Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-12-11

might be averted, good offices would
have been gladly rendered. The
United States representative at Pre-
toria was early instructed to see that
all neutral American interests be re-
spected by the combatants. This has
been an easy task in view Of the posi-
tive declarations of both British and
Boer authorities that the personal and
property rights of our citizens should
be observed. Upon the withdrawal of
the British agent from Pretoria the
United States consul was authorized,
upon the request of the British govern
ment and with the assent Of the South
African and Orange Free State gov
eTmments, to exercise the customary
good Offices of a neutral for the care
of British interests. In the discharge
of this function abundant opportunity
has been offered to show the impartial
ity of this government toward both
the combatants.
Lynchings.
Allusion is made to the Iynching of
Italians in Louisiana and to the in
vestigation now in progress the presi-
dent adds: "The recurrence of these
distressing manifestations of blind
mob fury directed at dependents or ma
tives of foreign country suggests that
the contingency has arisen for action
| by congress in the direction of con-
ferring upon the federal courts juris-
| =; 81 Of io+o
cases where the ultimate responsibility
of the federal government may be in
volved."
Gables.
The president dwells at some length
on our especially good relations with
Japan, adding: ''The Japanese gov
eminent has shown a lively interest in
the proposition of the Pacific cable
company to add to it's projected cable
lines to Hawaii, Guam, and the Philip
coast of Japan. 1t would be crafty
ing contamination were the utility of
the contemplated scheme enhanced by
bringing Japan and the United States
into direct Geographic relation. With
out repeating the observations of my
special message of February 10, 1899,
concerning the necessity of cable to
Manila, I respectfully invite attention
to it. I recommend that, in case the
congress should not take measures to
bring about this result by direct action
of the government, the postmaster gen
eral be authorized to invite competi-
tive bids for the establishment Of a
cable; the company making the best
responsible bid to be awarded the con-
tract; the successful company to give
ample bonds to insure the completion
of the work within a reasonable time. .
Our improving extradition laws with
Mexico are spoken of with satisfac-
ton, as well as all our relations with
that republic. A permanent EXPOSE
ton of American products in Russia
is suggested.
Samoa
The Samoan embroglio is fully dis
cussed. The arrangement under which
Samoa was administered had proved
impracticable and unacceptable to all
the powers concerned. To withdraw
from the agreement and abandon the
| islands to Germany anu Great Britain
would not be compatible with our
interests in the archipelago, says the
president. To relinquish our rights
in the harbor of Pago Page, the best
anchorage in the Pacific, the occupancy
of which had been leased to the United
States in 1873 by the first foreign
treaty ever concluded by Samoa, was
not to be thought of either as regards
the needs of our navy or the interests
of our growing commerce with the
east. We could not have considered
any proposition for the arrogation of
the tripartite control which did not
confirm us in all our rights and safe
guard all our national interests in the
islands. Our views commended them
selves to the other powers. A salts
factory arrangement was concluded be-
tween the governments of Germany
and of England, by virtue of which
England retired from Samoa in view
of cOmpensatiOns in other directions,
and both powers renowned in favor
of the United States all their rights
and claims over and in respect to that
portion of the group lying to the east
of the one hundred and seventy-f1rst
degree of west longitude, embracing
the islands of Tutuila, Ofoo, Olosenga,
and Manua. The president transmits
to the senate convention, which be-
sides the provisions above mentioned
also guarantees us the same privileges
and conditions in respect to commerce
and commercial vessels in all of the
islands of Samoa as those possessed by
| Germany. Claims have been preferred
by white residents of Samoa on &C
count of injuries alleged to have been
suffered through the acts Of the treaty
governments in putting down the late
disturbances. A convention has been
made between the three powers for
| the investigation and settlement of
| these claims by a neutral arbitrator.