The herald., 1894-12-04

being neither stimulated by couven-
tional arrangements nor retarded by
jealous rivalries or selfish distrust.
An indemnity rendered by Mexico a.
Q gracious act for the murder in 1889 oI
Leon Baldwin, an American citizen, by
. band of marauders in Durango. has
been accepted and is being paid in in
stallments.
The problem OF the storage and the
use OF the waters of the Rio Grande for
irrigation should be solved by appropri~
ate concurrent action OF the two inter-
ested countries. Rising in the Colorado
heights the stream flows intermittently.
yielding little water during the dry
months for the irrigating canals already
constructed on its course. This scarcity
10 often severely felt in the regions
where the river forms q common bound
ary. Moreover, the frequent changes
in its course through levels often raise
embarrassing questions OF territorial
jurisdiction.
| THE BLUEFIELDs INCIDENT.
Prominent among tho questions oi
the year was the Blusfelds incident in
what is known rs the Mosquito Indian
strip, bordering on the Atlantic ocean,
and within the jurisdiction of Nicara
qua. Tho 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 accord
ing to their customs for themselves and
other dwellers within its limits. The
so-called native government which
grew to be largely made up of aliens, for
Atanntod Tho ~ of
Nicaragua over the strip and claimed the
right to maintain therein a practically
independents municipal government.
Early in the past year efforts OF Mica
ragua to maintain sovereignty over the
Mosquito territory led to serious dis
turbsnces. eliminating in the suppress.
sion of the native government and the
attempted substitution of An impractica-
BILE composite administration, in which
Nicaragua and the alien residents were
to participate. The failure was fol-
lowed by an insurrection, which for
time subverted Nicaraguan rule, expeil-
ing officers and restoring the old organi-
zatiOn. This in turn gave place to the
existing local government established
and upheld 10y Nicaragua. Although the
aliens interested arrayed against
Nicaragua in these transactions
have been largely American. and the
commerce OF that region for some time
has been and etill is chiefly controlled
by our citizens. We cannot for that rea-
son challenge the righttul sovereignty of
Nicaragua over this important part of
her domain. For some months one,
and daring part of this time two, Of our
naval ships have been stationed at
Bluefelds for the protection of all legiti-
mate interests OF our citizens. In Sep.
tember last the government ct Mansgua
expelled from its territory IL or more
foreigners, including two Ameri-
cans. for alleged participation in
the seditous or revolutionary move-
ments against the republic at Bluefields,
already mentioned, but through the
earnest remonetrance of this government
the Americans have been permitted to
return to the peaceful management of
their business. Our naval commanders
at the scenes of those disturbances, by
their constant exhibition of firmness and
good Judgment contributed largely to
the prevention of more serious conse-
quences and to the restoration of quiet
and order.
l regret that in the midst of those &C.
currsnces there happened most grave
and irritating failure OF Nicaragua justice.
An American citizen, named Wilson. re-
siding in the Mosquito territory, WAS
murdered by one Arguello, the acting
governor of the town. After eome delay.
the murderer was arrested, but so inee-
curley confined or guarded that he es-
capped, and notwithstanding repeated
demands, it is claimed thns his recap
ture has been impossible by reason OF
his flight beyond Nicuarsguan jurisdic.
ton.
NICARAGUAN CANAL.
The Nicaaragun authorities, having
given notice OF forfeiture OF the concess-
ion to the canal company on grounds
purely technical and not embraced in
the contract, have receded from that
position.
TROUBLE IN PERU.
Peru. l regret to say, shows symptoms
Of domestic distur bsnce. due probably
to the slowness of her recuperation from
this distreases of the war of 1881. Weak
ened in resources, her difficulties in fac
ing inte irrational obligations invite our
kindly sympathy and justly our forbsar-
ance in pressing long pending claims. |
have felt constrained to testify this
sympathy in connection with certain
demands urgently preferred by other
powers.
RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.
The recent death of the czar OF Rus.
sia called forth appropriate expressions
of sorrow and sympathy on the part of
our government with his bereaved fam
lily and the Russian people. As fur
ther demonstration OF reciprocal friend.
ship, our minister at St. Petersburg was
directed to represent our government at
the funeral ceremonies.
The sealing interests of Russia in
Behring sea are second only to our own.
A modus vivendl was therefore con-
cluded with the imperial government
restrictive OF poaching on the Russian
rookeries, and OF sealing in waters which
were not comprehended in the protected
area defined in the Paris award.
Occasion has been found to urge upon
the Russian government equality of
treatment for our great life insurance
companies whose operations have ex-
tended throughout Europe. Admitting
a. we do foreign corporations to transact
business in the United States, We ex
pect no less tolerance for our own in
the ample fields OF competition abroad.
But few cases of Interference with
naturalized citizens returning to Russia
have been reported during the current
year. One Kizeminski was arrested
last summer in Polisn province on
reported charge of unpermitted renun-
citation OF Russian allegiance, but it