The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-12-13


installments.
The problem of the storage and use Of
the waters of the Rio Grande for irriga-
ton should be solved by appropriate
concurrent action of the two interested
countries. Rising in the Colorado
heights, the stream flows intermittent
ly, yielding little water during the dry
months to the irrigation channels al
ready constructed along it's course.
This scarcity is often severely felt in the
regions where the river forms COM
mon boundary. Moreover, the fire.
Quent changes in it's course often raise
embarrassing question of territorial
Jurisdiction.
THE BLUEFIELDs AFFAIR.
Prominent among the questions of
the year was the Bluefelds incident, in
which is known as the Mosquito Indian
strip, bordering on the Atlantic ocean
and within the jurisdiction of Nicara-
qua. By the treaty of 1860. between
Great Britain and Nicaragua, the former
government expressly recognized the
sovereignty of the latter over the strip,
and limited form of self-government
was guaranteed to the Mosquito Indians,
to be exercised according to their Gus
tom for themselves and other jewellers
within it's limits. The so-called native
government, which grew to be largely
made up of aliens, for many years dis
puted the sovereignty of Nicaragua over
the strip, and claimed the right to
maintain therein practically independ-
ent municipal government. Early in
the past year the efforts of Nicaragua to
maintain sovereignty over the Mosquito
territory led to serious disturbances,
eliminating in the suppression of the
native government, and the attempted
substitution of an impracticable COM
posite administration, in which Nicara-
qua and alien residents were to partici-
pate. Failure was followed by an in
surrection, which for time, subverted
Nicaragua rule, expelling her officers,
and restoring the old organization.
This, in turn, gave place to the existing
local government, established and up
held by Nicaragua. Although the
alien interests, arraigned against Mic
aragua in these transactions, have
been largely American and the COM
merce of that region for some time has
been, and still is, chiefly controlled by
our citizens, we cannot for that reason
challenge the rightful sovereignty of Mic
aragua over this important part of
her domain. For some months one, and
during part of the time, two of our naval
ships have been stationed at Bluefelds
for the protection of all legitimate inter-
ests of our citizens. In September last
the government at Managua expelled
from its territory IL or more foreigners,
including two Americans, for alleged
participation in the seditious or revolu-
tionary movements against the republic
at Bluefelds already mentioned, but
through the earnest remonstrance of this
government the Americans have been
permitted to return to the peaceful man
agement of their business. Our naval
commanders at the scene OF these dis
turbances, by their constant exhibition
of frmness and good judgment, contrib
uted largely to the prevention OF more
serious consequences, and to the resto-
ration of quiet and order. regret that
in the midst of these occurrences there
happened most grave and irritating
failure of Nicaraguan justice. An Amer
lean citizen named Wilson. residing at
llama, in the Mosquito territory, was
murdered by one Arguello, the acting
governor of the town. After some delay
the murderer was arrested, but so lnse-
curely confined or guarded, that he es-
caped. and, Notwithstanding our repeat
ed demands, it is claimed that his recap.
ture has been impossible by reason OF
his fight beyond Nicaraguan jurisdiction.
The Nicaraguan authorities. having
given notice of forfeiture of the ccnces-
sion to the canal company on grounds
purely technical, and not embraced, In
the contract, have receded from that
position.
Peru, regret to say, shows symptoms
of domestic disturbance, due probably
to the slowness of her recuperatlon from
the distresses of the war of 1881. Weak
ened in resources, her difficulties in fac
ing international obligations invite our
kindly sympathy and justly our forbear1
ance in pressing long pending claims. l
have felt constrained to testify this SYM
pathv in connection with certain de-
mands urgently preferred by other pow
erS.
THE sALvADoRIAN REFUGEES.
The government of Salvador, having
been oyerthrown by an abrupt popular
outbreak, certain of its military and
civil officers, while holly pursued by IN
furiated insurgents. sought refuge on
board the United States warshlp Ben
nington. then lying in Central American
ports. Although the practice of asylum
is not favored by this government, yet,
in view of the imminent peril Which
threatened the fugitives and solely Tor
considerations of humanity, they were
afforded shelter by our naval commander'
and. when they were afterward demand
ed under our treaty of extradltlon with
Salvador for trial on charges of murder,
arson and robbery, directed that such
of them as had not voluntarily lett the
shin he convened to one OF our nearest
norris where a hearing could be heard
before a judicial officer in compliance
with the terms of the treaty. On their
arrival at San Francisco, such proceed
;no was promptly instituted before the
United States district judge, who held
that the acts constituting the alleged OF,
fences were political, and discharged ali
the accused except one Cienfuegos, who
was held for an attempt to murder.
Thereupon. [ was constrained TO direct
his release. for the reason that an at
tempt to murder was not one OF Tue
crimes charged against him. ana upon
which his surrender to the Salvaoorian
Authorities had been demanded.
AN ANNOYING AFFAIR WITH SPAIN.
unreasonable and unjust fines i'm
posed 4sIf BY Spain on the vessels and com m
merce of the United States nave ue-
handed. from time to time during the
Let On wears. earnest remonstrance on
The mart of our government. In the I'M
,nodiate mast exorbitant penalties nave
h Imei IMPOSED upon our vessels and goods
bU ue 4ha cnstoms authorities of Cuba ana
Por tn Rico for clerical errors OF the most
tr ~ :; nature in the manifests or biiis
of lading. In some cases f1nes amount hnar