The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-04


in the family OF nations. The Japanese
empire Of to day is no longe, the Japan
OF the past and our relations with this
progressive nation should not be less
broad and liberal than those with other
powers
OUR NEAREST SOUTHERN SEIoBBoR.
Good will, fastened by many interests
In common, has marked our relations
with our nearest southern neighbor.
Peace being restored along her northern
frontier, Mexico has asked the punish
ment 81 the late dIsturbers OF her
tranquility. There ought to be new
treaty OF commerce and navigation with
that country to take the place OF the one
which terminated thirteen yesra ago.
The friendliness Of the intercourse be-
tween tho two countries is attested by
the fact that during this long period
the commerce OF each has steadily in
creased under the rule OF mutual con-
sideration, being neither stimulated by
conventional arrangements nor retarded
by Jealous riyslries or selfish diStrust.
An indemnity rendered by Mexico as
a gracious act for the murder in 1887 OF
Leon Baldwin, an American citizen, by
band OF marauders in Durango. has
been accepted and Is being paid in in
staIments. The problem Of the storage
and use Of the waters of the Rio Grande
for irritation should be solved by appro-
pirate concurrent action Of the two in-
terested countries.
THE BLUEFIELDs INCIDENT.
Prominent among the questions Of the
year was the Bluefelds incident. in
what is known rs the Mosquito Indian
strips bordering on tho Atlantic ocean
aud within the Jurisdiction OF Nicaragua.
By the treaty Of 1850 between Great
Britain and Nicaragua the former gov
ernment expressly recognized the SOW
ereivnty OF the latter over the strips and
limited form OF self government Wss
guaranteed to the Mosquito Indians to
be exercised acco riding TO their customs
for themselves and other dweIiera within
It's limits. The SO called native govern
ment which grew to be largely made up
Of aliens, for many years disputed the
sovereignty Of Nicaragua over the strip
and claimed the right to maintain
therein practically y in dependent NUM-
cipal government Early in the past
wear efforts of Nicaragua to maintain
sovereignty over the Mosquito territory
led to serious diatur bance eliminating
in the suppression OF the native govern
meut and the attem pied substitution OF
an impracticabie composite administra-
ton, In which Nicaragua aud alien resi-
dents were to participate. Failure was
followed by m instruction which for a
time subverted Nicaraguan rule, expell-
ing her officers and restoring the old
organization. This, in turn, gave place
to the existing local government estab-
lished and upheld BY Nicaragua.
Although the alien interests so ar
rayed against Nicaragua in these trans
actions have been large American, and
the commerce OF that region for some
time has been and still 10 controlled by
our citizens, We cannot for that reason
challenge the rightful sovereignty Of
Nicaragua over this important part OF
her domain. For some months two Of
our naval ships have been stationed at
Biue6elds for the protection OF all le9iti-
mate interests of our citizens. In Sep
tenber last the government at Maragua
expelled from its territory twelve or
more foreigners. inclnding two Ameri-
cans, for alleged participation in the
seditious or revolutionary movements
against the Republic at Blueields, al
ready mentioned. But through the
earnest demonstration OF this govern
ment the two Americans have been
permitted to return to the peaceful
management Of their business.
our naval commanders at the scenes
OF the disturbance, by their constant
exhibition OF firmness and good judg-
ment, contributed largely TO the prsyen.
ton OF more serious consequences and
to the restoration OF quiet and order. l
regret that in tho midst Of these occur
rences there happened . most grave
and irritating failure ot-Nicarasua JUS
tice. An American citizen named
Wilson, residing at Rama In the Mos.
quito territory, was murdered by one
Argnello, the acting governor OF the
town, After some delay the murderer
was arrested, but so nsecurely confined
or guarded that he escaped, and not
withstanding our repeated demands, it
is claimed that his recapture has been
impossible by reason OF his flight be-
yond Nicarauguan jurisdiction. The
Nicarauguan authorities having notice
OF forfeiture OF their concession to the
company on grounds surely technical
and embraced in the contract have re.
ceded from that position.
Unreasonablean and Just finesimposed
by Spain on the vessels and commerce
OF the United States have demanded
from time to time during the last TWEEN.
ty years earnest remonstrance on the
part OF our governor In the immediate
past exarbitant penalties have been i'm.
posed upon our vessels and goods by
the customs authorities OF Cuba and
Porto Rico for clsrical errors OF the
most trivial character in the manifests
or bill OF lading. In some cases lines
amounting to thousands OF dollars have
been levied upon csrSoes or the carry
ing vessels, when the goods IN question,
were entitled to free entry.
Fines have been exacted oven whom
the error had been detected and the
Spanish authorities notified before the
arrival of the goods in port. This con-
duct is in strange contrast with tho con.
siderate and liberal treatment extended
to Spanish vessels and carSoes in our
ports in like cases. No satisfactory sot'
Element OF these vexntion questions has
vet beon reached. Tho Nora case, re-
ierred to in my last annual message, re-
mains unsettled.
From the diplomatic corrospondence
on this subject, which has been laid be-
fore the senate, IL will be seen that this
government has offered to conclude a
convention with Spain for disposal by
arbitration of outstanding claims he.