Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1895-12-05


settlement of which INVOLVES the physical
location of the meridian mentioned, no
conventional agreement has yet been
made.
The ascertainment of a given meridian
at particular, point is a work requiring
mueh time and careful observations and
were undertaken by the United States
coast and goedetic survey in 1890 and 1891,
while similar work in the same quarters
under British auspices are befleved to give
nearly coincident results; but these sur
veys have been Independently conducted,
and no international agreement to mark
these or any other parts of the 141st meri-
dian by permanent monuments has yet
been made. In the meantime, the valley
through the hitherto UNEMPLOYED wflds OF
Alaska, and abundant mineral wealth has
been discovered i'm that region, especially
at or near the junction of the boundary
meridian with the Yukon and it's tribu-
taries. In these circumstances, it is ex-
pedient, and, indeed. Imperative, that the
ernments In this new region be speedily de-
termlned. Her Britannia majestys gov
eminent has proposed a joint delimitation
of the. 141st meridian by an international
commission OF experts, which, If congress
will authorize 1t and make the provisions
therefor, can be accomplished with no UNI
look the vital Importance Of continuing the
work already entered upon, and sapple-
looking to the exact location of this en-
tire boundary line.
Needs Immediate Attention.
I call attention to the unsatisfactory de-
Limitation of the respective jurisdictions
of the United States and the Dominion of
Canada in the great lakes at the APP
proaches to the narrow waters that con-
nect them. The waters in question are
frequented by fishermen of both nation
alitles and their nets are there used. Owing
to the uncertainty and ignorance as to the
true boundary, vexatious disputes and in
furious seizures of boats and nets by Ca
madam cruisers often occur, while any
positive settlement thereof by an accepted
standard is not easily to be reached. A
those quarters, onNa practical basis, by
measured ssnr E, courses following range marks
date provision should be made.
Venezuelan Dispute.
1t being apparent that the boundary dis
pute between Great Britain and the repub-
lie of Venezuela concerning the limits of
British Guiana was approaching an acute
stage, q definite statement of the interest
and policy of the United States as regards
t the, controversy , re seemed to be REQUIRED
relations with the friendly powers directly
concerned. In July last, therefore, a dis
patch was addressed to our ambassador at
London for communication to the British
government in which the attitude of the
United States was fully and distinctly set
forth.
Monroe Doctrine Upheld.
The general conclusions therein reached
and formulated are in substance that the
traditional and established policy of this
government is firmly opposed to forcible
increase by any European power of its ter
ritorial possessions on this continent; that
this policy is as well founded in principle
as 1t is strongly supported by numerous
precedentS; that as consequence the Unit
ed States is bound to protest against the
enlargement of the area of British Guiana
in derogation 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 friends
and impartial arbitration, and thatothe re-
sort to such an arbitration should include
the whole controversy, and is not satisfied
If one of the powers concerned Is permitted
to draw an arbitrary line through the ter
ritory 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 govern
ment for a definite answer to the question
whether or not it would submit the terri
torial controversy between itself and Ven
ezuela In its entirety to impartial arbitra-
ton. The answer Of the British govern
ment has a; not yet been received, but is ex-
ton on the subject will probably be made
to the congress.
Relations with Hawaii.
Early in January last an uprising against
the government of Hawaii was promptly
suppressed. Martial-law was forthwith
proclaimed and numerous arrests were
made of persons suspected of being in SYM
pathy with the royalist party. Among
these were several citizens of the United
States, who were either convicted by q
military court and sentenced to death, i'm
prisonment, or fine, or were deported with
ont trial. The United States, while deny
ing protection to such as had taken the
Hawaiian oath of allegiance insisted that
TAartial-law though alteHng the forms of
justice could not supersede justice itself
and demanded stay of execution until the
proceedings had been submitted to this
government and knowledge obtained
therefrom that our citizens had received
fair trial.
The death sentences were subsequently
commuted or We're RENTED 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 remon-
STRANGE and claim for indemnity which
Thurston, the Hawaiian minister having
furnished this government abundant rea-
son for asking that he be recalled, that
course was pursued, and his successor has
lately been received.
Padrone System should Re Uprooted.
The deplorable lynching of several Ital-
ian laborers in Colorado was naturally fol-
lowed by international representations,
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 pun
ish the authors of this atrocious crime.
The dependent families of some of the I'M
fortunate victims invite by their deplor'
able sondition gracious provision for their
L
less aliens may be traced through success
sive stages to the vicious padrone system,
which, unchecked by our immigration and
contract labor statutes, controls these
workers from the moment of landing on
our shores, and farms them out in distant
and often rude regions, where their cheap
ening 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
into our body polite and win personal COM
petence by honest effort, we cannot regard
such assembIages of distinctively alien
laborers. hired out In the mass to the prof
II Of alien spectators, and shipped hither
ana thither as the prospect of gain may in
dictate, as otherwise than repugnant to the
spirit of our civilization, deterrent to indi-
vidual advancement, and hindrances to
upon the wholesome ambitions of the cHi-
zen, and constituting the prime factor in
the prosperity and progress of our nation.
II legislation can reach this growing evil
II certainly should be attempted.
Japan Euiogized.
japan has furnished abundant evidence
of her vast gain in every trait and charac-
teristic that constitutes a nations great
ness. We have reason for congratulations
in the fact that the government of the
United States, by the exchange of liberal
treaty stipulations with the new Japan was
first to recognize her wonderful advance
and to extend to her the consideration and
confidence due to her national enlighten-
ment and progressive character.