The free press., 1895-12-19

as it is strongly supported by numerous
precedents; that as a consequence the
United States is bound to protest against
the enlargement of the area of British
Guineiia in deregation of the rights and
against the. will of Venezuela; that consid-
ering the disparity as in strength of Great
Britain and Venezuela, the territorial dis
pute between them can be reasonably set
lied only by friendly and impartial arbii
tration, and that the resort to such arbi-
tration should include the whole contro.
versy, and is not satisfied if one of the
powers concerned is permitted to draw an
arbitrary line through the territory in de-
bate and to declare that it will submit to
arbitration only the portion lying on one
side of it. In view of these conclusions,
the dispatch in question called upon the
British government for definite answer
to the question whether it would or would
not submit Cne territorial controversy De-
tween itself and Venezuela in its entirety
to impartial arbitration. The answer of
the British government has not been re-
ceived, but is expected shortly, when fur
ther communication on the subject will
probably be made to the congress.
The Hawaiian Revolution.
Early in January last, an uprising
against the government of Hawaii was
promptly suppressed. Martial law was
forthwith proclaimed; and numerous ar.
rests were made of persons suspected of
being in sympathy with the royalist party
Among these were several citizens of the
United States, who were either convicted
by q military court and sentenced to
death imprisonment, or fine.' or were de-
ported without trial. The United States,
while denying protection to such as had
taken the Hawaiian oath of allegiance, in
sisted that martial law, though altering
the forms of justice, could not supersede
frutica it Golf and dam n6ad gtav 0f
| tion until the proceedings had been sub
| mitted to this government and knowledge
| obtained therefrom that our citizens had
| received fair trial.
The death sentences were subsequently
| committed or were remitted on condition
| of leaving the islands. The Gases of cer-
| tain Americans arrested and expelled by
| arbitrary order without formal charge or
| trial have had attention, and in some in
| stances has bees found to Justify remon.
| STRANGE and A claim for indemnity, which
| is not thus far conceded. Mr.. Thurston,
| the Hawaiin 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 Struggling Cnbans.
Cuba is again gravely disturbed. An
| tnsurrection in some respects more active
| Ihan the last preceding revolt. which
| continued from 1868 to 1873, now exists In
| large part of the eastern interior OF the
Siapd, menacing even some populations
| On the coast. Besides deranging the com
| mercial exchanges of the island. of which
| our country takes the predominant share,
! this fragrant condition OF hostilties. by
| arousing emotional sympathy and .ccit-
ing adventurous support amoung our
| people. has entailed earnest effort on the
l - . L. 1f@ra 11HTt
snce to our neutrality laws and TO prevent
the territory of the United States from
being abused as a vantage ground from
| which to aid those in arms against Span.
ish sovereignty, whatever maybe tbs
traditional sympathy of our country
men, as individuals, with a people
| who seem to be struggling for lar,
| pend as such sympathy naturally must
lie in behalf of our neighbors, yet the
| plain duty of their government is to OBJ
serve in good faith the recognized obliga-
tions of international relationship. The
| performance Of this duty should not be
made more difficult by a disregard on the
! part of our citizens of the obligations
| growing out of their allegiance to
their country, which should restrain
them from violating, as individuals
the neutrality which the nation OF
which they are members is bound
| to observe in its relations OF friend
| ly sovereign states. Though neither
the warmth of our peoples sympathy with
| the Cuban insurgents, nor our loss ana
material damage consequent upon the
| futile endeavors thus far made to restore
| peace and order, nor any shock our human
sensibilities may have received from the
cruelties which appear to especially char
acterize this sanguinary and finely con
Quoted war; have in the least shaken the
lnt tn hnr
estly 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 ordel
and quiet restored to the distracted island
bringing In the train of activity and thrift
of peaceful pursuits.
One notable instance of interference by
Spain with passing American ships has oc
| Cured. On Marcn last. The Alliance
while bound from Colon to New York
and following the customary. track fol
| vessels near the Cuban shore. but outside
the three mile limit. was fired upon by a
Spanish gunboat Protest was promptly
made by the United States against thi:
set as not being justified by state of war
nor permissible in respect of vessels on thu
usual paths of commerce, nor tolerable II
view of the wanton peril occasioned to IN
nocent life and property. The act was dis
avowed, with full expression of regret, ant
| assurance of non-recurrence OF such JUS
cause of complaint while the offend
ing officer was relieved of his command.
The Trouble In Turkey.
Occurrences in Turkey have continued
to excite concern. The reported massacre
of Christians in Armenia and the develop
ment there and in other districts of a spirl
of fanatic hostility to Christian influences
naturally excited apprehension for th'
safety of the devoted men and womel
who, as dependents of the foreign mission
ary societies in the United States, resid'
in Turkey under the guarantee OF law an'
usage and in the legitimate performanc
of their educational and religious mission
No efforts have been spared in their behalf
and their protection in person ana prop
erty has been earnestly and vigorously en-
forced by every means within our power
regret, however. that an attempt Oh
our part to obtain better information con
cerning the true condition of affairs in tn
disturbed quarter of the Ottoman empire
by sending thither the United States con
sui at Siyas to make investigation and IT
port, was thwarted by the objections @
the Turkish government. This movemen
| on our part was in no sense meant as
gratuitous ENHANCEMENT of the Unite
States in the socalled eastern question
| ,or nc op offioinus intprference with tn