Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-12-03
The Cuban Insurrection.

| eastern interior of the island, menacing even
| some populations on the coast, besides derang-
| ing the commercial exchanges of the island, of
which our country takes the predominant
share. This fragrant condition of hostlities,
| by arousing sentimental sympathy and incit-
| ing adventurous support among our people,
| has entailed earnest effort on the part of this
| government to enforce obedience to our neu-
trality laws and to prevent the territory of
| the United States from being abused as u van
tage ground from which to aid those in arms
| against Spanish sovereignty.
| Whatever may be the traditional sympathy
| of our countrymen as individuals with a people
| who seem to be struggling for larger auton-
| omy and greater freedom, deepened as such
| sympathy naturally must be in behalf of our
neighbours yet the plain duty of their govern
ment is to observe in good faith the recognized
obligations of international relationship The
| performance of this duty should not be made
more difficult by disregard ON the part of
our citizens OF the obligations growing out of
| their allegiance to their country, which should
| restrain them from violating as individuals
the neutrality which the nation of which they
are members is bound to observe in its rela-
| tons to friendly sovereign states.
Though neither the warmth of our peoples
| sympathy with the Cuban insurgents nor our
loss and material damage consequent upon the
| futile cndeavors thus far made to restore
| peace and order, nor any shock our humane
ties which appear to espec ally characterize
this slnguinary and fercely conducted war.
| have IN the least shaken the determination (
| the government to honestly fulfill every inter
national obligation, yet it is to be earnestly
| hoped, on every ground, that the dcvds tatiOn
OF armed conflict may speedily be stayed and
order and quiet restored to the distracted
! island bringing in their train the activity and
| thrift of peaceful pursuits.
one notable instance of interference by
! Spain with passing American ships has oc-
Cured. On March Iast, tne Allianca, while
| bound from Colon to New York; and following
1 the customary track for vessels near the
! Cuban shore, but outside the three-mile limit,
was fired upon by Spanish gunboat. 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 to cradle in
| view OF the wantOn peril OCcasioned to InnO-
| cent life and property. The act was dis
! aVowed, wlth'full expression OF regret and as
| suranct 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 recla-
nations. Where held ON criminal charges,
their delivery to The ordinary civil Jurisdiction
for trial has been demanded and obtained i'll
| conformity with treaty provisions, and where
mercy detained by way of military precau-
| ton under Il proclaimed state of siege, with
| out formulated accusation, their release or
| trial has been insisted upon. The right of
| American consular officers in the island to
! prefer protests and demands in such cases
having been questioned by theinsular author
| lty, their enjoyment of the privilege stipulated
| by treaty for the cOnsus of Germany was
| claimed under the most favOl cd nation pro-
vision of our own convention and was
| promptly recognized.
The long standing demand of Antonio
Maxine Mora against Spain has at last been
| settled by Tie payment OF the sum originally
agreed upon in liquidation Of the claim.
The Turkish Situation.
Occurrences in Turkey have continued to
excite concern. The reported massacres of
Christians III Armenia and the development
there and in other districts of spirit of
fanatic hostility to Christian influences natur-
ally excited apprehension for the safety of the
| devoted men and women who as dependents
OF the foreign missionary societies in the
| United States reside in Turkey under the
guarantee of law and usage and in the logltl-
mate performance Of their educational and
| religious mission.
No efforts have been spared in their behalf,
| and their protection in person and property
has been earnestly and vigorously enforced by
every means within our power. regret how.
ever, that AN attempt on our part TO obtain
better information concerning the true condi-
ton of affairs in the disturbed quarter of the
Ottoman empire, by sending thither the
UmtcI states consul at Slvas 10 make investi.
CATION ana report was thwarted by the oh.
| jeCtlOns of the Turkish government. This
| movement on our part was in no seuSe meant
as IL grutultOus ENHANCEMENT of the United
States in the so-cdlled Eastern question, nor as
an otticOus Interference with the ri.ht and
duty which belong by treaty to certain Euro
| ts.tll in IL,
political matters affecting the good Jvcrn.
ment and religious freedom OF the non Mussul.
man subjects of the sultan, but it arose
solely from our de ire to have an accurate
knowledge Of the conditions i'll our efforts to
care for those entitled TO our protection.
The presence of our naval vessels, which are
now in the vicinity Of the disturbed localities,
affords opportunities to acquire measure of
familiarity with the condition of affairs, and
will enable Us to take suitable steps for tho
protection Of any interests of our cOuntrymen
within reach of our ships that might be found
imperllled.
The Ottoman government has lately issued
an imperial trade eXempting forever from
taxation an American college for girls ut
Scutari. Repeated assurances have also been
obtained by our envoy at ConstantinOple that
similar institutions maintained and admins
tered by our countrymen shall be secured in
the enjoyment of all rights, and that our
citizens throughout the empire snail De pro-
tected.
The government. however, in view of exist
ing facts, is far from relying upon such assur-
ances as the limit of its duty. Our minister
has been vigllanU and alert in afforling all
possible protection in individual cases where
danger threatened or safety impcrilled.
We nave seat ships ~ far toward the points of
actual disturbance Us 1t is possible for them to
TO, where they offer refuge to those obliged to
fce, 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 those ships
On the demand of our minister, orders have
been issued by the sultan that Turkish soldiers
shall guard and escort to the coast American
refugees. These orders have been carried out,
and our latest intelligence gives assurance of
the present personal safety of our citizens and
missionaries. Though, thus far, no lives of
American citizens have been sacrificed, there
can be no doubt that serious loss and destruc-
ton of mission property have resulted from
riotous conflicts and outrageous attacks.
BY treaty several of the most powerful Eu-
ropean powers have secured right and hav,
assumed duty not only in behalf of their own
citizens, and IN furtherance of their own in
terests, but as agents of the Christian world.
Their right is to enforce such conduct of Tur'
ish government as will restrain fanatic
brutality, and If this fails their duty is to 80
interfere as to insure against such dreadful
occurrences in Turkey as have lately shocked
| ,t.vtIt vtVl