Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-06

pN1b hAiblAtAl tllt lltN SuNtEuIltt!bs
Under our present treaties of extradition
with Italy miscarringes OF justice have oc-
CURED, owing to the refusal OF that gov
ernment to surrender its own subjects.
Thus far our efforts to negotiate an
amended convention obyiating this diff
Guilty have been unavailing
Apart from the war in which the island
empire is engaged, Japan attracts increas-
Ing attention in this country by her
evident desire to cultivate more liberal
Intercourse with u5 and to seek our kindly
ana Ill furtherance of her laudable desire
for complete 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. Good will
fostered by many interests in common has
made our relations with our nearest south
ern neighbor.
THE BLuEFIELDs INCIDENT.
Prominent among the questions of the
wear was the Blueields 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, between Great Britain
and Nicaragua the former government
expressly recognized the sovereignty of
the latter over the strip, and a limited
TORN of self-goyernment was guaranteed
to the Mosquito Indians. to be exercised
according 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 many
years disputed the sovereignty of Mica
ragna over the strip, and claimed the right
TO maintain therein Il practically indie
nnn1pnt f1allni1iI,nl Ynv m taI1f riU +,
the past year efforts of Nicaragua to main.
tain sovereignty over the Mosquito terri
tory led to serious disturbances. culminat.
ing in the suppression of the native
government and the attempted substitu-
tIon of an impracticable composite admin
istration, in which Nicaragua and alien
residents were to participate. Failure was
followed by ar insurrection which, for u
time, subverted Nicaraguan rule, ,expelling
her officers and restoring the old organiza-
tlon. This in turn gave place to the exist
ing local government established and up
held by Nicaragua.
Although the alien interests arrayed
against Nicaragua in these transactions
have been largely American, and the com
merce of that region for some time has
been and still is chiefly controlled by our
citizens, we cannot for that reason chal-
lenge the rlghtful sovereignty of Nicaragua
over this important part of her domain.
For some months one, and. during part of
the time, two of our naval ships have
been stationed at Blueiields for the pro.
tectiGn of all legitimate interests of our
citizens.
In September last, the government at
Managuu expelled from its territory II or
more foreigners, including two Americans,
for alleged participation in the seditious or
revolutionary movements against the re-
public at Bluetields already mentioned;
but through the earnest remons.rance of
this government, the two Americans have
been permitted to return to the peaceful
management of their business. Our naval
commanders at the scene of these disturb
ances, by their constant exhibition of
iirmness and good judgment, contributed
largely to the prevention of more serious
consequences and to the restoration of
quiet and order.
regret that in the midst of these occur
ences there happened most grave and ir-
ritating failure of Nicaraguan justice. An
American citizen named Wilson, residing
at Rama, in the Mosquito Territory, was
. murdered by one Argiiello. the acting gov
ernor of the town. After some delay the
murderer was arrested, but So insecureiy
confined or guarded that he escaped, and
Notwithstanding our repeated demands, it
is claimed thar his recanture has been im-
possible by reason of his flight beyond
NIcaraguan jurisdiction.
The Nicaraguan authorities having given
notice of forfeiture of their concession to
the Canal Company On grounds purely
technical and not embraced in the contract,
have reoeded from that position.
THE SITUATION IN SAMOA.
The message makes extended reference
to the trouble in samoa. the President
arriving at this conclusion:
"RepOrts received from our agents Mt
Apia do not justly the belief that the
peace thus brought about will be of long
duration. 1t is their conviction that the
natives Nre Ht heart hostile to the present
government that such OF them ns profes.
loyalty to il no So from fear at the powers
and that it would speedily 90 to pieces il
the warshlps were Withdrawn.
The present government has utterly
failed in the correct, if indeel it has no,
aggravated the very evils IL was intended
to prevent. II has not stimulated our com.
merce with the islands. Unr participation
in its establishment against the wishes OF
the natives was III plain defiance OF the
conservative teachings and warnings of tho
wise and patriotic men VINO laid the fOun.
darions of uur free institutions, and in.
vite an expression OF the Judgment oil Con,
gress oil the prnprigty uf steps being taken
by this government looking TO the with
drawal from its engagements with the
other powers on reasonable terms not pre-
judicial To ANY OF our existing rights"
INCREASE OF TUE STANDING ARMY.
The message contains liberal extracts
from the reports OF the heaas of depart
meuts at Washington, which have already
been published. With reference 10 the
proposed increase in the standing army
the President says;
Though the forces of the Department oil
the East have been somewhat increased
more than three-fuurths of the army /.
still stationed west OF the Mississippi Thi.
carefully matured policy which secure.
the best and greatest service in the inter
ests OF the general welfare from the small
force comprising Our regular army, SHOULD
not be thoughtlessly embarrassed by the
creation of new and unnecessary post.
through acts of Congress to CRAFTY the
ambitions or interests of localities. Whilt
the maximum legal strength OF the army
is 250DO men, the effective strength
| through various causes, is but little ovel
| 20 00O men. The purpose of Congress doe;
not, therefore, seem to be fully attained bj
the existing condition. While 10 consider
able increase in the army is in my judy
| inent demanded by recent events, the
| policy of sea coast fortitication, in thu
prosecution Of which we have been steadily
engaged for some years. has so far de
] veloped so, rs to suggest that the effective
strength OF the army now be made at leas
equal 10 the legal strength Measure
taken BY the department. during the yea
as indicated have already considerably
augmented the effective force, and th,
Secretary of War presents plan, which
recommend to the consideration OF Con
gress. to attain the desired end. Economic
| effected in the department in other line
of its work will offset to great extent th,
expenditure involved In the proposition
submitted. Among other things this con
templates the adoption of the three battai
| ion formation of regiments, which 70
several years has been endorsed by the Sec
retary of War and the generals command
| ing the army. Compact in itself, it provides
| skeleton organization, ready to be fillet