The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-04


are IN substance that the traditional and
established poll;y Of this government is firmly
opposed to u forcible increase by any European
power OF its territorial possessions IN this con-
tinent; that this policy is rs well founded In
principle as it Is strongly supported by numer-
Gus precedents that, rs n consequence, the
United States Is bound TO protest against the
enlargement of the area of British Guiana i'll
derogaton of the rights and against the Will OF
Venezuela; that, considering the disparity
in strength of Graat Britain and Venezuela,
the territor al dispute between them can be
reasonably settled only by friendly and inn
partial arbitration and that the resort to such
arbitration should include the whole contro-
vorsy, and is not satisfied If one of the powers
concerned is permitted to draw an arbitrary
line through tne territory in debate and to de-
clare that it will submit to arbitration only
the portion lying on one side of it.
In view of thes1 conclusions, the dispatch in
question called upon the British government
for definite answer to the question whether
II would or would not submit the territorial
controversy between itself and Venezuela in
! entirety to impartial arbitration
The answer of the British government has
not been received, but is expected shortly,
when further communication on the subject
will probably be made to congress.
The Hawaiian Question.
Early in January last an uprising against
the government of Hawaii was promptly sup
pressed Martial law was forthwith proclaimed,
and numerous arrests were made of persons
suspected of being in sympathy with the roy
nlst party. Among these were several citi-
zens Of the United States, who were either
convicted by military court and sentenced 10
death, imprisonment or fine, or were deported
without trial. The United States, while de-
nying protection to such rs had taken the
Hawaiian oath of allegiance, insisted that
martial law, though altering the forms OF
Justice, could not supersede justice itself, and
demanded u stay of execution until the pro
ceedings had been submitted TO this govern
ment, and knowledge obtained therefrom that
our citizens had received fair trial.
The death sentences were subsequently com
mutel or were RENTED on condition of leav-
ing the islands. The cases of certain Ameri-
cans arrested and expelled by arbitrary order,
without formal charge or trial, have had at
tention, and in some Instances have been
found to Justify remonstrance and claim for
indemnity, which Hawaii has not thus far con
coded.
MrThurston, the Hawaiian minister, having
furnished this government abundant reason
for asking that he BE- recalled, that course was
pursued, and his successor has lately been re-
c,ived.
Padrone System Condemned.
The deplorable lynching of several italian
laborers in Colorado was naturally followed
by international representations, and am
happy to say that the best efforts of the state
in which the outrages occurred have been put
forth to discover and punish the authors OF
this atrocious crime.
These manifestations against helpless aliens
may be traced through successive stages to
the vicious padrone system, which, unchecked
by our immigration and contract - labor
statutes-controls these workers from the
moment of landing OH our shores, and farms
them out in distant and often rude regions
where their cheapening competition in the
fields of bread winning toll brings them into
collision with other labor interests While
welcoming, we should, those who seek our
shores to merge themselves in our body poll
tic and win personal competence by honest
effort, we cannot regard such assemblages Of
dstnctively len laborers hired out In the
mass to the profit of alien spectators and
shipped hith-r and thither as the prospect Of
gain may dictate as otherwise than repugnant
to the spirit of our civilization, deterrent To
individual advancement, and hindrances 10
the building up of stable communities resting
upon the wholesome ambitions of the citizen
and constituting the prime factor in the pro
perity and progress of our nation. 1t legs-
lation reach this growing evil, it certainly
should be attempted.
The New Japan.
japan has furnished abundant evidence of
her vast gain in every trait and characteristic
that constitutes u nations greatness. We have
reason for cong ratulation in the fact that tie
government of che United States by the eN-
change of liberal treaty stipulations with the
new Japan the first to recognize her
wonderful advance and to extend to her the
consideration and confidence due to her ma
tional enlightenment and progressive character.
Our southern Neighbors.
The boundary dispute which lately threat
ened to embroil Guatemala and Mexico has
happily yielded to pacific counsels, and its de-
termination has, by the joint agreement of the
parties been submitted to the sole arbitration
of the United States minister to Mexico.
The commi-sion appointed under the con
vention of Feb IS, 1880, to set new monuments
along the bounta between the United states
and Mexico has compile ted its task.
As sequel to the failure of a scheme for the
colonization in Mexico of negroes, mostly inn
migrants from Alabama under contract a
great number of these helpless and suffering
people, starving and smitten with contagious
disease, made their way or were assisted to the
frontier, wherc, in wretched plight, they We're
quarantined by Texas authorities directed
rations to be temporarily furnished them
through the war department At the expira
ton of their quarantine, they were conveyed
by the railway companies at comparatively
nominal rates to their homes in Alabama
upon my suggestion, in the absence of any
fund available for the cost of their tranIpor
tation, that would recommend to congress fol
its payment Il now strongly urge upon con
gress the propriety of making such an appro
priation.
The Nicaraguan Disturbance.
In last years message l narrated at some
length the jursdictonal questions then
freshly arisen in the Mosquito Indian strip Of
Nicaragua. Since that time, by the volun
tary act of the Mosquito nation, the territory
reserved to them has been Incorporated viii
Nicaragua the Indians formally subjectn,
themselves to be governed by the general law
and regulations of the republic.
After this extension of uniform Nicaragua
administration to the Mosquito strip, the Cas-,
of the British vice consul, Hatch and of sew
eral of his countrymen, who had been sum
marily expelled from Nicaragua and treatei
with considerable indignity provoked CLAIM
by Great Britain upon Nicaragua for pecunI
AIRY indemnity, which, upon Nicaragua's no
fusal to admit liability, was enforced by Grea
Britain. While the sovereignty and jurisdio
ton of Nicaragua We're in no way questioned
by Great Britain the formers arbitrary con
duct in regard to the British subjects fur
nished the groluN for this proceeding.
A British naval force occupied without re
sistance the pacific seaport of Corinto, but WA
soon after withdrawn upon the promise tha
the sum demanded would be paid. Through
out this incident the kindly offices of I'll,
United States were invoked and were ELI
ployed in favor of as peaceful a settlement