The herald., 1894-12-04

| States district Judge, who held that the
acts constituting the alleged offenses
were political, and discharged all the ac-
cussd except one Cienfuegos, who was
held for an attempt to murder. There
upon was constraiLel to direct his re-
lease for the reason that an, attempt to
murder was not one OF the crimes
his surrender to the SalvadoreAn aus
thorities had been demanded.
| SPANISH CUSTOMS TROUBLES.
| Unreasonable and unjust charges i'm.
posed by Spain on the vessels and COM
merce of the United States have de-
manded, from time to time, during the
last 20 years, earnest remonstrances on
the part OF our government. In the
immediate past exorbitant penalties
have been imposed upon our vessels and
goods by the customs authorities of
Cuba and Porto Rico for clerical errors
of the most trivial character in the
manifesto of our bills of lading. In
some cases fines amounting to thous-
ands OF dollars have been levied upon
cargoes or the carrying vessels,
when the goods in question were
entitled to free entry. Fines have
been exacted even when the error was
notified before the arrival of the goods
in port. This conduct ia in strange con-
tract with the considsrate and liberal
treatment extended to Spanish vessels
and cargoes in our ports in like cases.
No satisfactory settlement OF these vexa.
tious questions has yet been reached.
The Mora case referrsd to in my last
annual message remains unsettled.
From the diplomatic correspondence on
this subject which has been laid before
the senate it will be seen that this gov-
ernment has offered to conclude con-
vention with Spain for disposal by ar
bitration of outstanding claims between
the two countries, except the Mora claim
which having been long ago adjusted
only awaits payments as stipulated. an d
Of course it could not be included in the
proposed convention. It was hoped that
this offer would remove parliam entary
obstacles encountered by the Spanish
government in providing payment of the
Mora indemnity. regret to say that
no definite reply to this offer has yet
been made and all efforts to secure pay
ment OF this settled claim have been
unavailing.
TROUBLE WITH TURKEY.
In my last annual message I adverted
to the claim on the part OF Turkey Of
the right to expel as persons undesir-
able and dangerous, Armenians nstur-
allied in the United States and return
ing to Turkish jurisdiction. Numerous
questions in this relation have arisen.
While this government acquiesced in the
asserted rights OF expulsion it would not
consent that Armenians may be impris-
oned or otherwise punished for no other
reason than having required without
imperial consent American citizenship.
Three Of the assailants OF Miss Mel
ton, en- American teacher in Mosul, have
been convicted by this Ottoman courts,
and | am advised that an appeal against
the acquittal of the remaining five had
been taken by the Turkish prosecuting
officer.
VENEZUELAN TREATIES.
A convention has been concluded
with Venezuela for the arbitration of a
long dispute Rro~ingout OF the seizure of
certain vessels. the property OF citizens
OF this United states.
Although signed, the treaty Of extras
dition with Venezuela is not yet in
force, owing to the insistence Of that
government that, when surrendered. it's
citizens shall in NO case be- liable to cap.
ital punishment.
COLLISIONS AT SEA.
The rules for the prevention of COL
lisions ct sea, which were framed by the
maritime conference held in this city in
1889, having been coDcurrently incor-
porated in the etatutes OF United States
and Great Britain, have been aurou need
to take effect March /, 1895. and invi-
tstions have heen extended 70 ell mari
time nations to adhere 10 them. Favor
able responses have thus far been ro-
ceived from Austria, France, Portugal.
Spain and Sweden.
THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY.
In my laet annual message l referred
briefly to the unsatisfactory state OF
affairs in Samoa under the operation Of
the Berlin treaty as signally illustrating
the impolicy OF entangling alliances with
foreign powers, and on May 9, 1894, in
response to a resolution OF the sen-
ate, l sent special message and
documents to that body on the same
eubiect which emphasized my previously
expressed opinions. Later occurrences,
the correspondence in regard to which
will be laid before congress-, further
demonetrate that the government
which was devised by the three
powers and forced upon the Samo-
ans sgsinst their inveterate hoatil-
ity, can be maintained only by
the continued presence Of foreign mill
tary force, and at no email sacrifice of
life and treasure. The suppression of
the Mataafa insurrection by the powers
and the subsequent bsnishment of the
leader and IL other chiefs, as re-
cited in my last message, did
not bring lasting peace to the
slande. Formidable uprisings continued
and finally rebellion broke ont in the
capital of the island OF Epolul. headed
at Asna in the western district by the
younger Tamaseae and in Atua. the
eastern district, by other leaders. The
insurgents rsvaged the country and
fought the governments troops up to
the very doors of Apia. The king
again appealed to the powers for
help and the combined British and
German naval forces reduced the Atuane
to apparent subjection, not however,
without considerable loss to the natives.
A few days later Tamassse and his
adherents, fearing the ships and ma
rines, professed submission. Reports
received from our agents at Apia do not
justify the belief that the peace thna
brought about will be Of long duration.
1t Is their conviction that the natives
are at heart hostile to the present gov
ernment; that such of them as profess
loyalty do so from fear of the powers
that they would speedily go to pieces il