People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-12-05

the parties entitled TO receive II has pro
ceeded as rapidly as the rights Of those
claiming the amounts could be fairly
determined. The enforcement Of diff
lerentlal duties against products Of this
country exported 10 Cuba and Porto
Rico prompted the immediate claim on
our part to the benefit Of the minimum
tariff Of Spain in return for the most
favorable treatment permitted by our
lays as regards the production Of Span
ish territory. A commercial arrange
ment w3s concluded in January last.
securing the treatment so claimed.
vigorous protests against excessive
fines imposed on our ships and merch-
ants and the ships officers Of these is
lands for trivial errors have resulted
in tile remission Of such fines in in
stances where the equity Of the COM
plant was apparent, through the vex-
atlous practice has not wholly been
discontinued.
MASSACRES IN ARMENIA
Occurrences in Turkey have contin-
ued 10 excite concern. The reported
massacres Of Christians in Armenia
and developments there and in other
districts Of the spirit Of fanatic hostil-
ity 20 Christian influences naturally
melted apprehension for the safety Of
the devoted men and women VINO as
dependents Of the foreign missionary
societies in the United States all re-
side IN Turkey under the guarantee Of
law and usage and in the legitimate
performance of their educational and
religious mission. No efforts has been
spared IN their behalf and their pro-
lection in person and property has
been earnestly and vigorously enforced
b. every means within their power. l
regret, However, that an attempt on
our par. TO obtain better information
corcCininE The true condition Of affairs
IN the disturbed quarters Of the Otto
man empire by sending either the Uni
tea States consul at Sinas TO make
investigation and report was thwarted
by the objections Of the Turkish gov
e7rment. This movement on our part
was IN no sense meant as a gratuitous
entaneh ment Of the United States in
the s6-ca,led eastern question nor as
az ofcious interference with the right
and uty which belong by treaty TO GER
tain great European powers calling for
their intervention in political matters
affecting tire good government and re-
hgious freedom Of the Non Mussulman
subjects Of the Sultan, but il arose sole
~ from our desire to have an accurate
knowledge cf the conditions in our ef-
forts to care for those entitled to our
protection.
SHIPS AT DARDANELLES.
The presence of our naval vessels
which are row in the vicinity of the
disturbed localities affords opportuni-
ties &c acquire a measure Of familiari-
ty with the condition Of affairs and will
enable US TO take suitable steps for the
protection Of any interest Of our coun-
try men within reach Of our ships. who
might be found imperilad. The Otto
MAJ government has lately issued an
imperial trade exempting forever from
the erection Of an American college for
girls at Scutari. Repeated assurances
have also been obtained by our envoy
a; Co1stantinople that similar insti-
tutions maintained and administered
by our countrymen shall be secured in
the enjoyment Of all rights, and that
our citizens throughout the empire
shall be protected.
The government, however. in view of
existing facts is far from relying upon
such chances as the limit Of its duty
Our minister has been vigilant and al
ert in affording all possible protection
in individual cases where danger threat
ened or safety was imperilled. We
have sent ships as far towards the
points of actual disturbance as IL is
possible for them TO go where they of
fer refuge to those obliged to flee. and
We have the promise Of other powers
which have ships in the neighborhood
that our citizens as well as theirs will
be received and protected. on board
these ships on the demand u our min
lister. Orders have been iss,sed hx.J,.
sultan thu TJFrF'ss en-
tie ersa:hs those oroers hayk been car
rled out, and our latest jtelligence
gives assurance OF lie presene person.
al safety of our missionaries. Though
thus far no lives of American citizens
has been sacrificed there can be no
doubt that serious loss and destruction
of mission property have resulted from
riotous conflicts and outrageous at
tacks. By treaty several Of the most
powerful European powers have secur-
ed a right and have assumed a duty
not only in behalf Of their own citizens
and in furtherance of their own inter-
ests, but as agents of the Christian
world. Their right is to enforce such
conduct of the Turkish government as
will restrain fanatical brutality. and.
in fact, their duty Is to interfere so as
to insure against such dereadful occur
rences in Turkey as lately shocked civ
ilization. The powers declared that
right and this duty to be theirs alone
and it is earnestly hoped that effective
action on their part will not be delayed.
The new consulate at ErzerOum and
Harpool for which appropriations were
made last spring have been provision
ally filed by trusted employees of the
department Of state. These appointees
though now in Turkey have not yet re-
ceived their exequaturs
The arbitration Of the claim Of the
Venezuela steam transportation COM
pany under the treaty Of January 10.
1892, between the United States and
Venezuela resulted in award in favor
Of the claimant The government has
used its good offices toward composing
the differences between Venezuela on
the one hand and France and Belgium
on the other growing out Of the dis
missal Of the representatives Of those
powers on the ground Of a publication
seemed to Venezuela Although that
dismissal was coupled with a cordial
request that other more personally
agreeable ENJOYS be sent in their stead
rupture Of intercourse ensued and
still continues
CONSULAR SERVICE REFORM
In view Of the growth Of our inter-
ests in foreign countries and encourage
ing prospects for a general expansion
Of our commerce the question Of an
improvement in the consular service
has increased in Importance and urgen-
cy Though there is no doubt that the
great body Of consular Offices are rem
dering valuable service TO the trade
and industries Of the country, the need
OF some place Of appointment and con-
troll which would tend to secure a high
er average Of efficiency cannot be de-
MED The Importance Of the subject
has led the executive to consided that
steps might properly be taken with
out additional legislation
To answer the need OF a better sys-
TEN OF consular appointment, the mat