Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-12-07

ployed in subordinate commercial position in
ment on an unfounaed charge Of smuggling Ing
was finally liberated on judicial exaninatio
Upon urgent representation to the Havtlen
government suitable indemnity was paid to
the sufferer. By law of Hayti sailing vessel
having discharged her cargo is refused clear
ance until the duties on such cargo have been
paid The hardship OF this measure upon
American shipowners who conduct the bulk of
the carrying trade Of that country has been in
sis ted on with view Of securing the removal
Of this cause of complaint
Honduras.
Upon receiving authentic information of the
hiring upon an American mail steamer touching
at the port of Amapala, because her captain re-
Nicaragua 10 Guatemala upon demand of the
military authorities of Honduras, our minister
10 that ountry under instructions protested
against the wanton act and demanded salts
faction. The government OF Honduras, ac-
tuated by the sense Of justice and in spirit OF
the utmost friendship, promptly disavowed the
illegal conduct of its officers, and expressed
sincere regret for the occurrence
1t IS confidently anticipated that a salts
factory adj tment will soon De reached of the
questions arising out OF the seizure and use of
American vessels by insurgents in Honduras
and the subsequent denial by the successful
government OF commercial privileges 10 those
vessels on that account.
Republic of Liberia.
notable part of the southeasterly coast Of
Liberia between Cavity and San PedOro
rivers, which for nearly half century has
been generally recognized as belonging to that
republic by ce5SiOn and purchase, has been
claimed to be under the protectOrate OF France
IN virtue of agreements entered into by the ma
tive tribes over wnOm Liberian control has not
been we'll maintained More recently, nego-
tdtlonS between the Liberian represent
auVe and the French government re-
suited in the signature at Paris of u treaty
whereby as an adjustment certain Liberian ter
rltOry Is coded to France. This convention
at last advices had not been ratified by the
Liberian legislature and executive Feeling Il
IA tnn
tie commonwealth, the establishment and de-
VelOpment OF which were largely aided by the
beneVoence OF our countrymen, and which CON
StltuteS the only Independently sovereign state
on the west coast of Africa, this government
has suggested to the French government its
earnest concern lest territorial impairment in
strained consent.
Our relations with Mexico continue to be of that
close and friendly nature which should always
characterize the intercourse of two neighboring
republics. The work of relocating the monu-
ments marking the boundary between the
countries from Paso del Norte to the Pacific is
now nearly completed. The commission re-
Gently organized under the conventions of 1884
and 1909 1t IS expected will speedily settle dis
Putes growing out Of the shifting currents of
the Rio Grande river east Of Ell Paso
Nicaragua and Guatemala.
Nicaragua has recently passed through two
revolutions. the party at first successful hay
ing in turn been displaced by another. Our
offices, aided in peaceful adjus tment Of the
controversy involved in the first conflict The
large American interests established in that
country in connection with the Nicaragua canal
were not moles ted. The canal company
has, unfortunately. become financially seriously
embarrassed, but generous treatment has
been extended to it by the government Of MIC
aragua. The United States are especially i'll
terested in the successful Achievement of the
vast undertaking this company has in charge.
That 1t should be accomplished under disnnc-
lively American auspices, and its endowment
assured, not only to the vessels of this country
as a channel of communication between our At
lant1c and Pacific SeaboardS, but to the ships
OF the world in the interests Of civilization, is
proposition which, in my Judgment does not
admit of ques ton
Guatemala has also been visited by the DO
nt1cal ViciSsltudeS which have afflicted her
Central American neighbours but the dissolu-
tion OF her legislature and the proclamation of
a d1cta torsh1p have been unattended with civil
Extradition with Norway and Russia.
An extradition treaty with Norway has re-
Gently been proclaimed and exchanged
The eXtradition treaty with Russia, signed In
March, 1887, and amended and confirmed by the
senate in February last was duly proclaimed
last Juue.
The Samoan Troubles.
Led by desire to compose differences and con.
tribute to the restoration OF order in Samoa,
which for some years previous had been the
tive strife, the United States, departing from
Its policy conSecrated by century Of observ-
ance entered four years ago into the treaty of
Berlin, thereby becoming jointly bound
with Eng land and Germany to establish
and maintain Malietoa Laupepa as king of
Samoa. The treaty provided for foreign
court of justice a municipal council for the dis
trict of Apia, with foreign president thereof,
authorized to advise the king; a tribunal for
the Sc Element OF native and foreign land titles,
ana revenue system for the kingdom. 1t
imposed upon the three powers that part of the
cost OF the new government not met by the
revenue Of the islands
Early in the life of this triple protectorate
the native dissensions it was designed to
quell revived. Rivals defied the authority of
the new king, refusing to pay taxes and de-
mandtng the election Of ruler by native SUI.
rage Mataafa, an aSplrant to the throne and
d large number Of his adherents were in open
rebellion on one of the islands Quite lately
at the request OF the other powers, and in full
hllment of its treaty obligation. this govern
ment agreed TO unite in joint military move
ment of such dimensions as would probably Sc
cure the surrender of the insurgents without
bloodshed The warship Philadelphia wsS &C.
cordtngly put under orders for Samoa but be-
fore she arrived the threatened conflict
was precipitated by King MaItetoa's at
tack upon the insurgent camp. Mataafa
was defeated and a number of men
killed The British and German naval yes
sells present subsequently secured the Surren-
der OF Mataafa and his adherents. The
defeated chief and ten OF his principal support
ers were deported to German island of the
Marshall group, where they held as prison
ess under the joint responsibility and cost of
the three powers.
This incident and the events leading up to it
s1ngularly illustrate the impolicy Of es tablish-
ing alliances with foreign powers.
important maeUers nave aemanued attention
in our relations with the Ottoman porte. The
firing and partial destruction, by an unre-
strained mob, of one OF the school buildings Of
Anatolia college, established by citizens Of the
United States at MarSUvan, and the apparent
Indifference of the Turkish government
to the outrage. nOtwithS landing the COM
plicity of some OF its officials, called
for earnest remonstrance, which was
followed by promises of PREPARATION and punish
ment of the offenders. Indemnity for the in
Jury to the buildings has already been paid,
permission to rebuild given. registra ton of the
school property in the name of the American
anteed
Information received OF maltreatme1t sui
Tered by an inofensive American woman en-
gagged in missionary work in Turkish koordts-
tan was followed by such repre- sensations to
the porte as resulted in the issuance OF orders
for the punishment Of her aSSailantS, the re-
moyal of delinquent official, and the adoption
OF measures for the protection OF our citizens
that quarter. Turkey complains that her
Armenian subjects obtain citizenship in
this country not to identify Them.
with the intention of returning to the land OF
their birth and there engaging in sedition.
This complaint is not wholly without founda-
ton 4 journal published in this country in the
Armenian language openly counSels its readers
TO arm, organize ard participate in movements
for the SubverSion of Turkish authority IN the
ASiatic provinces. The Ottoman government
has announced its intention to expel from its
dominions Armenians who have obtained nat
uranzation in the United States since 1868.
VIII Protect Armenians.
The right TO exclude any or all classes Of
aliens is an attribute of sovereignty. 1t Is a
right asserted and, to limited extent enforced
by the United States with the sanction Of our
highest court There being no naturalization
treaty between the United States and Turkey,
our minister at COnstantinople has been in.
structed that, while recognizing the right Of
that government to enforce its declared policy
AGAINST natnraliZed Armenians. he is expected