The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-07-20

hNolbCu hucu Wv 0eA 1850 FS~
and our exporters of meat. These
enjoy the special privilege OF getting
their salt free and cheap. Is there
any sound reason why others should
be compelled to pay tribute to this
trust?
HAS NEELY A PULL TOO?
Some months ago, we have forgot
ten how many, the eagle eye of the
administration discovered grave ir-
regularites in the Cuban postal mat
tiers. United States officials at Ha-
vana were charged with embezz!ing
funds from the government and Il
| wall Of sorrow went over the country
that we, as III enlightened nation,
who had undertaken, gratutiously, to
free Cuba from ignorant Spain,
should have permitted robbery to
nave occurred as one of the initial
steps Of the broad policy OF civiliza.
ton and education. 1t is even re-
| corded that Mckinley wept and
''Teddy" Roosevelt took up another
hole liz his revolver belt and swore
Vengeance. Justice swift and sure was
promised, but there the matter ended.
Is it any wonder then the Cubans are
getting a little anxious about the de-
lay in bringing to trial Nicely, who
is charged with being the ring leader
in the robberies committed. La
Luch0 leading Havana paper under
the caption of Where is Mr.. Neely?"
says:
Every few days one hears a query
as to the outcome of the custom-house
fraud trials. The question is usually
asked by Americans, and is accom-
panied, as a rule, by few remarks
derogatory to Cubans as - race, Gu
ban courts as frauds and Cuban JUS
tice as mockery.
In the early part of May there was
a tremendous amount of excitement
among Americans here aud in the
States. Immense sums of money had
been distracted from postal funds by
a number of thieves, who were so
we'll organized that they had been
conducting operations in a most
brazen manner. The leader OF the
crew was one Seely-no, Neely-so
long ago was it that the name had
been nomentarily forgotten.
Nicely went to the States. His ar
rest WAS ordered by wire and accom-
plished by a New York Sheriff.
An entire transport, with Colonel
Burton, Inspector General, was sent
to Norfolk at a heavy cost. Colonel
Burton was armed with cases Of docu-
mentary evidence against Nicely and
with General Woods request for his
return to Cuba.
A wall of sorrow went up from the
White House. The President was
shocked and grieved. At least, the
Postmaster General said he was. Hon.
Charles Emory Smith himself was
righteously indignant. Mr.. Perry
Heath was surprised and hurt; also
ressntful that no one should charge
him with knowing Nelly, when he
had merely recommended the latter's
appointment and twice urged his
promotion.
When Bristow was sent here at
ftention was turned to Nicely. Teddy
strenuously swore that he would sign
orders for his extradition at once.
But Teddy's strenuosity was subdued
in some way. and he was forced to
wait. Congress discussed and finally
passed an extradition bill. The At
torney General had, in the meantime
brought suit against Nicely for $50, 900.
Finally Roosevelt signed the extradi-
ton order and Neeiy's hearing before
the courts was sot, resot and sot again
and is now waiting for July % to
come around before it can be present
and postponed again.
Yet Cubans are not citing this as
proof that American judges are cor
rupt. American justice is politics,
and American politics are rotten"
They do not condemn the nation be-
cause of the bosses.
They only comment when they
hear remarks about their courts being
illustrative of their national charact-
eristics. Then they quietly ask,
Where ia Mr. Neelvp'n
GREAT EXAMPLE LOST.
1t is interesting to note the effect
upon our sister republics in South and
Central America of the Mckinley im-
perialistic policy as it has thus far
developed. In Chile, Peru and Col
umbia the clerical or reactionary
party has within the last few months
sprung into new life and activity, in
somuch that the liberal tendency
which has for years dominated those
governments is now threatened with
a serious setback.
The liberals in the Latin American
States have always looked to this
country for their inspiration, accept
ing at their face value our professions
of Republicanism and believing us
as indeed we have until lately always
believed ourselves-to be the model
and exemplar for all self-governing
peoples. The Herald of the City of
Mexico in its issue of July makes
this interesting comment
1.-THE progress of Imperialism in the
United States is eagerly observed by
both great parties Of Latin America.
The clericals predict that plutocracy
will come to rule at Washington, the
form of Republicanism being preserv-
ed, but In reality an empire. If this re-
suits, SO much the better for the mon
archical idea in Latin America, for
Americans of the north cannot in de-
cencY protest and the reactionary
idas will have triumphed in the
United States. The old fashioned lib
erals in Mexico to the south are
watching events in the United
States"
Nowhere in the world is the strug-
gle for democracy more ardent or
more strenuous than in Latin Amer
lea. The patriots of those republics
have always had to combat the heri-
tage of Spanish monarchism descend
ed from their former rulars Aa