The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-12-06

the frequent changes in its course through
level sands often raise embarrassing
questions of territorial jurisdiction.
Prominent among the questions of the
year was the Blueields incident in what
is known as the Mosquito Indian Strip
bordering on the Atlantic ocean and with.
in the jurisdiction of Nicaragua. By the
treaty of 1860 between Great Britain and
Nicaragua, the former government ex,
pressly 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 the customs for themselves
, and other dwellers within its limits. The
so-called native government, which grew
to be largely made up of aliens, for many
years disputed the sovereignty of Mica
ragua over the strip and claimed the
right to maintain therein a practically
Independent municipal government. Ear
ly in the past year efforts of Nicaragua
to maintain sovereignty over the Mos
quito territory led to serious disturb
ances, eliminating in the suppression of
the native government and the attempt
ed substitution of an impracticable com
posite administration in which Mica.
ragua and alien residents were to par
ticipate. 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 gov.
ernment established and upheld by Mica.
ragua. Although the alien interests ar
rayed against Nicaragua in these trans,
actions have been largely American, and
the commerce of that country for some
time has been, and still is chiefly con.
trolled by our citizens, we cannot, fol-
that reason challenge the rightful SOW
ereignty of Nicaragua over this import
ant part of her domain. For some
months one, and during part of the time
two of our naval ships have been sta.
toned at Bluefelds for the protection
of all legitimate enterprises al
our citizens. In September last
the government at Managua expelled from
its territory II or more foreigners, in
Guiding two Americans, for alleged par
ticipation in the seditious or revolutionary
movements against the republic at Blue
fields, already mentioned, but through
earnest remonstrance of this government
the two Americans have been permitted
to return to the peacable engagement o.
business. Our naval commanders at tn,
scene of these disturbances by their con
stant exhibition of irmness and gooC
Judgment contributed largely to the prev
ention of more serious consequences anC
to the restoration of quiet and order.
regret that in the midst of these occur
rences there happened a most grave ant
irritating failure of Nicarauguan justice
An American citizen named Wilson, re
siding at Rama in the Mosquito territory
was murdered by one Arguella, the acting
governor of the town. After some delay
the murderer was arrested, but so inse
curely confined or guarded that he es
capped, and Notwithstanding our repeated
demands, it is claimed that his recapturt
has been impossible by reason of his
flight beyond Nicaraguan jurisdiction
The Nicarauguan authorities having giveT
notice of forfeiture of their concession tC
the canal company on grounds purely
technical and not embraced in the con
tract, have receded from that position.
Peru, | regret to say, shows symptoms
of domestic disturbances, due probably
to the slowness of her recuperation from
the distresses of the war of 1881. Weak
ened in resources, her difficulties in facing
international obligations invite our kindly
sympathy and justify our forbearance il
pressing long pending claims. l have fel
constrained to testify this sympathy il
connection with certain demands ur
gently preferred by other powers.
The recent death of the late czar o.
Russia called forth appropriate expires
sions of sorrow and sympathy on the par
of our government with the bereaved fam
lily and with the Russian people AS ,
further demonstration of respect anC
friendship, our minister at st. Petersburg
was directed to represent our government
at the funeral ceremonies
The sealing interests of Russia in Behr
ing sea are second only to our own. A
modus vivendi has therefore been con
cluded with the imperial government re
strictive of poaching on the Russian
rookeries or sealing in waters whicl
were not comprehended in the protractet
area defined in the Paris award.
Occasion has been found to urge upOl
the Russian government equality of treat
ment for our great life insurance compa
nies, whose operations have been ex
tended through Europe. Admitting O.
we do foreign corporations to transac
business in the United States, we natu
rally expect no less tolerance for own il
the ample fields of competition abroad.
But few cases of interference with nat
uraliZed citizens returning to Russia hav
been reported during the current year
One KreiZwary was arrested last summe
in a Polish province on charge of un
permitted renunciation of Russian allie
glance, but it transpired that the pro
ceedings originated in alleged malfeasanc
committed by him while an imperial off
cial number of years ago. Efforts TO
his release which promised to be success
full, were in progress when his death wa
reported.
The government of Salvador, havin,
been overthrown by an abrupt popula
outbreak, certain of its military and civi
officers, while hotly pursued by infuriateC
insurgents, sought refuge on board til,
United States war ship Bennington, theI
, lying in Salvador harbor, although tn,
practice of asylum is not favored by thi
government, yet in view of the imminen
peril which threatened the fugitives anC
solely from considerations of human
ity they were afforded shelter by tn,
naval commanders, and when afterwardi
demanded under our treaty of extraditior
with Salvador for trial on charges of muir
der, arson and robbery l directed that suci
of them as had not voluntarily left tn,
ship be conveyed to one of our neares
ports where hearing could be had befor,
a judicial officer in compliance with tn,
terms of the treaty. On their arrival a
San Francisco such a proceeding wal
promptly instituted before the United
States district judge, who held that tn,
acts constituting the alleged offenses wer,
political, and discharged all except one
who was held for an attempt to murder
Thereupon / was constrained to direct hi
release for the reason that an attempt t.
murder was not one of the crimes charged
against him, and upon which his surrender
to the Salvadoran authorities had beer
demanded