Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-12-05

| 1t should be remembered that the measures
| taken were dictated not only by sympathy
| was not compatible with the dignity of
| this government that so large body of
! our dependent citizens should be thrown
| for relief upon the charity of q neighbour
| ing state.
The Mosquito Affair.
In last years message. narrated at
Sen as6R arsen n tbe
dian strip of Nicaragua. Since that time.
by the voluntary act of the Mosquito ma
been ineorporatea with Ncarag Re the
| Indians formally subjecting themselves to
| be governed by the general laws and reg
| ulations of the republic instead of by their
own customs and regulations, and thus
availing themselves of a privilege secured
to them by the treaty between Nicaragua
| and Great Britain Of January %. 1860.
After this extension of uniform Mic
| araguan administration to the Mosquito
| strip, the case of the British vice consul,
Hatch. and Of several of his countrymen,
| who had been summarily expelled from
| Nicaragua and treated with considerable
indignity. provoked claim by Great
demnity, which, upon Nicaragua's re-
fusai to admit liability, was enforced by
Great Britain. While the sovereignty and
questioned by Great Britain, the formers
arbitrary conduct in regard to British SUBJ
jccts furnished the ground for this pro,
ceeding. British naval force occupied
without resistance the Pacific seaport of
Corinto, but was soon after withdrawn
upon the promise that the sum demanded
would be paid. Throughout this incident
the kindly offices of the United States
were invoked and were employed in favor
OF as peaceful settlement and as much
consideration and indulgence toward Mic
aragua as were consistent with the nature
Of the case. Our efforts have since been
made the subject ofappreciative and CRATE
full recognition by Nicaragua.
Relations with Russia.
The coronation of the car of Russia at
Moscow in May next invites the ceremonial
participation of the United States, and in
accordance with usage and diplomatic pro-
priety our minister to the imperial court has
been directed to represent our government
on the occasion.
Correspondence is on foot touching the
practice of Russian consuls within the
jurisdiction Of the United States to inter-
rogate citizens as to their race and reli-
gious faith, and upon ascertainment there
of to deny to Jews authorization of pass
ports or legal documents for use in Russia
Inasmuch as such proceeding imposes q
disability, which in the case of succession
to property in Russia may be found to in
fringe the treaty rights of our citizens
and which Is an obnoxious invasion OF our
territorial jurisdiction, 1t has ELECTED fit
ting remonstrance, the result of which 1t
is hoped will remove the cause of COM
plant. ...
The pending claims Of sealing vessels
of the United States seized in Russian
waters remain unadjusted; Our recent con-
vention with Russia establishing a modus
vivendi as to imperial jurisdiction in such
cases has prevented further difficulty of
this nature.
The Russian government has welcomed
in principle our suggestion for modus vi
vendi, to embrace Great Britain and ia
leo IL to the
sea and the extension of the protected area
defined by the Paris tribunal to all Pacific
waters north Of the 35th parallel. 1t is es-
pecially noticeable that Russia faKors pro-
hibition of the use of firearms in Sal hunt
ing throughout the proposed area and
longer close season for pelagic sealing.
An Inconsistent Position.
In my last two annual messages I called
the attention of the congress to the posi-
ton we occupied as one of the parties to
jointly bound with England and Germany
to so interfere with the government and
control of Samoa as in effect to assume
the management of it's affairs. On the 9th
day of May, 1894, transmitted to the SEN
ate a special message with accompanying
documents giving information on the sub
ject and emphasizing the opinion have
at all times entertained, that our situation
in this matter was inconsistent with the
mission and traditions of our government,
in violation of the principles we profess,
and in all it's phases mischievous and vexa-
tious. / again press this subject upon the
attention of the congress and ask for such
legislative action or expression as will
lead the way to our relief from obligations
both irkSome and unnatural.
The Revolution in Cuba.
Cuba is again gravely disturbed. An in
surrection, in some respects more active
than the last preceding revolt, which con-
tinued from 1868 to 1878, now exists in a
large part of the eastern interior of the is
the coast. Besides deranging the CONNER
cial exchanges of the island, Of which our
country takes the predominant share, this
fragrant condition of hostilities, by arous-
ing sentimental sympathy and melting adj
venturouS support among our people, has
entailed earnest effort on the part of this
government to enforce obedience to our
neutrality laws and to prevent the terri
tory of the United States from being
abused as vantage ground from which'to
aid those in arms against Spanish sover-
eighty.
Must Maintain a Position OF Neutrality.
Whatever may be the traditional sym
pathy OF our countrymen as individuals
with people who seem to be struggling for
larger autonomy and greater freedom
deepened as such sympathy naturally must
be in behalf of our neighbors, yet the plain
duty of their government is to observe in
good faith the recognized obligations of
international relationship. The perform
ance of this duty should not be made more
citizens of the obligations growing out of
| their allegiance to their country, which
| should restrain them from violating as in
| oividuals the neutrality which the nation
| of which they are members is bound to
observe in it's relation to friendly sover-
| eign states. Though neither the warmth
of our peoples sympathy with the Cuban
| insurgents, nor our loss and material dam
| age consequent upon the futile endeavors
| thus far made to restore peace and order,
nor any shock our humane sensibilities
may have received from the crueltieS
which appear to especially characterize
| this sanguinary and fiercely conducted
! war, have in the least shaken the determi-
nation of the government to honestly full
| fill 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 re-
| stored to the distracted island, bringing
| in their train the activity and thrift of
| peaceful pursuits.
Tho Alliance Incident.
| One notable instance of interference by
Spain with passing American ships has oc-
| CURED. On March s, last, the Alliance,
| while bound from Colon to New York, and
following the customary track for vessels
| near the Cuban shore, but inside the three
| mile limit, was fired upon by a Spanish
| gunboat. Protest was promptly made by
| theUnitcd States against this act as not be-
ing justified by state of war, nor per-
| missible in respect of vessels on the usual
paths of commerce, nor tolerable in view
| of the wanton peril occasioned TO innocent
| life and property. The. act was disavowed,
| with full expression of regret and assur-
| ance of inconvenience of such just cause
/ OF complaint, while the offending officer
| was relieved of his command.
| Arrests OF Americans in Cuba.