Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-12-06

ping or direct trade, but was only access.
ible through the territory Of neutral.
Vexatious questions arose through Great
Britdin's action in respect to neutral car
goes, not contraband in their own nature,
shipped to Portuguese South Africa, on
the score of probable or suspected ultl-
mate destination to the Boer states.
Cargoes shipped to Dslagoa bay In
neutral bottoms were arrested on the
ground of alleged destination to enemy's
country. Appropriate representation on
our part resulted in the British govern
ment agreeing to purchase outright all
such goods shown to be the actual prop
erty of American citizens. thus closing
the incident to the satisfaction of the i'm
mediately interested parties although un-
fortunately without broad settlement OF
the question of neutrals right to send
goods not contraband per Sc to neutral
port adjacent to belligerent area.
COURTS, NOT MOBS, MUST RULE.
In my inaugural address l referred to
the general subject of lynching In these
words: 'Lynching must not be tolerated
In great and civilized country like the
United States: courts, not mobs, must
preservation Of public order, the right Of
discussion, the integrity of courts, and
the orderly administration of justice must
continue forever the rock of safety upon
which our government securely rests"
PRAISE FOR JAPAN.
The closing year has witnessed decided
Strengthening of Japan's relations to
other states. The development of her in
dependent judicial and administrative
functions under the treaties which took
effect July II, 1899, has proceeded without
international friction, showing the compe-
tence of the Japanese to hold a foremost
place among the modern peoples. In the
treatment of the difficult Chinese prob
lens Japan has acted in harmonious con-
cert with the other powers, and her gen
erous cooperation materially aided In the
Joint relief of the beleagured legations
In Pekn and in bringing about an under.
standing preliminary to settlement OF
the issues.
Japan's declarations in favor Of the IN
tegrity of the Chinese empire and the
conservation of open world trade there
with have been frank and positive, AS
factor for promoting the general inter-
ests of peace, order and fair commerce
in the far east, the influence of Japan can
hardly be over-estimated. the valua-
BILE aid and kindly courtesies extended py
the Japanese government and navel ON
GERS to the batteshp Oregon are crate
fully appreciated. Complaint was made
last summer of the discriminatory en-
forcement of bubonc quarantine against
Japanese on the Pacific coast, and or IN
reference with their travel in Califor-
mia and Colorado under the healtn Jaws
of those states The latter restrictions
have been adjudged by federal court 10
be unconstitutional.
MUTUAL INTERESTS WITH MEXlCo.
No noteworthy incident has occurred IN
our relations with our important southern
nelghbors. Commercial intercourse win
TO thrttf n
governments neglect no opportunity 10
Faster their mutual interests in all prac-
ticable ways.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION.
II is with satisfaction that ! am able
to announce the formal notllcat,on az
The Hague, on September 4, or the de-
nosit of notifications of the convention
for the pacific settlement of the interna-
tional disputes by sixteen powers
namely. the United States, Austria, Bel
GUM, Denmark, England France, Ger
many Italy, Persia, Portugal Roumania'
Russia. SIAM Spain, Sweden ana NOT
way and the Netherlands. Japan also mas
since ratified the convention. Inc au.
ministratve council of the permanent
court of arbitration has been organized
and has adopted rules OF oruel anu a
constitution for the international arDi-
tration bureau. In accordance with ar
ticle 20 of the convention providing
for the appointment by each signatory
mower of persons Of known competency
in questions of International law as arpi,
traitors. ! have appointed as members OF
this court, Hon Benjamin Harrison OF
Indiana ex-presidcnt of the uh,ieu
States: Hon. Melville w. RULER, OF I'M
nois, chief justice of the United States
Hon. John W. Griggs, of New, Jersey
.,,pI az NO
and Hon George Gray, of Delaware,
Judge Of the circuit court of the United
iSTIlMlAN CANAL LEGISLATION.
The al-inportan iatter of an inter-
oceanic canal has rTrd new phase,
Adhering to It's iusal to reopen the
question Of the fos''iiurc If the contract
Of the MARITIME Canal company, which
was terminated fo- alleged n1u-f Xecu--
ton in October, lS99 the government OF
Nicaragua has since supplemented mat
action by declaring the so-stylcd Frye.
Cramn option void for unemployment OF
tie stipulated advance" Protests IN re-
lation to these acts nave been flied In
the state department and are under con-
sideration Deeming itself relieved from
existing engagements the Nicarhguan
government shows a disposition TO deal
freely with the canal question either IN
the way of negotiations with the United
States or by taking measures to promote
the waterway. Overturcs for a conven-
ton to effect the building of 4 canal I'M
der the auspices Of the United States are
under consideration. In the meantime
the views of congress upon the subject,
In the light of the report of the commits
sion appointed to examine the compare
tive merits of the various trans-isth-
milan ship canal projects, may be
awaited. | commend 10 the early atten-
ton of the senate the convention with
Great Britain to facilitate the construc-
ton of such canal and to remove any
objection which might arise out of the
convention commonly called the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
REFERS TO sULTAN's PROMISES.
We await the fulhllment Of the
promise of the sultan to make repara-
ton for the injuries suffered by Ameri-
can citizens In Armenia and elsewhere In
the Turkish empire. His majestys good
dispositions in this regard has been
evinced by the issuance Of an trade for
rebuilding the American college at Elar-
poot.
INCREASE IN REVENUES.
1t Is gratifying to be able to state that
the surplus revenues for the fiscal year
ended June 80 1900 We're $79521 49,
For the six preceding years we had only
deficits, the aggregate Of which from
1894 to 1893, inclusive, amounted to $685.
or, 99ll The receipts for the year from
all sources, exclusive OF postal revenues
aggregated $780,, 2i0S5lS9, and expend-
lures for all purposes, except for the adj
mnistration Of the postal department,
aggregated s4SL7l3, 1911. The receipts
from customs were $2S3 lG4,s7l.16, an In
crease over the preceding year
of s27036, 3S9 A. Receipts from internal
revenue were s295,327 1855, an increase
of $21,S9O, 25 over 1899. The receipts
from miscellaneous sources We're $685.
T4S, O5397, us against s35,39ig7692 for the
previous year, 1t is gratifying also to
note that during the year considerable
reduction is shown In the expenditures
of the government. The war depart
ment expenditures for the fiscal year
1900 We're sl3i,71i,76LS a reduction OF
s95, 066, $3.50 over those Of 1899 In the
navy department the expenditures were
S55, 953 70 for the year 1900, as against
Or far the nrpna1pu "a do.