The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1895-12-10

and melting adventurous support
among our people has entailed earnest
effort on the part of this government
to enforce obedience to our neutrality
laws and to prevent the territory of
the United States from being abused
as a vantage ground from which to aid
those n arms against Spanish sover-
eighty.
Whatever may be the traditional
sympathy of u cOuntrymen al lndl
viduals with a 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 CT
their government is to observe in good
faith the recognized obligations of in
ternational relationship. Toe per,
Torrance of this duty should lot be
made more difficult by..a disregard on
the part Of citizens of the obligations
growing out of their allegiance to their
country, which should restrain them
from violating as individuals the neu-
trality which the nation Of which they
are members is bound to observe in its
relation of friendly sovereign States.
Though neither the warmth of our
peoples sympathy with the Cuban IN
surgents, nor Cur loss and material
damage consequent upon the futile
tndeavors thus far made to restore
peace and order, nor my shock u
humane sensiOilities may have received
from the cTuelties which appear to
esDeciallv characterize this s~anguinary
and ierceIV conducted war, have In
the least shaken the determination of
the government to honestly fulfill
every international obligation; yet iG
is to be earnestly hoped on every
ground that the devastation Of armed
COZ fict may speedily be stayed and
order and quiet restored IN the dis
Gracted island, bringing in their train
the activity and thrift of peaceful pur-
suits. One notable instance of inter
ference by Spain with passing Ameri
can ships has occurred. On March
s b last The Alliance, while bound from
Colon 10 New York, and following the
customary track for vessels near the
Cuban shore, but outside the three
mile limit, was fred upon by a Span
lsh gunboat. Protest was promptly
made by the United States against this
act as not being justified by a state of
nor permissible N respect Of yes
sells on the usual paths of commerce,
nor tolerable in view of the wanton
peril occasioned to innocent life and
property. The act was disaVOwed,
with full expression Of regret, and as
of non-recurrence of such Just
cause of complaint, while the offending
was relieved of his command.
Military arrests of citizens of the
United States in Cuba have occasioned
frequent reclamations. Where held
criminal charges their delivery C.
the ordinary civil jurisdiction for trial
has been demanded and obtained In
conformity with treaty provisions,
and where merely detained by way of
military p]recAution under a proclaim
ed state of seige, without formulated
accusation, their release or trial has
been insisted upon.
Toe right of American consular Of
ficers in the island to prefer protests
and demands in euch cases having
been questioned by the insular au
thOrity, their enOyment of the priv
stipulated by treaty for the con
suls Of Germany was claimed under
the most favored national provision of
Of our own convention and was
promptly recognized.
TURKEY.
Occurrences in Turkey have O
tiuued to excite concern. The re
ported massacre of Christians in
Armenia, and the development there
and in other districts ola spirit Of fana
TIC hostility to Christian Influences
naturally excited apprehension for the
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
legitimate performance of their edu
catiOnal and religious mission. No eff
forts have been spared in their behalf
and their protection in person and
property b 8 been earnestly and Wig
Orously enforced by every means with
in our power.
regret, however, that an attempt
on cur part to obtain information con-
corning the true condition of affairs in
the disturbed quarter of the Ottoman
empire by sendIng thither the United
Consul at SIvas to make investI-
and report was thWarted by the
of the Turkish government.
This movement on our part was In no
sense meant as a gratuitous entangle-
ment of the United States in the so
called eastern question, nor as an Of
fcious interference with the right and
duty which belong by treaty to certain
great European powers, calling for
their their investigation in political
matters affecting the good government
and religious freedom of the non Mus,
sulman subjects of the Sultan, but it
arose solely from our desire to have an
accurate knowledge of the cOnditionsin
our efforts to care for these entitled to
u protection.
The presence of our naval vessels
which are now in the vicinity of the
DIS .urbed localities affords Oppor-
tunltles to acquire a measure OF fam
marty with the condition of affairs,
ana Will enable Us to take suitable
sCePs Tor the protection of any interests
vi COuntrYmen Within reach of