Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-08

sionaries in China. is.......... 4,75O.o
NORTH CHINA COLLEGE ENDOW
MENT.
i This fund. from the Tank be-
| quest amounts tO.............. y 10, 900. On
WILLIAMS HOSPITAL ENDOWMENT
This fund from the Tank be-
quest, amounts to.............. 5 3,0O0.W
MARpIN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLAR.
SHIP.
This fund, for scholarship.
amounts observation-disclosures. ) 5f1 .3s
'.Duty Of United States 10 American Citizen
In Turkey"
The Hon Everett p. Wheeler of New
York.a memberof the National Armen-
| ian Relief committee. and of the Com
mittee of Defence in New York, that
conferred short time since with Presi-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Olney
| concerning American interests in Tur-
key. read paper on The Duty of the
United States to American Citizens in
Turkey President Storrs. in intro
ducing him, called attention to the fact
that Mr.. Wheeler was not a member of
the board. nor of Congregational
church, but is an Episcopalian. He was
invited to speak because he was an
eminent constitutional lawyer. He did
not represent the prudential committee
as the secretaries do in their several
reports and papers.
Mr.. Wheeler, while deprecating war,
advocated a show of force as sufficient
to bring Turkey to terms in protecting
Americans and their property and i'll
paying indemnities for injuries and
losses. He also pleaded that other ma
lions should be impressed with the
fact that this nation would engage in
just war. if necessary. In part he
spoke as follows:
The number of our citizens resident
in Turkey has greatly increased. and
the American investment of property
has risen to the extent of over So 900 600.
exclusive of the floating capital which
may from time to time be employed
solely for purposes of gaiAful trade
During the last few years the liberty
which our citizens have previously en-
joyed has been seriously imperiled
property to the amount of about 5000. 900
has been destroyed houses belonging to
American citizens and occupied by them
have been attacked and fired on by
mobs who We're supported and encour-
aged by Turkish troops and govern
ment officials. false accuse ions have
been made against American citizens
for the evident purpose of making their
residence so uncomfortable that they
would be compelled to leave the coun-
try. and some of them have been driven
rha r;-t
fused to grant to consuls duly accred-
tied from this country the exequatur
which is usually granted to consuls. no
redress whatever has been made for the
injury to property and to person. nor
have the perpetrators of the injuries
been punished. The present admins
tration has repeatedly brought these
grievances to the attention of the Turk
ish and demanded redress.
but none has been made
Our rights in Turkey begin with the
treaty ct 1880. The extent of our
rights under this treaty depends upon
the meaning to be given to the words
merchants" and commerce. 1t has
been claimed that these words must he
strictly construed, and that they apply
only to those who are carving on n
gainful trade. This definition of the
words used in the treaty is not justified
either by the language of the treaty or
by the practice under it. 1t was the in
tention of the government to secure
protection for all our citizens residing
in Turkey.
The treaty of 1892 strongly confirms
this view of the subject There has
been question whether the latter
treaty has been terminated The prin-
eipal question that has been debated
has been the effect of the treaty or its
termination upon the duties upon mer-
chandise. 1t has never been claimed
that the rights. privileges and immuni-
ties conferred on American citizens by
the treaty of 1880 were to any extent
limited to those engaged in gainful
trade, and no such limitation is to be
found.
Our government should be astute To
construe treaties literally for the pro
lection of its citizens 1t can hardly
be contended that the business of pub
fishing and selling books, of educating
children nf