The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-05

W. hit
Az ioaiiop = he Geary Law.
The legislation OF last year known as
the Geary law. requiring the registration
Of all Chinese laborcrs entitled 20 resi-
dence in the United States, and the de-
portat ion Of all not complying with the
provisions Of the act within the time
prescribed. met with much opposition from
Cinnamon in this country. Acting upon
the advice Of eminent counsel that the
law was unconstitutional. the great mass
OF Chinese iaborers pending judicial in
quiry as 10 its validity. in good faith de-
ciined 70 apply FOR the certificates requlr-
ed by its provisions. a test case upon pro-
ceeding by habeas corpus was brought
before the Supreme Court, and on May
1e, 1898, decision was made by that
tribunal sustaining the law IL is believed
that under the recent amendment or the
act extending the time for registration,
the Chinese laborers thereto entitled
who desire 10 reside In this country,
viii now avail themselves OF the renewed
privilege thus afforded OF establishing by
lawful procedure their right 70 remain,
and that thereby the necessity Of enf0rc-
ed deportation may, 10 great degree, pe
avoided. Ii has devolved upon the United
States minister at Pekin, as dean OF the
diplomatic body, and IN the absence OF
representative Of Sweden and Norway, 10
press upon the Chinese government rep.
aration for the recent murder OF Swedish
missionaries at Sung Pu. This question
is OF vital interest to all countries whose
citizens engage IN missionary work in the
interior. BY article ~ of the General
Act of Brussels, signed July 2, 1890, for
the suppression of the slave trade and
the restriction Of certain injurious COM
merce in the independent States OF the
Congo and In the adjacent zone OF Central
Africa. the United States and the other
signatoTy powers agreed TO adopt appro-
pirate means for the punishment OF per-
sons selling arms and ammunition
20 the natives and for the confisca-
ton Of the inhibited articles II be-
ing the plain duty of this govern
ment to aid in surpressing the
nefarious traffic, impairing as II does. lhe
praise-worthy and cilivizing efforts now IN
progress in that region, l recommend that
an act be passed prohibiting the saie OF
arms and intoxcants TO natives IN the
adjacent zone by our citizens.
Costa Rica has lately testified its friend
liness by surrendering 90 the United
States i'm the absence of convention
Of extradition, but upon duly submitted
evidence Of criminality, noted lusluN@
from justice. lt Is trusted that the ne
eotiations of a treaty with the country to
meet recurring cases Of this kind will
soon be accomplished. In my opinion
treaties for reciproc.A extradiuon should
De concluded with all tn countries with
which the United States ~ 'lready con-
ventional arrangements Of thu character
have deemed II fitting TO express TO
the governments of Costa Rica anc 90
umbia the kindly desire Of the United
States to see their pending boundary
dispute finally closed by arbitration ID
conformity with the spirit or the treaty
concluded between them some years ago
Our relations with the French republic
continue TO be intimate and cordial l
sincerely hope that the eXtTadition treaty
with that country, as amended by tne
Senate. will soon be in operation. Nhlle
occasional questions affecting our natu-
rallied citizens returning to the lahu oi
tboir birth have arisen in our intercourse
with Germany our relations WIN '""'
country continues Satisfactory.
OurR,is IONS Nitn 1r~at hrhaio'
Tho onost,op affecting our relations
with Great Britain have been treated IN
81, epirit Of friendlness. Negotiations are
i'm progress between the two governments
with "A view TO such concurrent action as
will make the award and regulations
agreed upon by the Behring sea tribnnai
II arbitration practically efectiye and II
is not doubted that Great Britain VIII co
operate freely with this country loI tIle
accomplishment of that purpose. The dls-
pute growing out OF the dlscrlmihatlns
tolls imposed I'm the Welland canal, upon
carpoes of cereals bound to and from The
lake ports of the United States, was ad-
iustcd bv the substitution OF more equl-
fable schedule of charges, and my pre-
3ccessor thereupon suspended his procia-
nation imposing discriminating tolls upon
British transit through our canals. a re-
quest for additions to the list Of eNtradi-
fabie offences covered. by the eAlstinS
treaty between the two countries Is under
consideration. During the past year an
American citizen employed in huboTdi-
nate commercial position I'm Haiti, after
suffering a protracted imprisonment on an
unfoundc1 charge Of smuggling, was nnal-
Iv liberated ON judicial examination upon
urgent representation to the Haitian gov
ernment. suitable indemnity was paid
to the sufferer BY law of Haiti a
sailing vessel, having discharged her car
go, is refused clearance until the duties
on such cargo have been paid. The hard
ship Of this measure upon American snip
owners who conduct the bulk of the car
rying trade Of that country has been in
sisted on with a view Of securing the
removal Of this cause of complaint.
al, RUnd"ras incident
the firing upon an American mail steam
er touching at the port Of Amapala, be
cause her captain refused 10 deliver up a
passenger in transit from Nicaragua 10
Guatemala, upon demand of the military
authorities Of Honduras, our minister 10
that country, under instructions, protest
ed against the wantOn act and demanded
satisfaction. The government OF Hon
duras. aCtuated by a sense Of justice,
and In a spirit Of the utmost friendship
promptly dhaVOWed the illegal conduct OF
its officers and expressed sincere regret
for the occurrence. II is confidently an
ticipated that a satisfactory adjustment
will soon be reached Of the questions aris-
ing out OF the seizure and use of
American vessels by insurgents in Hondu-
ras and the subsequent denial by the
successful government OF commercial pri-
yileges 60 those vessels on that account
A notable part of the southeastery
coast of Liberia between the Cavally and
San Pedro rivers, which for nearly half
a century has been generally recognized as
belonging 10 that republic by cession and
purchase, has been claimed 10 be under
the prOtectOrate of France, in virtue Of
agreements entered into by the native
tribes. over whom Liberals control has
not been well maintained. More recently
ueeOtiati lions between the Liberian repre-
sentative and the French government re-
suited I'm the signature az Paris, Of a
treaty whereby, as an adjustment certain
Liberidn TERRITORY le celed 20 France Ir
convention. at last advices, had not been
ratified by the Llberian Legislature and
the Executive feeling a sympathetic inter
est in the fortunes Of the little common