The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-04

W tue Irue pouHltiiy, VeAdGlOuS diSnutes
and injurious seizures of boats and pnefs
by Canadian cruisers often occnr Tia
any positive settlement thereof hv on ac
cepted standard is not easilv 40 he
reached. A joint commission IN 5otar
mine the line in those quarters IN vac
tical basis by measured courses folIoyuinp
range marks no shore is NECESSITY for
which immediate provision shonid he
made.
ENGLAND AND VENEZUELA
1t being apparent that the boundary
dispute between Great Britain and the
republic of Venezuela concerning the
limits of British Guiana was approach-
ing an acute stage, definite statement
of the interest and policy of the United
States as regards the controversy seemed
to be required both on it's own account
and in view of it's relations with the
friendly powers directly CONCERNED In
July last, therefore, a dispatch was ad-
dressed to our ambassador at London for
communication to the British govern
ment, in which the attitude of the Tinted
States was fully and distinctly set forth
The general conclusions therein reached
and formulated are, in substance. that
the traditional and established policy of
this government is firmly opposed 10 a
forciDle increase by any European Power
of its territorial possessions on this con-
tinsnt; that this policy is as we'll found
ed in principle as it is strongly summarized
by numerous precedents; that, as a con-
sequence, the United States is bound to
protest against the enlargement of the
area of British Guiana in derogatiOn of
the rights and against the will OF Vene-
zuela; that, considering the disparity in
strength of Great Britain and Venezuela
the territorial dispute between them can
be reasonably settled only by friendly and
impartial arbitration, and that the resort
to such arbitration should include the
whole controversy, and is not satisfied if
one of the powers concerned is permit
ted to draw an arbitrary line through
the territory in debate and to declare
that it 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 gov
eminent for definite answer to the
question whether it would or would not
submit the territorial controversy between
itselfiand Venezuela in its entirety to i'm
partial arbitration. The answer OF the
British government has not yet been re-
ceived, but is expected shortly, when fur
Their communication on the subject will
probably be made to the Congress
HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS.
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 royalist
party. Among these were several citizens
of the United States, who were either
convicted by military court and SEN
fenced to death, imprisonment, or fine,
or were deported without trial. The
United States, while denying protection
to such as had taken the Hawaiian oath
of allegiance, insisted that martial law,
though altering the forms of justice, could
not supersede justice itself, and demand
ed stay of execution until the proceed /
ings had been submitted to this govern
ment and knowledge obtained therefrom
that our citizens had received fair trial. !
The death sentences were subsequently |
committed Or were remitted on condition |
of leaving the Islands. The cases of GER
tain Americans arrested and expelled by |
arbitrary order without formal charge or
trial have had attention and in some in
stances have been found to justify renon-
stance and a claim for indemnity, which |
Hawaii has not thus far conceded. Mr. |
Thurston, the Hawaiian minister, having
furnished this government abundant |
reason for asking that ne be recalled, that
course was pursued and his successor has
lately been received.
THE LYNCHING OF ALIENS.
The delorable lynching of several Ital-
ian laborers in Colorado was naturally
followed by international representations
and l am happy to say that the best
efforts of the State in which the outrages
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 condition gracious provision
for their needs.
These manifestations against helpless
aliens may be traced through successive
stages to the vicious ''padroni" system,
which, unchecked by our immigration
these workers from the moment of land
ing on our shores, and farms them out in
distant and often rude regions, where
their cheapening competition in the fields
of bread winning toll brings them into
collision with other labor interests. While
welcoming, as we should, those who seek
our shores to merge themselves in our
body politic and win personal competence
by honest effort, we cannot regard such
assent lages Of. distinctively alien laborers,
hired out in the mass to the profit of
alien spectators and shipped hither and
thither as the prospect Of gain may die
tate, as otherwise than repugnant to the
spirit of our civilization, deterrent to in
dlvidual advancement, and hindrances to
the building up of stable communities
resting upon the wholesome ambition of
the citizen and constituting the prime
factor in the prosperity and progress of
our nation. IF legislation can reach this
growing evil it certainly should be at
tempted.
JAPANESE PROGRESS.
Japan has furnished abundant evidence
other vast gain in every trait and char
acteristic that constitutes a nations
greatness. We have reason for congratu
lation in the fact that the government of
the United States by the exchange of
liberal treaty stipulations with the new
Japan was the first to recognize her won
derful advance and to extend to her the
and confidence due to her
national enlightenment and progressive
character.
MEXICO AND GUATEMALA.
The boundary dispute which ately
threatened to embroil Guatemala and