Semi=weekly graphic., 1895-12-04


ing the determination slaughter OF seals
The understanding by which the United
states was to pay aud Great Britain to receive
a lump sum OF S425,G00 in full settlement of all
British claims for damages arising from our
seizure OF British sealing vessels unauthor lied
under the award OF the Paris tribunal oil arDI.
tratien, was not confirmed by the last congress,
Whlen declined to make the necessary appTo.
priation. l am still Of the opinion that this ar
fangement was judicious and advantageous
ohe lof the government ana / earnestly rec
ommend that 1t be again considered If how
ever u does not meet with the favor of
congress 1t certainly will h rdly sent from
the proposition that the government Is b und
by every consideration ofhonor and good faith
to provide for the justment of these claims
by arbitrad II as the only alternative and a
treaty Of arbitration mas been agreed upon
and will be immediately laid before the So ate,
SO that in one of the modes lug se5ted inat
settlement may be reacGed
Notwithstanding that Great ritaiD orfgina.
ted the prop sitien to enforce international
rules Tor til prevention of llisions at SEA.
lstlon on the part OF British shipping interests,
and announced its inability to accept that date,
which was consequently cancelled.
The commissioners appointed to mark the
International boundary in Passamquaddy by
according to the description of the treaty Of
Client have not yet fully agreed.
The completion Of the preliminary survey of
that Alaskan boundary which follows the con-
tour Of the coast from the southern cost of Prince
of Wales island, to the one hundred and
forty first meridian at or near the summit OF
AAR1IoothA3
preparation, which is urgently recommended.
As to the remaining section of the Alaskan
northwardly from Mt st. Elias to the frozen
ocean, the settlement of which involves the
physical location OF the meridian mentioned
no conventional agreement has yet been made
In the meantime the valley of the Yukon
river Is becoming a highway through
the hitherto unexplored wilds of Alaska
Abundant mineral wealth has been discovered
In that region, especially at or near the Juno
ton OF the boundary meridian with the Yukon
and its tributaries, In these circumstances it
Is eXpedtent, and indeed Imperative, that the
jurisdiction limits of the respective govern
ments OF this new region be speedily determ-
lned- Her Britannia malestys government has
proposed joint deltneation OF the ,i4lst meri-
dian by an international commission OF ex-
Derts, which, II congress Will authorize IT, and
make due provision therefore, can be accom-.
pltshed with no undesirable delay. It Is impossi-
BILE To overlook the vital Importance of conttlu-
ing the work already entered upon, and supple
menting it by further enectige measures look
ing to the exact location OF this entire boun-
dairy line.
l call attention to the unsatisfactory deiine-
alton of the respective Jurisdictions of the
United states and Canada In the Great
Lakes at the approaches TO the narrow waters
that connect them. The waters in question
are frequented by fishermen OF both nationali-
ties and their nets are there used. Owing to
the uncertainty and ignorance as to
the true boundary vexatons, disputes,
and injurious seizures of boats and nets
by Canadian cruisers, often occur. joint
commission to determine the line is necessity
for which immediate provisions should be
made
between Great Britain and the republic of
Venezuela concerning the limits of British
Guinea was approaching an acute stage and
definite statement OF the interest and policy OF
the United States as regards the controversy
seemed to be required, both on its own account
and In view OF its relations with the friendly
powers directly concerned.
In July last therefore a dispatch was adj
dressed to our ambassador at London for
communication to the British government
IN which the attituds of th5 Unitel states was
fully and distinctly set forth. The general
conclusions there reached and formulated are
in substance that the traditional and estab-
l1shed policy of this government is firmly op-
posed TO q torc1ble increase by any European
power OF its territorial possessions on tins con
tlnent That this policy Is as we'll founded in
principle as II Is strongly supported by numer-
Gus preeedents that as consequence the
United states Is bound TO protest against the
enlargement of the area of British Guinea in
derosation Of the rights and against the will of
venezuela, that considering the disparity in
strength of Great Britain and Venezuela,
the territorial dispute between them can be
reasonably settled by friendly and impartial ar
btrauon, and the resort to such arbitration
should include the whole controversy. and is
not satisfied ii one of the powers concerned is
PeIiiltIed 70 uTaW an arbitrary line througn
the territory IN debate to declare that II 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 a definite answer to the cues
ton whether 1t would or wonld not submit the
territorial controversy between itself and Vene-
zuela in its entirety to impartial arbitrationf
The answer OF the British government has
not yet been received, but Is expected shortly,
when further communication on the subject
Will probably be made to the congress.
EARLY in January last an uprising against
the government OF Hawaii was promptly sup
pressed. Martial law was forthwith pro
claimed AID numerous arrests were made of
persons suspected OF being in sympathy with
the Royalist party. Among these were several
OF our cltizels, who were either convicted
by military court and sentenced to death, i'm
prisonment or fine or We're deported without
trial On demand of this government the mat
ter was adjusted satisfactory, except as to
claims of indemnity OF some of those benished
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 re-
celved.
The depIorable lynching of several Italian
laborers in Colorado was naturally followedby
international representation and l 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 eff
this atroe1ous crime. The dependent families
of some of the unfortunate victims invite, by
their deplorable condition, gracious provision
for their needs.
These manifestations against helpless aliens
may be traced through successive states to the
vicious padrone system which, unchecked By
our immigration and contract labor statutes
controls these workers from the moment OF
their landing on our shores and farms them
out III distant and often rude regions where
their cheapening competition In the fields of
breadwtnning toll brings them in collision with
other labor interert. If legislation can
reach this growing evil 1t certainly should be
attempted.
The boundary dispute which lately threatened
10 EN- broli Guatemala and Mexico has happily
yielded to pacific eounSels and its determine
ton has. by the joint agreement OF the parties
been submitted TO the sole arbitration OF the
United States minister to Mexico.
The commission appointed under the conyen-
ton of February Is, lSS9to set new monuments
along the boundary between the United States
and Mexico, has completed its task.
AS a sequel to the failure OF q scheme for the
colonization in Mexico of negroes mostly emf
grants from Alabama under contract a great
number OF these helpless and suffering people
starving and smttten with contagious disease
made their way. or were assisted to the iron
tier, where in wretched condition. they were
quarantined by the Texas authorities Learn
ing of their destitute condition. l directed
rations to be temper arily furnished Them
through the war department. At the expira.
tiOn OF their quarantine they were conveyed
by the railway companies, at compare
lively nominal rates, to their homes
in Alabama upon my assurance in the alb
Sence of any fund available for the cost OF their
transportation, that | would recommend to
congress an appropriation Tor its payment. l
now strongly urge upon congress the propriety
of making such an appropriation.
In last years message l narrated at some
length jurisdictional questions then freshly
arisen In the Mosquito Indian strip of Ntcara
qua and the controversy between Great Brit
ain and that country All differences have
been adjusted,
The pending claims OF sealing vessels of the
United states sized in Russian waters remain
unadj usted. Our recent convention with Rus
STA, establishing modus viyende has prevent
ed further difficulty OF this nature. The Rus
sian government has Weleom ed in nrinCinle our
suggestion for modus yivendi to embrace Great
Britain and Japan looking to the better preser-
Vol nf n ia In he 6p anil Re-