The true northerner., 1898-12-07

on the iutn or september. 1897. a cot
hict took place at Lattimer, Pa, between
body of. striking miners and the sherin
or Luzerne county and his deputies, IN
which ~ miners were killed and "A wounded,
Of which ~ OF the killed ana an & ~ OF e. the e
subjects. This deplorable event raturaily
aroused the solcitude OF the Austro-Ifun-
garian goverrment, which. on the assuinp,
tion that the killing and wounding involved
the unjusttfable misuse or autherlty'
claimed reparation for the sufferers.
Apart from the searching inyestigatio,n
and the peremptory action of the authori-
ties OF Pennsylvania, the federal execu-
tive took appropriate steps TO learn the
merits OF the case s ln oTder 10 pe 10 Po,
friendly power. The sheriff and his dep
uties, having been indicted for murder:
were tried and acquitted after protracted
OF witnesses, on the ground that the kill
ing was in the lire OF their official duty TO
uphold law and preserve public order in
the state. A representative OF the de-
partment OF justice attended the trials, re-
porting its course fully With all the facts
In its nos session, this government expects
TO reach a harmonious understanding on
the subject with that Of Austria Hungary
Notwithstanding the renewed claim OF the
latter, after learning the result OF the trial.
for indemnity for its injured subjects.
international ExpOsitiOns.
Despite the brief time allotted for prep
aration, the exhibits of this country at the
Universal exposition at Brussels in 1891
enjoyed the singular distinction or larger
proportion of awards having regard to
the number and classes OF articles entered,
than those of other countries. The worth
of such result in making known our ma
tional capacity to supply the worlds S mar
kets is obvious. Exhibitions of this inter-
national character are becoming more fre|
quent as the exchange OF commercial coun-
tries grows more intimate and varied.
Hardly year passes that this government
is not invited TO national participation at
Of
on TOO short notice TO permit OF recourse
to congress for the power and means TO do
So My predecessors have suggested the
advisa biiity OF providing, by a general en-
actment and a standing appropriation, for
accepting such invitations and for repre-
sentation Of this country by a commission.
This plan has my cordial approval
Belgian Restrictions.
trust the Belgian restriction on the i'm
portations of cattle from the United States,
originally adopted a sanitary precau-
ton, Will at an early date be satisfied as
to their present and future of hardship and
discrimination so as to admit live cattle
under due regulation OF their slaughter
after landing. / am hopeful, too, of a ia
vorable change in the Belgian treatment
of our preserved and salted meats. The
growth Of direct trade between the two
countries, not alone for Belgian consump-
tion and Belgian products, but by way of
transit from and to other continental
states, has been both encouraging and
beneficial. No effort will be spared to en-
large its advantages by seeking the re-
moVal of needless impediments and by ar
rangements for increased commercial ex-
changes.
Central American Affairs.
The year events in Central America de-
serve more than passing mention.
menacing rupture between Costa Rica and
Nicaragua was happily composed by the
signature OF a convention between the
parties with the concurrence of the Guata-
malan representative as a mediator, the
act being negotiated and signed on board
the United States steamer Alert then ly-
ing i'm Central American waters. 1t is be-
leved that the good offices of our envoy
and commander of that vessel contributed
toward this gratifying outcome.
H. my last annual message the situation
was presented with respect to the diplo-
matte representation or this government
in Central merica, created by the asso-
citation OF Nicaragua, Honduras ana SalVa-
dor under the title Of the Greater Republic
of Central America and the delegation of
their international functions to the diet
thereof While the representative char
acter of the diet was recognized by my
predecessor and has been confirmed during
my administration by receiving its ac-
credited envoy and granting eXquators 10
consuls commissioned under its authority,
that recognition was qualified by the dis
tinct understanding that the responsibility
of each Of the component sovereign re-
publics toward the United States remained
wholly unaffected This proviso was need
ful inasmuch as the compact of the three
republics was at the outset an association
whereby certain representative functions
were delegated TO a tripartite commission,
rather than "A federation possessing cen
traliZed powers of government and admin
istration. In this view of their relation and
the relation of the United States TO sew
eral republics, a change in the representa-
tion of this country in Central America
was neither recommended by the executive
nor initiated by congress; thus leaving one
of our envoys accredited as heretofore sep
ardtely TO two states of the greater re-
public, Nicaragua and Salvador, and to a
third state, Costa Rica, which was not a
party to the compact, while our other en-
Voy was similarly accredited to the union
stated as Honduras and non-union stated
as Guatemala. The result has been that
the one has presented credentials only to
the president of Costa Rica, the other hav-
ing been received only by the government
Of Guatemala.
subsequently, the three associated repub-
lies entered into negotiations for making
the steps forecast In the original compact.
A convention of their delegates framed for
them a federal constitution under the name
OF the United States of Central America
and provided for a central federal govern
ment and legislature. Upon ratification by
the constituent states the 1st Of November
last was fixed for the new system to 60
into operation. Within few weeks there
after the plan was severely tested by revo-
lutionary movements arising, with a con-
sequent demand for unity of action on the
part OF the military power of the federal
states TO suppress them. Under this strain
the new union seems TO have been weak
ened through the withdrawal of its more
not officially advised of the installation OF
the federation and has maintained an at
titude OF friendly expectancy, while In no
wise relinquishing the position held from
the outset that the responsibilities Of the
several states toward us remained unal-
tered bV their tentative relations amOrU