The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-12-14
A SYNOPSIS OF THE PRESIDENTS
PROCLAMATION.

the duty of making laws for the benefit
of generous and free people i'm.
pressvely suggests the exactlng obi
CATION and inexorable responsibility
involved in their task AT the threshold
of such labor now to be undertaken
by the congress of the United States
and in the discharge of an executive
duty enjoined by the constitution |
submit this communication, contain
ing brief statement of the condition
Of our national affairs, and recon.
mending such legislation as seems to
me necessary and expedient.
Reference is made in detail to our
relations with various foreign powers
in which closer bonds are suggested
between Japan and our own country
as follows;
Apart from the war IN which the
island empire is engaged Japan at
tracts increasing attention in this
country by her evident desire to cult
vate more liberal intercourse with us
and to seek our kindly aid in further
ance of her laudable desire for com.
plete autonomy in her domestic affairs
and full equality in the family of
nations. The Japanese empire of to
day is no longer the Japan of the past,
and our relations with this progressive
nation should not be less broad and
liberal than those with other powers
Prominent among the questions of
the year was the Buehelds incident,
in what is known as the Mosquito
Indian strip, bordering on the Atlantic
ocean and within the jurisdiction of
Nicaragua. BY the treaty of 1860 be-
tween Great Britain and Nicaragua
the former government expressly rec
ognizcd the sovereignty of the latter
over the strip, and limited form Of
sef.government was guaranteed to the
Mosquito Indians, to be exercised ac-
cording to their customs, for them.
selves and other dwellers within its
limits. The so-called native govern.
ment, which grew to be largely made
up of aliens, for many years disputed
the sovereignty of Nicaragua over the
strip and claimed the right to main
tain therein practically independent
municipal government. Early in the
past year efforts of Nicaragua to main
tain 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 Mica
ragua and alien residents were to par
ticipate. Failure was followed by an
insurrection which for time sub
verted Nicaraguan rule, expelling hei
officers and restoring the old organi
zation. This, in turn, gave place to
the existing local government estab.
lished and unheld by Nicaragua.
Although the alien interests arrayed
against Nicaragua in these transactions
have been largely American, and the
commerce of that region for some
time has been and still is chiefly con
trolled by our citizens, we can not for
that reason challenge the rightful
sovereignty of Nicaragua over this i'm
portant part of her domain.
For some months one, and during
part OF the time two, of our naval ships
have been stationed at Bluehelds fol
the protection of all legitimate inter
ests of our citizens. In Septembe,
last the government at Managua ex,
PEELED from its territory twelve oil
more foreigners, including two Ameri
cans, for alleged participation in the
seditlous or revolutionary movements
against the republic at Bluefelds al
ready mentioned but through the
earnest remonstrance OF this govern
ment the two Americans have been
permitted to return to the peaceful
management of their business. Oui
naval commanders at the scene oi
these disturbances, by their constan,
exhibition of frmness and good judg.
ment, contributed largely to the pre-
vention of more serious consequences
and to the restoration of quiet and
order. l regret that in the midst OF
these occurrences there happened a
most grave and irritating failure OF
NlCaIaBuan JUSTICE AN hnieii|ah
citizen named W wilson, residing al
Rama, in the Mosquito territory, wa:
murdered by one Arguello, the act
ing governor of the town. After some
delay the murderer was arrested, but
so insecurely confined or guarded thai
he escaped, and Notwithstanding ou'
repeated demands it is claimed tha
his recapture has been impossible by
reason OF his flight beyond Nicaraguar
jurisdiction
The Nicaraguan authorities having
given notice of forfeiture of their con
cession to the canal company OF
grounds purely technical and not em
braced in the contract, have recede1
lrc.s. tlnt .aAcitiAr,