The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-12-07

or century have looked to the assimila-
tion OF Hawaii as n natural and inevltaoie
consummation, in harmony Win our neeus
and in fulfllment OF our cherished trau,eons, '
The questions heretofore existing oe.wees
Hawaii and Japan. growing out OF the alleged
mistreatment OF Japanese treaty immigrah.s,
we're | am pleased 10 say, adjusted oetore
the act of transfer by the payment oil a rea-
sopable indemnity to the government Oh
Japan. -. -..,,,
tion the existing customs relations OF tne
Hawaiian islands with the United states anu s,
with other countries remain unchanged uhtii
legislation shall otherwise provide. Inc con-
suis of Hawaii here and In foreign countries,
continue TO fulhl their commercial agencles'
while the United States consulate at Homo
lulu is maintained for appropriate services
pertaining to trade and tne revenue. ,is ~
IA &e Hawaiian islands should receive new
'exequaturs from this government
The attention Of congress Is called to the
fact that our consular Offices having ceaseu
to exist In Hawaii. and being about TO cease
in other countries coming under the sover-
eighty of the United States, the provision
for the relief and transportation OF uestitute
Amer ican seamen in these countries unuer
our consular regulations Will In consequence
terminate. II is proper, therefore, that new
legislation should be enacted upon this SUD
iect in order to meet the changed conditions.
THE CZAR'S DISARMAMENT PROPOSAl+
The proposal of the car for general re-
duction of the vast military establishments
that weigh so heavily upon many people IN
time OF peace was communicated to this gov
ernment with an earnest invitation to De
represented in the conference which Is con-
tenp'ated 70 assemble with view 10 as
cussinT the means Of accomplishing so de-
slrable result. His majesty was at once
Informed OF the cordial sympathy OF this
government with the principle involved In MS
exalted proposal, and OF the readiness OF the
United States to take part in the conference;
The active military forces Of the United
States, as measured by our population, terri
torial area and taxable wealth, is, and under
any conceivable prospective conditions must
continue to be. In time of peace, SO con-
spicuously less than that of the armed pow
ers to whom the czar's appeal is especially
addressed, that the question can have Tor us
no practical. importance save as marking an
auspicious step toward the betterment OF tne
condition of the modern peoples ana the cul-
tiyaton of peace and coed will among them.
but In this view II behooyes us as nation
TO lend countenance and aid to the oeneneent
A NAVAL RED CROSS.
Immediately after the outbreak OF the
war with Spain the Swiss government. iul-
filling the high mission it has deseryedly
assumed as the patron Of the International
Red Cross, prnpcsed to the United states anu
Spain that they should severally recognize
anu CcfTy INTO az a AiSA-'
during the continuance of hostilities, the
additional articles proposed by the internS- t.s
tional conference OF Geneva, uctooer ~ iSce
extending the effects OF the existing heu
Cross convention OF 1864 to the conduct OF
naval war. Following the example set by
France and Germany in 1870 In adopting suen
modus vivenci and In view OF the cessloh
Of the United States to those additional aru-
cles in 1882. although the exchange Oh IatH, m,
cations thereof still remains unaffected, the
Swiss proposal was promptly and cordially
accepted by US, and, simultaneously, py
Spain.
This government feels keen satisfaction
in having thus been enabled to TESTIFY It's au-
herence to the broadest principles OF human
ity even amidst the clash Of war, and II Is
to be hoped that the extension OF the keu
Cross compact to hostilities by sea as well
as on land may soon become an accomplished
fact through the general promulgation OF the
additional naval Red Cross articles by the
maritime powers now parties to the conyen-
tion of 1864.
VICTORY FOR ARBITRATION.
The arbitral tribunal appointed under the
treaty of February 2, 1897, between Great
Britain and Venezuela, to determine the
boundary line between the latter and the
colony OF British Guiana, is to convent at
Paris during the present month. II is q
source of much qualification to this govern
ment to see the friendly resort OF arbitration
applied to the settlement Of this controversy,
not alone because OF the earnest part we
have had IN bringing ABOUT tne result, Uul
also because the two members named on be-
half of Venezuela Mr.. Chief Justice Fuller
and Mr.. Justice Brewer. chosen from our
highest court, appropriately testify lie con-
tinuing interest we feel In the dennite aa-
justment of the question according to the
strictest rules OF justice The British MEM
bers, Lord Herschell and Sir Richard Collins.
are jurists OF no less exalted repute, while
the fifth member and president OF the tri-
bunal, M. f. de Martens. has earned world
wide reputation as an authority upon inter-
national law.
PRIVATE PROPERTY EXEMPT IN WAR.
The experiences Of the last year bring fore
IDLY home to us sense OF the burdens and
| the waste OF war. We desire in common
| with most civilized nations to reduce to the
| lowest possible point the damage sustained
in time OF war by peaceable trade and COM
merce. IL Is true, we may suffer In such
cases less than other communities, but all
nations damaged more or less by the
state OF uneasiness and apprehension into
which outbreak Of hostilties throws the
| entire commercial world II should be our
object, therefore, to minimize. so far as
| practicable. this Inevitable loss and disturb
ance. This purpose can probably be best ac-
| complished by an international agreement
| to regard all private property at sea as ex-
empt from capture or destruction by the
forces of belligerent powers The United
States government has for many years advo-
Gated this humane and benefcent principle
and is now in position to recommend 1t L
I
| fish motives | therefore suggest for youi
| consideration that the executive be author
| lied to correspond with the government o.
| the principal maritime powers with view
Of Incorporating into the permanent law o
civilized nations the principle Of the exemp'
tion Of all private property at sea, not con.
traband of war; from capture or destruction
by belllgerent powers.
! GOVERNMENT FINANCES.
The Secretary of the Treasury reports tina
the receipts Of the government from al
sources during the fiscal year ended June 80
1898, including $6i 751. 223. received from salt
and its expenditures to $443. 532. Ther'
was collected from customs Sltf .575.c .c62, anC
from internal revenue $170, ,900,6iI. Our dut
able imports amounted to 1924, ,635. .479, a de
crease OF sos, l56.6SO over the preceding year
and importatons free OF duty amounted t
1921, 414. 115. a decrease from the precedinS
year OF $50. .524 .06s Internal revenue receipts
exceeded those of the preceding year by s2i
212,O67
The total tax collected on distilled spirit
was S92. .230 522, and on fermented liquors
| S39, ,515, 421. We reported merchandise durinj
the year amounting to $l.231, 49,, $780, an in
crease of SlS0, Ass, IA from the preceding year
IL Is estimated upon the basis OF presen
revenue laws that the receipts Of the govern
ment for the year ending June 80, 1899, will
be $577,s74 ,647. and its expenditures s689, ,S74,
647, resulting In deficiency Of 100000.
On the 1st OF December, 1898 there wa
held in the treasury gold coin amounting L
$13S, ,5O2.!45. gold bullion amounting to $l3s,
502.54; silver bullion amounting to $93, 1853,
25O, and other forms Of money amounting L
s451, ,693 9s1.
On the same date the amount Of money o
all kinds in circulation, or not included II
treasury holdings. was 81. $50. .S79. 1904, an In
crease for the year Of Sl65. .794 1865. Estimat
ing our population at 75.19iOOO at the tim
mentioned, the per capita circulation wa
$500. On the same date there was in III
treasury gold bullion amounting to si3S,
5O2 545.
BENEFITS OF THE GOLD STANDARD.