Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1895-12-06


while denying protection to such as had taken
the Hawaiian oath of allegiance, insisted that
martial law, though altering the forms OF
Justice could not supercede Justice ITSELF ana
demanded 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.
Mr.. Thurston the Hawaiian minister. haV-
ing furnished this government abundant rea-
son for asking that he be recalled, that course |
was pursued, and his successor has lately been
received.
In last years message l narrated at some |
length the jurisdictonal questions then fresh
ly arisen in the Mosquito Indian strip OF
Nicaragua. Since that time. by the voluntary
act of the Mosquito nation, the territory re-
served to them has been incorporated WIN
Nicaragua the Indians formally subjectins
themselves to be governed by the general laws
and regulations OF the Republic instead OF py
their own customs and regulations, ana tnus
avaling themselves Of privilege secured 10
them by the treaty between Nicaragua anu
Great Britain Of January 49, 1860.
The Corinto Affair.
After this extension of uniform Nicaraguan
administration to the Mosquito strip, the
case Of the British vice-consul Hatch, ana Oh
several of his countrymen. who had peen
summarly expelled from Nicaragua anu
treated with considerable indignity. provoked
a claim by Great Britain upon Nicaragua LOT
pecuniary indemnity which, upon Nicar
agua's refusal to admit liability, was enforced
by Great Britain. While the sovereignty anu
Jurisdiction Of Nicaragua was In no way ques
toned by Great Britain, The formers arpitrary
conduct in regard to British SUBJECTS Iurmsnou
the ground for this proceeding. BRUSH
naval force occupied without resistance the
Pacific seaport of Corinto, but was soon aitei
withdrawn upou the promise that the sum
demanded would be paid.
Throughout this incident the kindly omces
| of the United States were invoked ana weIe
| employed in favor of as peacefui settieinen'
| and as much consideration and induigehce w
ward Nicaragua as consistent with the
nature Of the case Our efforts have SINCE
been made the subject Of appreciatiVe anu
| grateful recognition by Nicaragua
Turkey and Armenia.
! Occurrences in Turkey have continued
to excite concern. The reported mas
sacre Of Christians in Armenia ana tne
| development there and in other districts
| of a spirit of fanatic hostility to Chris
tan influences naturally excited appre
| hension for the safety Of the devoted
| men and women who as dependents or
| the foreign missionary societies In the
| United States, reside in Turkey, under
the guarantee of law and usage ana In
the legitimate performance OF their ecu
cational and religious mission. NO Ell
forts have been spared in their behalf.
erty has been earnestly and vigorously
enforced by every means within our
power. / regret, however, that an at
tempt on our part to obtain better IN
formation concerning the true condltioii
of affairs in the disturbed quarter OF
the Ottoman empire, by sending thither
the United States consul at SiVas, 10
make investigation and report, was
| thwarted by the objections of the TURK
ish government. This movement on our
part was in no sense meant as a gra-
tuitous ENHANCEMENT OF the Uniteu
) States in the so-called Eastern question
, nor as an officious interference with the
right and duty which belong by treaty
TO certain great European powers. call
ing for their intervention In political
. matters affecting the good governmen
! and religious freedom of the non-Mus
sulman subjects OF the sultan: put II
arose solely from our desire to have ar
accurate knowledge of the conditions IN
our efforts to care for those entitled t'
, our protection.
5 The presence OF our naval vessels. which arr
? now in the vicinity of the disturbed localities
| affords opportunities to acquire a measure o
e | familiarity with the condition of affairs, anC
will enable us to make suitable steps for thu
protection of any interests OF our countrymei
= within reach of cur ships that might be foun'
J | imperiled. The Ottoman government ha
/, | lately issued an imperial trade, exempting Tor
: ever from taxation AN American college 70
. | girls at Scutari. Repeated assurances nav
D also been obtained by our envoy at Constan
d | tinople that similar institutions, mantaine
K | and administered by our countrymen, snail d
: secured In the enjoyment of all rights an
4 that our citizens throughout the empire sha
q be protected.
NJ The government however, In view OF eN
q listing facts is far from relying upon such as
: surances as the limit of its duty. Our mniste
;. has been vigiant and alert In anordinS a
In midi
danger threatened or safety was imperiie.
. We have sent ships far toward the point
= of actual disturbance as II is possible Tor thei
L to CO. where they offer refuge to those oohge
IL tn fee and we have the promise or othe
e powers which have ships in the neighborhoo'
&c that our citizens as well as theirs, VIII De II
q ceiyed and protected board these ship
= On the demand Of our minister, orders nav
II been issued by the Sultan that TURKISH SO
n diers shall guard and escort to the Goa
II American refugees.
~ Missionaries Are Safe.
IN These orders have been carried out, al
AZ | our latest intelligence gives assurance Oh u
:, | present personal safety of our citizens al
missionaries. Though thus far no lives
: American citizens have been sacrificed, the
- can be no doubt that serious loss ana destru
80 ton of mission property have resulted iro
~ rtotous conflicts and outrageous attacks. /
!" treaty, several of the most powerful Eur
u assumed a duty not only in behalf oil the
own citizens and in furtherance OF their oW
Interests but as agents OF the Christ's
world Their right is to enforce such Co
duet Of the Turkish government as VIII r
e strain fanatical brutality. and If this fail
Is their duty is to SO interfere as to insu
III against such dreadful occurrences in Turk
u as have lately shocked civilization. The poWe
as declare this right and this duty 10 be thef
e. alone. and 1t is earnestly hoped that prom
In and effective action on their part viii not
delayed.
It, The new consulates at Erzeroum and la
IL moot for which appropriation was made Ia
~ session, have been Professionally hlled
ne trusted employees of the department OF stat
~ These appontees, though now In turkey Ia
n not vet received their exeQuaturs
su Spain and Cuba.
- ~ Cuba is again seriously disturbed.
-, insurrection, in some respects more &c
- i've than the last preceding reVo
30, which continued from 1868 to 1878, no
- exists In large part of the eastern 4
a terror of the island, menacing eve
"a some populations on the coast. Besid
% derang cling the commercial exchanges
-. the island, of which our country tax
b. the predominant share, this fiagra
~. condition of hostilities, by arousing Sc
n timental sympathy and melting adve
~ turous support among our people. III
-. entailed earnest effort on the part OF tn
~ government to enforce obedience to o