Delaware gazette and state journal., 1895-12-05

that Russia favors prohibition of
the use of firearms in seal hunting
throughout the proposed area and a
longer closed season for pelagic sealing.
In my last two annual messages /
called the attention of the Congress to
the position we occupied as one of the
parties to treaty or agreement by
which we became jointly bound with
England and Germany to go interfere
with the government and control OF
Samoa as in effect to assume the man
agement of its affairs. On the 9th day
of May, 1894, transmitted to the Sen
ate special message with accompany
ing documents giving information on
the subject and emphazing the opinion
| have at all times entertained. That
our situation in this matter was incon
sistent with the mission and traditions
of our government, in violation of the
principles we profess and in all its
phases mischievous and vexatious.
| 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 unnat
ural.
Cuba is again gravely disturbed. An
insurrection, in some respects more
active than the last preceding revolt
which continued from 1868 to 1878,
now exists in large part of the east
ern interior of the island, menacing even
some populations on the coast. Besides
deranging the commercial exchanges OF
the island, of which our country takes
the predominant share this fragrant
condition of hostiities, by arousing
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
territory of the United States from
being abused as a vantage ground from
which TO aid those in arms against
Spanish sovereignty. Whatever may be
the traditional sympathy Of our coun'
trymen as individuals with a people
who seem to be struggling for larger
autonomy and greaterfreedom deepened
as such sympathy naturally must be
| in behalf of our neighhors. Yet the
plain duty of their government is to
observe in good faith the recognized
obligations of international relation
ship. The performance Of this duty
should not be made more difficult by
| uIbTBBdTll Ou tu6 pdrb vi ouI CitlAcho VI
| the obligations growing out of their al
legiance to their country, which
| should restrain them from violating as
individuals the neutrality which the
nation of which they are members
are bound to observe in its relations to
friendly sovereign states. Though
neither the warmth of our peoples
sympathy with Cuban insurgents, nor
our loss and material damage conse-
quent 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 deter
mination of the government to honestly
| fulfil 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 dis
tracted island, bringing in their train
the activity and thrift of peaceful pur-
suits. One notable instance of inter
ference by Spain with passing Ameri-
can ships has occurred. On March Sth
last, the Alliance, while bound from
| Colon to New York, and following the
| customary track for vessels near the
| Cuban shore, but outside the three
mile limit was fired upon by Span
| ish gunhoat. Protest was promptly
made by the United States against this
act as not being justified by state of
war, nor permissible 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 assurance
of non-recurrence 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
frequent reclamations Where held
on criminal charges their delivery to
the ordinary civil jurisdiction for trial
has been demanded and obtained in
conformity with treaty provisions, aud
were merely detained by way of military
precaution under proclaimed state
of siege, without formulated precau-
tion under proclaimed state of siege,
without formulated accusation, their
release or trial has been insisted upon.
The right of American consular officers
in the island to prefer protests and de-
mands in such cases having been ques-
toned by the insular authority, their
enjoyment of the privilege stipulated
by treaty for the consuls Of Germany
was claimed under the most favored
nation provision of our own convention
and was promptly recognized.
The long standing demand of An
tonic Maxiino Mora against Spain has
at last been settled by the payment,
| &c h., ,f 4ls.
sum originally agreed upon in liquida-
tion of the claim. Its distribution
among the parties entitled to receive
il has proceeded as rapidly as the
rights of those claiming the fund
could be safely determined. Tho en-
forcement of differential duties against
products of this country exported TO
Cuba and Puerto Rico prompted the inn
mediate claim on our part to the bene
| fit of the minimum tariff of Spain in
return for the most favorable Great
ment permitted by our laws as regards
the production of Spanish territory A
commercial arrangement was concluded
in January last securing the treatment
so claimed. Vigorous protests against
excessive fines imposed on our ships
and merchandise by the customs Off
GERS of these islands for trivial errors
have resulted in the remission of such
fines in instances where the equity of
the complaint was apparent, though
| the vexatious practice has not been
wholly discontinued.
THE TROUBLE IN TURKEY.
Occurrences in Turkey have con.
| tinued to excite concern. The re-
ported massacres of Christians in
Armenia and the development there
and in other districts of spirit of