Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-04

OF our Countrymen, as INDIVIDUALS, Win n
people who seem to be struggling for larger
autonomy and greater freedom. deepened as
such sympathy naturally must be in behalf
OF our neighbors, yet the plain duty OF their
government is to observe in good faith the
recognized obligations Of international re-
lationship. The performance OF this duty
should not be made more diflcult by dis
regard 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 mem
bers is bound to observe in its relations to
friendly sovereign states. Though neither
the warmth OF our peoples sympathy with
the Cuban insurgents. nor our loss and ma
terial damage consequent upon the futile
endeavois thus far made to restore peace
and order. nor any shock our humane sensi-
bilties may have received from the cruelies
which appear to especially characterize this
sanguinary and fiercely conducted war; have
in the least shaken the determination of the
government to honestly fulfill every inter-
national obligation, yet 1t is to be earnestly
hOped on every ground that the devastation
OF armed conflict may speedily be stayed
ana order and quiet restored to the dis
tracted island bringing in their train the
activity and thrift of peaceful pursuits.
INTERFERENCE WITH OUR SHIPPING
One notable instance of interference by
Spain with passing American ships has oc-
Cured On March s last the Allianca, while
bound from Colon to New York and follow
ing the customary tracks 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 re-
spsct to vessels on the usual paths Of COM
merce, nor tolerable in view of the wanton
peril occasloned to innocent life and property.
The act was disavowed, with fun expression
of regret and assurance of nonrecurrence of
such just cause of complaint, while the Of
Tending officer was relieved OF his command
Military arrests of citizens of the United
States in Cuba have occasioned frequent rec
lamations. Where held criminal charges
their delivery to the ordinary civil jursdic-
tion for trial has been demanded and OBJ
tanned in conformity with treaty provisions,
and where merely detained by way of mill
tary precauion under a proclaimed state of
siege, without formulated accusation, their
release on 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 the in
sular authorities, their enjoinment of the
privilege stipulated by treaty for the con-
suls of Germany was claimed under ths most
favored nation provision of our own conven-
tion and was promptly recognized.
The long standing demand of Antonio Max
last been settled by the payment,
on the 14th of September last. of
the sum originally agreed upon in liquida-
ton of th= claim. Its distribution among
the parties entitled to receive it has pro
ceeded rapidly as the rights of those
claiming the fund could be safely determined.
The enforcement of differential duties
against products of this country exported to
Cuba and Puerto Rico prompted the immedi-
ate claim on our part to the benefit of the
minimum tariff Of Spain in return for the
most favorable treatment permitted by our
laws regards the products of Spanish
territories A commercial arrangement was
concluded in January last securing the treat
ment claimed.
Vigorous protests against excessive fines
imposed on our ships and merchandise by
the customs officers Of these islands for
trivial errors have resulted in the remission
Of such fines in instances where the equity
OF the complaint was apparent, though the
vexatious practice has not been wholly dis
on.inued
PROTECTING THE MISSIONARIES.
Occurrences in Turkey have continued to
excite concern. The reported masslcres Of
Christians in Armenia and the development
there, and in other districts, of fanatical
hostility to Christian influences naturally eX-
cited appreh henson for the safety of the de-
voted 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 legitimate per-
formance of their educational and religious
missions No efforts have been spared in
their behalf and their protection, in person
and property, has been earnestly and vlgor
ously enforced by every means within our
power.
| regret, however, that an attempt on our
part to obtain better information concerning
the true condition Of affairs in the disturbed
quarters of the Ottoman empire, by sending
thither the United States consul at Sivas to
make investigation and report, was thwarted
by the objections of the Turkish government.
This movement on our part was in no sense
meant as a gratuitous entanglsmen of the
United States in the sO-called eastern ques
ton nor as an ofIicious interference with
the right and duty which belong by treaty
to certain great European powers, calling
for their intervention in political matters
affecting the good government and religious
freedom of the non Mussulman subjects of
the sultan, but it arose solely from our de-
sire to have an accurate knowledge of the
conditions in 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 |
of our countrymen within reach Of our ships |
that might be found imparilled.
The Ottoman government has lately issued |
an imperial trade, examptlng forever from
taxation an American college for girls at
Scutari. Repeated assurances have also been |
obtainsd by envoy al Constanunople that |
similar institutions, maintained and admin |
istered by our countrymen, shall be secured |
in the enjoyment Of iall rights. and that |
our citizens throughout the empire shall be !
PROTECTION FOR REFUGEES.
The government, however in view of ex-
isting facts, is far from relying upon such !
assurances as the limit Of its duty. Our |
minister has been vigilant and alert in af
fording all possible protection in individual |
cases where danger threatened or safety was |
impsriled. We have sent ships as far toward |
the points of actual disturbance as 1t is |
possible for them TO go, where they offer |
refuge to those Obliged to fee, and we have |
the promise of other powers which have ships |
in the neghborhood that our citizens, as
well as theirs, will be received and pro-
tected on board these ships. On the de-
mand of our minister, orders have been
issued by the sultan that Turkish soldiers ,
shall guard and escort to the coast American
These orders have been carried |
out, and our latest intelligence gives assur-
anca of the present personal safety of our
citizens and missionaries.
Though thus far no lives OF American citl
zens have been sacrificed there can be no
doubt that serious loss and destruction of
mission property have resulted from riotous
conflicts and outrageous attacks. By treaty,
several of the most powerful European pow
ers have secured right and have assumed |
a duty, not only in behalf of their own cil-
zens and in furtherance of their own inter
.,ts hut 90 nyantS n the Christian world