The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
continued Broom Fifth Pnec.


his slayers 1t seems to me TO follow. In
this state of the law, that the officers
of the state charged with police and lu-
diCial powers in such cases must. in the
consideration of international questions
growing out of such incidents, be regard
ed in such sense as federal agents as TO
make this government answerable Tor
their acts in cases where ii would be
answerable if the United States had used
Its constitutional power TO define ana pun
ish crimes against treaty rights.
A bill to provide for the punishment OF
violations of treaty rights of aliens was
introduced in the senate March l. 1S92, and
reported favorably March 30. Having
doubtless in view the language of that
part of Article III. OF the treaty of Feb.
Is, 1871, between the United States and
Italy. which stipulates that The citizens
of each of the high contracting parties
shall receive. in the states and territories
of the other. most constant protection
and security for their persons and prop
erty. and shall enjoy In this respect the
same rights and privileges as are or shall
be granted TO the natives, on their sub
hitting themselves to the conditions I'M
posed upon the natives the bill so In
treduced and reported provided that any
act committed in any state or territory of
the United States in violation OF the
rights of a citizen or subject Of a foreign
country secured to such citizen or sub
1eCt by treaty between the United States
and such foreign country. and constitut-
ing a crime under the laws of the state
or territory, shall constitute a like crime
against the United States. and be cogni-
Fable In the federal courts. No action
was taken by congress in the matter
earnestly recommend that the subject
be taken up anew, and acted upon dur
ing the present session. The necessity
Tor some such provision dbundantly APP
pears. Precedent for constituting a fed
eTal Jurisdiction in criminal cases where
aliens are sufferers is nationally deduct
bic from the existing statute, which gives
TO the district and circuit courts of the
United States jurisdiction of civil suit
brought by aliens. where the amount
involved exceeds a certain sum. If such
jealous SOhcitude be shown for alien
rights in cases of merely civil and
pecuaiary import. how much greater
should be the public duty to take cogniZ-
anCe of matters affecting the life and the
rights of aliens under the settled prlnci-
pies Of international law no less than
under treaty stipulation, in cases of such
transcendant wrong-doing as mob muir
der, especially when experience has
shown that local justice is too often help
less to punish the offenders.
After many years of endeaVor on the
part of this government to that end the
Italian government has consented to en-
ter into negotiations for naturalizat on
convention, having for one Of the objects
the regulation Of the status of italians
except those of an age for active mill
tary service, who. having been natural
lied In the United States. may revisit
Italy. 1t is hoped that with the mutually
conciliatory spirit displayed a successful
conclusion will be reached.
y
between the United States and Japan on
Nov. %, 1894, took eff
Japan Treaty feet in accordance
Eav,ors with the terms Of its
nineteenth article on
America. the 18th of July last
simultaneously with
the other powers. except France. whose
convention did not go into operation
until Aug. 4, the United States being
however. granted up to that date all
jQhf re 70
French citizens under the old French
treaty. BY this notable conventional
reform Japan's position a fully in
dependent sovereign power Is assured,
control being gained of taxation, Gus
toms revenues, judicial administration,
coasting trade and all other domestic
functions of government, and foreign
eXtra-territorial rights being renowned.
Comprehensive codes of civil and GRIM
NAL procedure according to Western
methods, public instruction, patents and
copyrights, municipal administration, in
Guiding jurisdiction over the former for
etgn settlements, customs tariffs and
ministratiYe measures have been pro-
claimed. The working of the new system
has given rise to1no material complaints
on the part of the American citizens or
interests. a circumstance which attests
the ripe consideration with which the
change has been prepared.
valuable ass stance was rendered by
the Japanese authorities to the United
States transport ship Morgan City while
stranded at Kobe Permission has been
granted to land and pasture army horses
at Japanese ports of call on the way to
the Philippine islands. These kindly
evidences Of good Will are highly appre-
ciated
The japanese government has shown a
lively interest in the proposition of the
Pacific Gable company to add to its pro-
jected cable lines to Hawaii. Guam and
the Philippines a branch connection with
the coast Of Japan. 1t would be graf
flying contamination were the utility Of
the contemplated scheme enhanced by
bringing Japan and the United States
into direct Geographic relation.
Without Tepeating the observations of
my special message of Feb. 10. 1899, con-
corning the necessity of a cable to Ma
Mia, l respectfully invite attention to It.
1 recommend that in case the congress
SHOULD not take measures TO bring about
this result by direct action Of the gov
eminent, the postmaster general be au-
thOrized to invite competitive bids for
the establishment of a cable; the COM
pany making the best responsible bid to
be awarded the contract; the successful
company to give ample bonds to insure
the completion of the work within a rea-
The year has been marked by constant
Increase in the intimacy OF our relations
with Mexico and In
Relations the magnitude of
With mutually V n
a & o inter
Mexico. changes. This gov
eminent has omitted
no opportunity to show its strong desire
TO develop and perpetuate the ties OF cor
Qlallty now so long happily unbroken.
tOllOWlng the termination on Jan. 20, 1899,
by Mexico of the convention of eXtradi-
ton OF Dec. II, 1851, a new treaty more in
accordance with the ascertained needs of
both countries was signed Feb. % 1899
and exchanged in the City of Mexico on
the 22nd Of April last It's operation thus
far has been effective and satisfactory
A recent case has served to test the an
plicatiOn of its 4th article. which provides
that neither party shall be bound to de-
liver up Its own citizens, but that the eX-
ccutive authority of each shall have the
power to deliver them up if in its discre-
eXtradition of Mrs. Matte Rich a citizen
of the United States, charged with homi-
eide, committed in Mexico was, after
mature consideration, directed by me- in
the conviction that the ends of justice
would be thereby subserVed Similar ac--
ton, on appropriate occasion, by the
MeXtcan executive will not only tend to
accomplish the desire of both govern
nents that grave crimes go not unpun-
ished, but also to repreSS lawlessnesS
along the border of the two countries
The new treaty supulates that neither
government shall assume Jurisdiction in
the punishment of crimes committed eX-
Clusively within the territory of the 9TH
or. This will obViate in future the en-
barraSSing controversies which have here
Of claim to try and punish an American
citizen for an OffenSe committed within
the jurisdiction Of the United States.
The international water boundary COM
mission, for the adjustment of ques-
Ons affecting the Rio Grande frontier,
,oLoIEo THEIR owS'