The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-04


| sequent upon the futile endeavors
| thus far made to restore peace and or
| der, nor any shock our humane sensi-
| blities may have received from the
cruelties which appear to especially
| characterize this sanguimary and
| fierceIy conducted war, have in the
| least shaken the determination of the
| Government TO honestly fulfill every
| international obligation, yet it is to be
earnestly hoped, on every ground, that
| the devastation of armed conflict may
| speedily be stayed and order and quiet
| restored to the distracted island,
| bringing in their train the activity
and thrift of peaceful pursuits.
SPANS INTERFERENCE.
One notable instance of interference
| by Spain with passing American ships
| has occurred. On March Sth last, the
| AlIianca, while bound from Colon to
| New York, and following the custom
| airy track for vessels near the Cuban
! shore. but outside the three mile limit,
was fired upon by Spanish gunboat.
| Protest was promptly made by the
| United States against this act as not
| being justified by a state of war, nor
| permissible in respect of vessels on the
usual paths Of commerce, nor tolera-
| bic in view of the want of peril occa-
| stoned to innocent life and property.
| The act was disavOwed, with full eN-
| preston of regret, and assurance of
non-reoccurrence of such Just cause of
! complaint. while the offending officer
was relieved of his command. Military
| arrests Of citizens of the United States
| in Cuba have occasioned fire.
| quent reclamations. Where held ON
| criminal charges their delivery to the
| ordinary civil jurisdiction for trial has
| been demanded and obtained in CON
| formity with treaty provisions, and
| where merely detained by way of mil
! itary precaution under a proclaimed
| state of seige without formulated aC-
| cusation, their release or trial has been
| insisted upon, The right OF Ameri-
| can consular officers in the island TO
prefer protests and demands in such
cases having been questioned by the
insular authority. Their enjoyment
of the privilege stipulated by treaty
| for the consuls of Germany was
| claimed under the most favored ma
| ton provision of our own convention
and was promptly recognized.
THE MORA CLAIM.
The long standing demand OF An
tonic Maxine Mora against Spain has
| at last been settled by the payment, on
the I4th of September last, of the sum
| Originally agreed upon in liquidation of
the claim. It's distribution among the
parties entitled to receive 1t has pro-
| ceetled as rapidly as the rights OF those
claiming the fund could be safely de
teImined.
SPAIN AND TARIFF DUTIES.
The enforcement of differential du
ties against products of this country
exported to Cuba and Porto Rico
| prompted the immediate claim on our
part to the benefit of the minimum tar
| if of Spain in return for the most ia
yorable treatment permitted by our
laws as regards the production of
Spanish territories. A commercial ar
rangement was concluded in January
last securing the treatment so claimed.
Vigorous protests against excessive
fines imposed on our ships and mer-
chandise by the customs officers of
these islands for trivial errors have re-
suited in the emission of such fines in
instances where the equity of the com.
plant was apparent, though the veX-
;itious practice has not been wholly
discontinued.
THE ARMENIAN DIFFICULTIES.
Occurrences in Turkey have continu-
cd to excite concern. The reported
massacres Of christians in Armenia
and the development there and in 9th
er districts of spirit of fanatic hos
tility TO christian influences naturally
excited apprehension for the safety of
the devoted men and women who, as
dependents of the foreign missionary
societies in the United States, reside
in Turkey under the guarantee of law
and usage and in the legitimate per-
Torrance of their educational and reli-
9iouS mission. No efforts have been
spared in their bedalf and their pro-
lection in person and property has
been earnestly and vigorously enforc-
ed by every means within our power.
/ regret, however, that an attempt
on our part to obtain better informa
ton concerning the true condition Of
affairs in the disturbed quarters of the
Ottoman empire, by sending thither
the United States consul at SiYaS to
make investigation and report, was
thwarted by the objections of the
Turkish government. This movement
on our part was in no sense meant as a
gratuitious ENHANCEMENT of the Unit
ed States in the so-called Eastern
question, nor as an officious interior
ence with the right and duty which be-
long by treaty to certain great Euro
pean powers, calling for their interven
ton in political matters affecting the
good government and freedom of the
non-M ussulman subjects of the Sultan,
but it arose solely from our desire to
have an accurate knowledge of the con-
ditions in our efforts to care for those
entitled to our protection.
The presence of our naval vessels
which are now in the vicinity of the
disturbed localities affords opportuni-
ties to acquire Il measure of familiari-
ty with the condition of affairs, and
will enable us to take suitable steps
for the protection of any interests of
our countrymen within reach of our
ships that might be found imperilled.
The Ottaman Government has
lately issued an imperial edict exempt |
ing forever from taxation an Ameri- |