been passed by
the court upon three Of them. In April last my
attention was again called to this island and