Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1894-12-08


| quent changes in its course through
| level lands often raise embarra ssin;
: questions Of territorial jurisdiction.
BLUEFIELDS INCIDENT.
Prominent among the questions 3
the year was the Bluefelds incident, il
what is known as the Mosquito Indiar
strip, bordering on the Atlantic ocear
and within the jurisdiction of Nicar-
aqua. By the treaty Of 1860 between
Great Britain and Nicaragua, the form
er government recognized the sover-
eighty Of the latter over the strip and a
limited form Of self government was
guaranteed to the Mosquito Indians to
be exercised according TO their custom
| for themselves and other dWellerS with
in its limits. The sO-called native gov
ernnlent, which grew to be largely
made up Of aliens, for many years dis
| puted the sovereignty OF Nicaragua
over the strip and claimed the right to
| maintain therein a practically inde-
pendent municipal government Early
in the past year the efforts of Nicaragua
to maintain sovereignty over the Mos
| quito territory led to serious disturb
| &Hces, eliminating in the suppression
| q the native government and the at
tempted substitution Of an impractical
bic composite administration in which
| Nicaragua and the alien residents
| We're to participate. Failure was TO
| lowed by an inSurrection which for a
| time subverted Nicara gua's rule ex-
! pelling her officers, and res toring the
/ old organization This in turn gave
| place 70 the existing local government.
established and upheld by Nicaragua.
| Although the alien interests arraigned
! against Nicaragua in these transactions
have been largely American, and the
/ commerce OF that region for some time
has been and still is chiefly controlled
by our citizens, we cannot for that rea-
son challenge the rightful SOVEREIGNTY
Of Nicaragua over this important part
Of her domain. For some months be-
fore and during part of the time two of
| our naval ships have been stationed at
Bluefieids for the protection Of all lerit-
innate interests Of our citizens.
In September last the government at
Managua expelled from its territory IL
or more foreigners, including two Amer
leans, for alleged participa ton in the
seditiOus or revolutionary movements
against the republic at Bluefields al
ready mentioned, but through the earn
est remonstrance Of this government,
the Americans have been permitted to
return to the peaceful mana cement of
their business Our naval commanders
at the scene Of these disturbances, by
their constant exhibition Of firmness
and good Judgment, contributed large
ly to the prevention of more serious con-
sequences and to the restora ton of quiet
and order.
! regret that in the midst of these oc-
currences there happened a most grave
and irritating failure Of Nicaragua JUS
tice. An American citizen named Will
son, residing at Rama, in the Mosquito
territory, was murdered by one Ar
guello, the acting governor of the
town. After some delay, the murderer
was arrested, but was so insecurely con-
fined or guarded that he escaped and |
Notwithstanding our repeated demands |
it 4, claimed that his recapture has
been impossible by reason Of his fight |
beyond Nicaraguan jurisdiction.
The Nicaraguan authorities, having
given notice Of the forfeiture of the con-
cession to the canal company on grounds
purely technical and not embraced in I
the contract, have receded from that |
position.
SYMPATHY FOR PERU.
Peru, | regret to say, shows symp- |
toms of domestic disturbances, due
probably to the sloWness of her recuper- |
alton from the distresses of the war of |
1891. Weakened in resources, her diff |
culties in framing international obli-
cations invite our kindly sympathy and |
justly our forbearance in pressing !
long pending claims. ! have felt con- |
strained to testify this sympathy in |
connection with certain demands ur- |
gently preferred by other powers.
RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA
The recent death of the cZar of Rus !
sia called forth appropriate expressions |
Of sorrow ana sympathy on the part Of
our government with his bereaved fam !
lily and the Russian people. AS a furth- |
er 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 |
Bering sea are second only to our own
A modus yivendi was therefore con-
cluded with the imperial government |
restrictive Of poaching on the Russian
roolleries ard of sealing in waters
which We're not comprehended in the
protected area defined in the Paris |
award.
Occasion has been found to urge upon
the Russian government equality Of
trea tment for our great life insurance
companies, whose operations have been
extended throughout Europe, Admit
ting, as we do, foreign corporate TO
transact business in the United States,
We naturally expect no less tolerance
for our own interests in ample fields of
competition abroad.
But few cases Of interference with
naturalized citizens returning to Rus
sia have been reported during the cur
rent year. One kisiminsl1i was arrested
last summer in Polish province on
reported charge of unpermitted renun-
citation of Russian allegiance, but it
transpired that the proceedings origin
ated alleged malfeasance committed by
him while an imperial officer number
of years ago Efforts for his release,
which promised to be successful, were
in progress when his death was re-
ported.
THE F,ZE,TlA CASE.
The government of Salvador; having
been overthrown by an abrupt popular
outbreak certain Of its military and
civil officers, while hotly pursued by
infuriated insurgents sought refuge on
board of the United States Warshinp
Bennington. then lying in South Ameri-
can ports. Although the practice Of
asylum is not favored by this govern
men1. yet in view Of the imminent peril
which threatened the fugitiyes and sole
~ from considerations Of humanity,
they We're afforded shelter by our naval
/ commander and when afterwards de-
manded under our treaty of extra dltlon
with Salvador for trial on the charges
| of murder arson and robbery. | directed
| that such of them as had not voluntar-
| ily left the ship be conveyed to one OF
our nearest ports. where a hearing could
| be held before a judicial officer, in COM
| Mi with the terms of the trpStN