The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05
TURKEY AND THE ARMENIANs.
The United states Interested In See
ing WrOnEs RIghted.

-AlsD EhhfhA14NA-A-tos
The United states Interested I'm See
ing Wrongs Righted.
In my last annual message l adverted to
the claim on the part of Turkey of the right
to expel as persons undesirable and dan
gerous, Armenians naturalized in the United
States. and returning TO Turkish jurisdic-
tion. Numerous questions in this relation
have arisen. While this government ac-
quiesces in the asserted right Of expulsion.
it will not consent that Armenians may be
imprisoned OF otherwise punished for no
other reason than having American citizen
ship. Three Of the assailants Of Miss Mel
ton. an American teacher in Mosul, have
been convicted by the Ottoman courts, and
am advised that an appeal against the ac-
quittal Of the remaining five has been taken
by the Turkish prosecuting officer.
A convention has been concluded with
Venezuela for the arbitration Of a long-dis-
puted claim, growing out Of the seizure Of
certain vessels, the property OF citizens of
the United States. Although signed, the
treaty Of eXtradition with Venezuela is not
yet in force owing TO the insistence of that
government, that when surrendered. its citi-
Zens shall in no case be liable TO capital
punishment
The rules for the prevention of collisions
at sea, which were framed by the maritime
conference held in this. city in 1889, having
been concurTently Incorporated in the
statutes Of the United States and Great
Britain. have been announced TO take effect
March 1, 1895. and invitations have been
extended TO all maritime nations TO adhere
to them. Favorable responses have thus
far been received from Austria, France,
Portugal, Spain and Sweden
In my last annual message I referred
briefly 10 the unsatisfactory state OF ar
fairs in Samoa, under the operation Of the
Berlin treaty, as signally Illustrating the
impOlicy of entagling alliances with for
eiga powers; and on May 9. 1894, in re-
sponse to a resolution OF the senate, 1
sent a special message and documents to
that body on the same subject, which en-
phasized my previously expressed opln-
ions. Later occurrences, the correspond
ence in regard to which will be laid be-
fore congress, further demonstrate that
the government which was devised by the
three powers, and forced upon the Sa-
moans against their hostility can be main
tained only by the continued presence
Of foreign military force, and at no small
sacrifice of life and treasure. The sup
preston Of the Mataafa insurrection by
the powers. and the subsequent banish-
ment Of the leader and eleven other chiefs,
as recited in my last message, did not
bring lasting peace TO the islands. For
rebellion broke out in the capital island,
UpOla, headed in Aana, the western dis
trict by the younger Tamasese. and in
Atua, the eastern district, by other lead
ers. The insurgents ravaged the country
and fought the government troops up TO
the very doors df )Apia. The king again
appealed TO the pOWers for help, and the
British and German naval forces reduced
the Atuans to APPARENT subsection, not,
however, without considerable loss TO the
A far 10 Iafn n
his adherents, fearing the ships and the
marines. professed submission.
Reports received from our agents at
Apia do not justify the belief that the
peace thus brought about will be Of long
duration II is their conviction that the
natives are at hear hostile 10 the present
government; thai (ach Of them as pro-
fessed loyalty to 1t did so frcm fear OF
the powers, and that il would speedily go
to pieces If the warships were withdrawn.
1t reporting to his government on the un-
satisfactory situation since the suppression
of the late revolt by foreign armed forces,
the German consu Nat Apia stated: THAT
peace will be IastNg is hardly to be pre-
sumed The lesson given by firing on
Atua was not sufficiently sharp and incis-
i've 10 leave a lasting impression on the
fOrgetful Samoan temperament. In fact,
conditions are exis ing which show that
peace will not last and is not seriously in
tended. Maletoa, the king. and his chiefs
are convinced that the departure Of the
warships will be a signal for a renewal
of war. The circumstances that the repre-
sentatives Of the villages Of all the dis
trcts which We're opposed to the gov
ernment have already withdrawn 10 Atua
to hold meetings and that both Atua and
Aana have forbidden inhabitants of those
districts which fought on the side of the
government to return TO their villages,
and have already partly burned down the
latter, indicates that a real cOnciliatiOn of
the parties is still far off" In a note OF
the 10th ultimO, inclosing a copy Of that
report for the information Of this govern
ment. the German ambassador said: 1.-THE
contents of the reports awakened the i'm
perial governments apprehension that un-
der existing circumstances the peace con-
cluded with the rebels will afford no as
surance of the lasting restoration Of tran
guilty in the islands"
The present government utterly failed
to correct, if, indeed 1t has not aggra-
waited, the very evils IL intended TO
prevent. 1t has not stimulated our COM
merce with the islands Our participa-
ton in its establishment, against the
wishes of the natives, was in plain def
ance of the conservative teachings and
warnings Of the wise and patriotic men
who laid the foundations Of our free in
stitutions. and I invite an expression OF
the Judgment of congress on the pro-
priety of steps being taken by this gov
ernnent looking to the withdrawal from
| its engagements with the other powers on
some reasonable terms, not prejudicial OF
any of our existing rights.