The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-06


If the laws against filibustering had
been vigorously enforced incalculable
injury to the State, as well as to pri-
vate property, would have been avoid
ed.
THE SPANISH CASE.
The memorandum contains long list
Of f1libustering expeditions of vessels Ia
den with arms and ammunition for the
insurgents, first arrested by the United
States authorities and then released;
of verdicts of local tribunals in the
United States favoring the rebels, and
of instances where the good intentions
of the United States Government itself
have been entirely paralyzed and set
a naught by the sympathy of its Off
Gals with the Cuban cause. Then, too,
the memorandum gives an exposition
of the opinions expressed by every
President Of the United States, from
George Washington TO Major Mckinley,
concerning the duty of the United
States Government in dealing with fill
busters. and in fulfilling the stipula-
lions of international law, and likewise
cites numerous cases bearing upon the
subject decided by the Supreme Court
Of this country in order to show that
the United States officials have been
remiss in their duties, and have been
guilty of intentional neglect in the ex-
ecution Of the laws of the land, as in
terpreted by the highest tribunals and
by the most eminent jurists and execu-
tive officers of this nation.
1t cannot be denied that the mem
ii
bic and cleverly put case, and that
inasmuch as the Spaniards propose to
base thereon their argument that this
country is responsible for the undue
prolongatiOn Of the instruction as well
as for the immense amount of injury
done to Spanish life and property in
Cuba, they will have a claim for dam
ages against the United States at least
as large as the latter's demand upon
England in Connection with the Ala
bama controversy, and calculated to
more than offset any claim which the
State Department at Washington may
have to present at Madrid for damage
done TO American life and property in
the Antilles.
1t is possible, nay even probable, that
NJ de Dupuy de LONE, and of Calderon
Carlisle, may be denied at the Spanish
Legation at Washington. But, for all
that, it is in the hands of the Duke of
Tetuan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs
at Madrid, who is only awaiting what
is considered to be the most convenient
and propitious moment for presenting
it to the United States And it will
be difficult for the latter to decline
SPANS request for the submission of
the matter to international arbitra-
ton. The only thing that the American
Government should guard against in
that event is the selection of any
crowned head as umpire, since public
sympathy on this side of the water has
been avowedly and VIGOROUSLY with the
Cubans, and Emperors and Kings can
not be expected in any way to coun-
tenance those who sympathize with
people in a state of insurrection against
their monarch.
LEOPOLD'S RELATIONS WITH JA-
PAN.
In addition to these general objec-
tions to the employment of reigning
sovereigns as arbitrator, particularly
in disputes to which republics are par
ties there are other reasons why King
Leopold is the very last person who
should ever be chosen to act as umpire
in any controversy in which Japan is
concerned. Among the numerous COM
mercial, industrial and financial enter
prises in which Leopold is interested as
principal stakeholder and moving spirit
is the new Japanese-B Belgian Trading
Company, which is of sufficient import
ance to have inaugurated within the
last few months a fortnightly line of
steamers of large tonnage between
Antwerp and Yokohama. Not only the
company itself but likewise the steam
ship line are heavily subventioned by
the Mikado's Government, which has
also accorded to the concern special ia
cilities and favors in connection with
tariff rates and State contracts. With
that keen eye for the main chance
which distinguishes Leopold, it natur-
ally follows that he is prejudiced in
favor of his japanese friends and anx-
ious to show himself appreciative in
every possible way of their liberality
toward the company in which he is SO
largely interested. Indeed, when the
MlkauO 1nOJnef Uled last spring he
was the only monarch in Christendom
who went out of his way to order a
fortnight of court mourning for the
dead Empress.
Moreover LeOpold's personal reputa-
ton and private character are such
that no business-hOuSeS would ever
dream of invoking his services as an
arbitrator. just as little as the Mobiles
Club at Brussels would think of sub
hitting to him for a decision any ques-
ton of honor or chivalry The aris-
tOcracy of Belgium cannot forgive or
forget the manner in which he treated
the two Counts of Cunchy in the trans
action smacking of Naboth's vineyard,
by means of which he obtained their
acres in order to round off the park of
his beautiful country seat of Clergnon.
Sharp practice is the mildest express
sion that can be used in describing the
affair." and the lawsuit which the two
Counts instituted against his majesty
had the effect of subjecting him to so
much popular odium and abuse that
he must sometimes have asked himself
whether or not the 2000.0O0 or 3.000.-
600 francs to the extent of which he
got the best Of the plaintiffs We're, after
all. worth all the obloquy which he in
CURED. In his industrial, commercial