Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1891-12-19

he WORK OF the SldtS
ing the last year has been characterized
by an unusual number of important nego-
tiations and by diplomatic results of
notable and highly beneficial character.
Among these are the reciprocal trade ar
rangements, which have been concluded
| in the exercise of the powers conferred by
section of the tariff law with the repub-
| lie of Brazil, with Spain for its West India
possessions and with San Domingo. Like
negotiations with other countries have
been much advanced, and ii Is hoped that
before the close of the year further def
mite trade arrangements of great value
will be concluded
Berlng sea Dispute.
In view of the reports which had been
received as 10 the dlminution of the seal
herds in the Bering sea, / deemed it wise
to propose TO her majesty's government in
| February last that an agreement for
| closed season should be made pending the
| negotiations for arbitration, which then
| seemed TO be approaching favorable
| conclusion. After much correspondence
! and delays for which this government was
not responsible, an agreement was reached
! and signed on the 10Th day Of June by
| which Great Britain undertook, from that
date until May l. 1892, to prohibit the kill
| ing by her subjects of seals in the Bcring
sea, and the government of the United
States during the same period to enforce
its existing prohibition against pelagic
| sealing and TO limit the catch by
the fur seal company upon the islands TO
! 1900 skins. If this agreement could have
| been reached earlier, in response TO the
| strenuous endeavors of this government,
| il would have been more effective but
| coming as late as it did, 1t unquestionably
resulted in greatly diminishing the de-
| g al, L., l.-s 49,, IL
| sealers.
In my last annual message, ] stated
! that the basis of the arbitration with her
majesty's government for the adjustment
| of the long standing controversy concern
! ing the seal fisheries is not acceptable.
! um glad now To be able TO announce that
| terms satisfactory to this government
! have been agreed upon and that an agree
ment as to the arbitrators is all that is
| necessary TO the completion of the conven-
! ton. In view of the advanced position
which this gyvernment has taken upon the
| subject of international arbitration, this
| renewed expression of our adherence to
| this method for the settlement of disputes,
such as have arisen in the Pering sea case
| will, | doubt not, meet with the concur
| renee of congress.
Provision should be made for joint
| dcmarcation of the frontier line
| between Canada and the United
States, whenever required by
the increasing border settlements,
and especially for the east location of
the water boundaries Of the straits and
| rivers.
should have been glad to announce
some favorable disposition of the bound
ary dispute between Great Britain and
| Venezuela, touching the western frontier of
| British Guiana, but the friendly efforts OF
! the United States in that direction have
thus far been unRyailing. This government
| will continue to express its concern at any
| appearance of foreign encroachment on
| territories long under the administrative
| control of American states. The deter
mination of disputed boundary is easily
! attainable by amicable American arbtra-
ton where the rights of the respective
parties rest as here on historical facts
readily ascertainable.
Meat Inspection.
The laW of the last congress providing
a system of inspection for our meats in
| tended for export, and clothing the presi-
| dent with power to exclude foreign prod
| ucts from our market in case the country
sending them should perpetuate unjust
! determinations against any product of the
| United States, placed this government in
| a position to effectively urge the removal
| Of such Determinations against our meats.
! 1t is gratifying to be able TO state that
Germany, Eenmcrl, Italv, Austria and
France, in the order named,
| have opened their ports 10
inspected American pork products.
| The removal of these restrictions In every
! instance was asked for and given solely
| upon the ground that we had now provided
| "a meat inspection that should be accepted
| as adequate to the complete removal of
| the dangers, real or fancied, which had
been previously urged
The stat6 department, our ministers
abroad, and the secretary of agriculture
| have co-operated with unNaggipg and in
telligent zeal for the accomplishment Of
| this great result.
The outlines of an agreement have been
reached with Germany, looking to equita-
| bic trade concessions in consideration of
| the continued free importation OF her SUI
gars, but the time has not yet arrived
when this correspondence can be sub
mittcd to congress.
The Brazil Episode.
The recent political disturbances in the
| republic of Brazil have excited regret and
solicitude. The information we possessed
was too meagcr to enable us to form a sat
isfactory judgment of the causes leading
TO the temporary assumption Of supreme
power by resident Fonseca. but this gov
ernment did not fail to express to him it's
and for the maintenance of the free politi-
cal institutions which had recently been
esta blished there, nor to offer
our advice that great moderation
should be observed in the clash
of parties and the contest for leadership
These counsels we're received in the most
friendly spirit. and the latest information
is that constitutional government has
been re-establiShed without hloodshed
New Orleans Lynching.
The lynching at New Orleans, In March
IL II r., A..
mob of citizens was n most deplorab BILE and
discreditable incident. II did not, how
ever, have its origin in any general ami
mostly to the Italian people, nor in any
disrespect to the government of Italy,
with which our relations were of the most
friendly character. The fury of the mob
was directed against these men as the
supposed participants or accessories of
the murder of city officer. / do not
allude to this as mitigating I'm any degree
this offense against law and humanity,
but only as affecting the international
questions which grew out Of it, It was
represented by the Italian minister that
several of those whose lives had been
taken by the mob were Italian subjects.
and demand was made for the punish
ment of the participants and for an in
demnity TO the families of those who
were killed. 1t is to be regretted
that tho manner n which these claims
were preseuteu, was not sucn Us 10 pro-
mote a calm discussion Of the questions
involved, but, this may we'll be attributed
to the excitement and indignation which
the crime naturally evoked. The views of
this government, as TO its obligations to
foreigners domiciled here, were fully
stated i'm the correspondence, as well as
its purpose to make an investigation of
the affair with view to determine
whether there were present any circum-
stances that could, under such rules of
duty as we had indicated. create an obli-
CATION upon the United States. The tenn
porary absence of a minister plenipoten-
AIRY at this capital has retarded the fur
ther correspondence, but II is not doubted
that a friendly conclusion Is attainabJe.
Some suggestions. growing out Of this
unhappy incident are worthy the attention
of congress. 1t would, believe, be en-
tirely competent for congress TO make
offenscs against the treaty rights of for
eigners domiciled In the United States
cognizable In the federal courts. This
has not, however, been done, and the fed