The record-union., 1895-12-04

chile increase by any European power
of its 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 con-
sequence the United States is bound to
protest against the enlargement of area
of British Guiana in derogation of the
rights and against the will ofVeneZuela; /;
that, considering the disparity in
strength of Great Britain and Vene-
zuela, the territorial dispute between
them can be reasonably settled only by
friendly and impartial arbitration and
the resort to such arbitration should
include the whole controversy, and is
not satisfied if one of the powers con-
cerned is permitted to draw an arbitrary
line through the territory in debate and
to declare that it will submit to arbitra-
ton 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
not submit the territorial controversy
between itself and Venezuela in its en-
tirety to impartial arbitration.
The answer of the British Government
has not yet been received, but is expect
ed shortly, when further communica-
tion on the subject will probably be
made to the Congress.
HAWAIIAN REVOLT.
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 Royal
ist Party Among those were several
citizens of the United States, who were
either convicted by a military Court and
sentenced to death, imprisonment or
fine, or were deported without trial
The United States, while denying pro-
lection to such as had taken the Hawa-
iian oath of allegiance, insisted that
martial law, though altering the forms
of justice, could not Supercede justice
itself, and demanded a stay Of execu-
tion until the proceedings had been sub
mitted to this Government and knOwl-
edge obtained therefrom that our citi-
zens had received fair trial.
The death sentences were subsequent
ly cOmmuted or were remitted on con-
dition of leaving the Islands. The cases
of certain Americans arrested and eX-
PEELED by arbitrary order without for
NAL charge or trial have had attention,
and in some instances has been found to
justify remonstrance and claim for
indemnity, which Hawaii has not thus
far conceded.
Mr.. Thurston, 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 received.
THE LYNCHED ITALIANS.
The depIorable lynching of several
italian labOrers in Colorado was natur-
ally followed by international represen-
tations, 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. The dependent
families of some of the unfortunate
victims invite by their deplorable con-
dition gracious provision for their
needs.
These manifestations against help
less aliens may be traced through sue
cesSive stages to the vicious padrOne
system, which, unchecked by our i'm
migration and contract labor statutes,
controls these workers from the mo-
ment of landing on our shores, and
farms them out in distant and often
rude regions, where their sharpening
competition in the fields of bread-win-
ming toll brings them into collision with
other labor interests.
While welcoming, as we should, those
who seek our shores to merge them
selves in our body polite, ana win per-
sonal competence by honest effort, We
cannot regard such assemblages of dis
tinctly alien laborers, hired out by spec
ulators and shipped hither and thither
as the prospect Of gain may dictate, as
otherwise than repugnant to the spirit
Of our civiliza ton, deterrent to indi-
vidual advancement and hindT8nces to
the building up of stable com mOditieS
resting upon the wholesome ambitions
Of the citizens and constituting the
prime factor in the prosperity and
progress of our Nation.
If legislation can reach this growing
evil, it certainly should be attempted
JAPAN'S ADVANCEMENT.
Japan has furnished abundant evi-
dence CT her vast gain in every trait
and characteristic that constitutes a
Nations greatness. We have reason
for congratulations in the fact that the
Government of the United States, by the
xohange of liberal treaty stipulations
with the New Japan, was the first to
recognize her wonderful advance, and
TO extend the consideration and conf
dence due to her national enlighten-
ment and progressive character.
GUATEMALA AND MEXICO.
The boundary dispute which threat
ened to embroil Guatemala and Mexico
has happily yielded TO pacific counsels,
and its determination has by the joint
agreement of the parties been submit
ted to the sole arbitration Of the United
States Minister TO Mexico.
The commission appointed, under the
convention of February Is, 1889, to set
new monuments along the boundary be-
tween the United States and Mexico, has
completed its task.
DESTITUTE NEGROES.
AS a sequent of the failure of a scheme
for the colonization in Mexico of ne
grCes, mostly emigrants from Alabama,
under contract, a great number of these
helpless and suffering people, starving
and smitten with contagious diseases,
made their way or were assisted to the
frontier and were in a wretched plight
They We're quarantined by the Texas
authorities. Learning of their des-
titute condition, L directed rations
to be temporarily furnished them
through the War Department At the
expiration of their quarantine they were
conveyed by the railway company at
comparatively nominal rates to their
/ homes in Alabama, upon my assurance,
in the absence of any fund available for
the cost of their transportation, that l
would recommend to Congress an ap-
preparation for its payment. l now
strongly urge upon Congress the pro-
priety of making such an apprOpria-
ticn. II should be remembered the mea-
sures taken were dictated not only by
sympathy and humanity, but by a con-
viction that it was not compatible with
the dignity of this Government that so
large a body of our dependent citizens
should be thrown for relief upon the
charity of a neighboring State.
THE MOSQUITO STRIP.
In last years message I narrated at
some length the jurisdictional questions
then freshly arisen in the Mosquito In
dian strip of Nicaragua.
Since that time by the voluntary act
of the Mosquito Nation, the territory
reserved to them has been Incorporated
with Nicaragua, the Indians formally
| slIhincting Themselves To be crnra,1n. n