Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-04

ed and expelled by arbitrary order with out formal charge or trial have had at- tention and in some instances have been found to justify remonstrance and claim for indemnity, which the Ha- waiian government has not thus far con- ceded.
 Mir. Thurston, the Hawaiian minister, having furnished this government with abundant reason for asking that he be recalled, that course was pursued and his successor has lately been received.
 The Venezuelan Matter.
 It being apparent that the boundary dispute between Great Britain and the rep<blic of Venezuela, concerning the limits of British Guiana, was approach ing an acute stage, a definite statement of the interest and policy of the United States as regards the controversy seemed to be required. both on it's own account and in view of it's relation with the friendly powers directly concerned.
 In July last, therefore. a dispatch was addressed to our ambassador at London for communication to the British govern ment, in which the attitude of the United States was fully and distinctly set forth.
 The general conclusion therein reached and formulated are In substance that the traditional and established policy of this government is firmly opposed to forci- ble increase by an European power of it's territorial possessions on this con- tinent; that this policy is as well founded in principle as it is strongly supported by numerous precedents; that as conse- quence the United States is bound to protest against the enlargement of the area of British Guiana in derOgation to the rights and against the will of Vene- zuela; that considering the dispari in strength of Great Britain and Venezuela, the territorial dispute between them can be reasonably settled only by friendly hot k1,,o resort to such arbitration should include the whole controversy, and is not satis- fled if one of the powers concerned Is permitted to draw an arbitrary line through the territory in debate and to declare that it will submit to arbitration only the portion lying on one side of 1t.
 In view of these conclusions, the dis patch in question called upon the Brit ish government for a definite answer to the question whether 1t would or would not submit the territorial controversy between itself and Venezuela in it's en- tifety to impartial arbitration The an swer of the British government has not yet been received, but is expected short ly, when further communication on the subject will probably be made to con- gross.
 Colorado Bynching.
 The dep1orable lynching of several Ital- ian laborers in Colorado was naturally followed by international representa- tions, and I am happy to say that the best efforts of the state in which the out rages occurred have been put forth to discover and punish the authors of this atrocious crime. The dependent families of some of the unfortunate victims invite by their deplorable condition gracious provision for their needs. These mani festations against helpless laborers may be traced through successive stages to the vicious Padroni system. which, un- checked by our immigration and contract labor statutes, controls these workers from the moment of landing on our shores, and farms them out in distant and often rude regions where their cheapening competition on the fields of breadwinning toll brings them into col lision with other labor interests.
 Evils of Immigration.
 While welcoming as we should those who seek our shores to merge themselves in our body polite and personal compe- tence by honest effort, we cannot regard such assemhlance of distinctively alien labors, hired out in the mass to the profit of alien speculators. and shipped hither and thither as the prospect of gain may dictate, as otherwise than repugnant to the spirit of our civilization, detrimental to individual advancement and hin drances to the building up of the states and communities resting upon the whole some ambitions of the citizens and con- stituting the prime factor in the prosper ity and progress of our nation. If legis- lation can reach this growing evil it cer- tainly should be attempted
 Must Be Neutral.
 - Whatever may be the traditional sym pathy of our countrymen as individuals with people who seem to be struggling for larger autonomy and greater free dom, deepened as such sympathy must be in behalf of neighbors, yet the plain duty of their government is to observe in good faith the recognized obligations of in- terna tional relationship. The perform ance of this duty should not be made more difficult by disregard on the part of our citizens of the obligations grow ing out of the allegiance to their country which should restrain them from vioIat- ing -as individuals the neutrality. of which they as members are bound to ob- serve in Its relations of friendly sover- eign states.
 Though neither the warmth of our peo- ple's sympathy with the Cuban ,insur- gents, nor our loss and material damage consequent upon the futile eudeavors thus far made to restore peace and order, nor any shock our human sensibilities may have received from the cruelties which appear to especially characterize this sanguinary and fiercely conducted war. have in the least shaken the deter imitation of the government to honestly iobii tNtiy OpllRdtlOn, yet 1t is to be earnestly hoped on every ground that the devastation of armed conflict may speedily be stayed and or der and quiet restored to the distracted island and bring in their train the activ- ity and thrift of peaceful pursuits.
 Allianca Affair.
 One notable instance of interference by Spain with passing American ships has occurred. On March 8 last the Ali anca was bound from Colon to New York, and. following the customary track for vessels near the Cubansshore, but outside the three mile limit, was fired upon by Spanish gunboat. A protest was prompt ly made by the United States against this act as not being justified by state of war. nor permission which grants yes sels the usual path of commerce nor tol- erance in view of the wanton peril occa- stoned to innocent life and property. The act was disayowed. with full ex- pression of regret and assurance of non- recurrence of such a just cause of con- p1Hfnt, while the offending officer was relieved of his command.
 Arrest of Americans.
 Military arrests of citizens of the United States in Cuba have occasioned frequent reclamations. Where held on