The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-12-12

/ of residence and intercourse on terms OF
equality for all the world.
| I regard as one OF the essential fac
| tors OF a durable adjustment the secure
| ment of adequate guarantees for literally
of faith, security Of those natives who
may embrace alien creeds, is scarcely
| less effectual assault upon the rights of
| foreign worship and teaching than would
be the direct invasion thereof.
The Matter of Indemnity.
| The matter of indemnity for our
| wronged citizens is a question Of grave
| concern. Measured in money alone, a
| sufficient reparation may prove to be be-
yond the ability Of China to meet. All
| the powers concur in emphatic disclaimers
Of any purpose Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT through
| the dismemberment Of the empire. I am
disposed to think that due compensation
may be made in part by increased guar
| antees of security for foreign rights and
| immunities, and, most important Of all, by
| the opening of China to the equal COM
| merce of all the world. These views have
been and will be earnestly advocated by
our representatives.
ward suggestion, that in the event of
protracted divergence of views in regard
| to indemnities the matter may be relegat-
| ed to the court of arbitration at The
Hague. I favorably, incline to believe
| that the tribunal could not fail to reach
a solution no less conducive to the sta
| bility and enlarged prosperity of China it
self than Immediately beneficial to the
powers.
Our friendly relations with Great Britain
continue. The war in Southern Africa in
troduced important questions. A condi-
ton unusual in international wars was
presented in that while one belligerent had
control of the seas the other had no ports,
shipping, or direct trade, but was only &C
cessible through the territory of a neutral.
Vexatious questions arose through Great
Britain'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 ulti-
| mate destination to the Boer states.
Such consignments in British ships,
by which alone direct trade is kept UP be-
tween our ports and Southern Africa were
seized in application Of a municipal law
prohibiting British vessels from trading
with the enemy without regard to any
contraband character of the goods, while
cargoes shipped to Delagoa Bay in neu-
trail bottoms were arrested on the ground
y
Appropriate representations on our part
resulted in the British government agree
ing to purchase outright all such goods
shown to be the actual property of Ameri-
can citizens, thus closing the incident to
the satisfaction Of the Immediately inter-
ested parties. although unfortunately,
without broad settlement of the, question
of neutrals right to send goods not con-
traband per Sc to neutral port adjacent
TO a belligerent area
Relations with Italy.
The assassination Of King Humbert
called forth sincere expressions of sorrow
occasion was fifty taken to testify to the
Italian nation the high regard here felt
for the memory Of the lamented ruler.
Laws Urged Against Lynchings.
In my inaugural address ] referred to
the general subject Of lynching in these
words: 'Lynching must not be tolerated
in a great and civilized country like the
United States; courts not mobs, must ex-
ecute the penalties Of the law. The
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"
This I most urgently reiterate and again
invite the attention of my countrymen to
this reproach upon our civilization.
Inter-Oceanic Canal.
The all important matter of an inter-
oceanic canal has assumed new phase.
Adhering to its refusal to reopen the ques-
ton of forfeiture of the contract of the
Maritime Canal company, which was ter
minated for alleged noneXecution in Octo-
Der, 1899, the government Of Nicaragua
has since supplemented that action by
declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cragin OPP
ton void for nonpayment of the stipulat-
ed advance Protests in relation to these
acts have been filed in the State depart
ment and are under consideration Deem
ing itself relieved from existing engage
ments, the Nicaraguan government shows
disposition to deal freely with the canal
question either in the way Of negotia
tons with the United States or by taking
measures to promote the waterways.
Overtures for a convention to effect
the building of canal under the auspices
of the United States are under considera-
ton. In the meantime the views of the
congress upon the general situation in
the light of the report Of the commission
appointed to examine the comparative
merits Of the various trans-isthmian ship
canal projects, may be awaited. l COM
mend to the early attention of the senate
the convention with Great Britain to ia
cilitate the construction of such canal,
and to remove any objection that might
arise out of the Clayton Bulwer treaty.
Good Will of Russia.
Another illustration Of the policy of this
government to refer international dis
putes to impartial arbitration Is seen in
the agreement reached with Russia to
submit the claims on behalf Of American
sealing vessels seized in Boring sea to de-
termination by Mr.. T. M. G. Asser, dis
tjnguished statesman and jurist of The
Netherlands.
Thanks are due to the imperial Russian
government for kindly aid rendered by its
authorities in eastern Siberia to American
missionaries fleeing from Manchuria.
Treaty with Spain.
Satisfactory progress has been made to-
ward the conclusion Of a general treaty OF
friendship and intercourse with Spain, in
replacement of the old treaty, which
passed into allegiance by reason of the late
war new convention of extraditicn is
approaching completion and I should be
much pleased wers commercial ar
rangement to follow. feel that we should
not suffer to pass any opportunity to re-
affirm the cordial ties that existed be-
tween United States and Spain from the
time of our earliest independence and to
~ hot