The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-12-08

ing:
In this relation 1 may refer again to the
boundary where it follows the one hundred
and forty-frst meridian. A convention to
that end has been before the ena fol
some two years, but as no action has been
vention for a joint determination Of the
meridian by telegraphic observations.
These, 1t is believed. will give more &C.
curate and unquestiolable results than the
sidereal methods heretofore independently
followed, which, as is known, proved dis
crepant at several points on the line. al
hough not varying at II place more b q
100 feet.
The War in South Africa.
A review of the incidents connected
points is given, and he says that in
this connection vexatious questions arose
through Great Britain's action in respect
to neutral cargoes not contraband in
their own nature, shipped to Portuguese
South Africa, on the score of probable or
suspected ultimate destination to the Boer
states.
OF the final settlement of this question
he says:
Such c%onsignments in British ships. by
which alone direct trade is kept up be-
were seized in application of a municipal
law prohibiting British vessels from trad
ing with the enemy without regar to any
c~ontraband character Of the goods. while
80 sHhPPSN ~ >Aa6C -
trail bottoms were arrested on the ground
Of alleged destination to enemy's country.
Appropriate representations on our part
resulted in the British government agree
ing to purchase outright all such goods
shown to be actual property OF American
citizens, thus closing the incident to the
satisfaction of the Immediately interest
ed parties, although, unfortunately, with
out a broad settlement of the question
Of a neutral's right to send goods not
~contraband per Sc to n neutral port ad-
Jacent to a belligerent area.
Relations with Italy.
The lynching of the Italians in Louisi-
ana is the one question standing between
this government and Italy. Tha coun.
try is still waiting for the punishment of
the parties guilty of that crime. The presi-
dent says that successive grand juries
nave failed to find indictments, and says:
Setting the principle at issue high above
all consideration OF merely peeuniary IN.
made in the three previous cases, Italy
has solemnly invoked the pledges of ex-
listing treaty and asked that the justice
to which she is entitled shall be meted
in regard to her unfortunate countrymen
in our territory with the same full meas
ure she herself would give to any Amer
lean were his reciprocal treaty rights con-
temned.
l renew the urgent recommendations I
made last year that the congress appro-
priately confer upon the federal courts
jurisdiction in this class of international
cases wher the responsibility Of
the federal government may be involved,
and / invite action upon the bills to accom-
plish this which were introduced in the
senate and house. 1t is upon US
10 remedy the statutory omission which
has led, and may agai lead, to such I'M
toward results. l have pointed out the
necessity and the precedent Tor legislation
of this character. Its enactment is a SIM
ple measure OF previsory justice toward the
nations with which We as a sovereign equal
make treaties requiring reciprocal observ-
ance.
While the Italian government naturally
regards such action as the primary, and,
indeed, the most essential element in the
disposal of the Tallulah incident, 1 ad-
wise that. in accordance with precedent,
and in view of the imDrobability of that
particular case being reached by the bill
now pending, congress make gracious
provision for indemnity to the Italian
sufferers in the same form and proper
ton as heretofore.
L~ynchinE.
In my inaugural address l 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
execute the penalties of the law. The
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 coun-
trymen to this reproach upon our civiliza-
ton.
Ratification Of Hague Convention.
The ratification Of The Hague peace
convention is referred to as follows:
1t is with satisfaction that l am able to
announce the formal notification at The
Hague, on September 4, of the deposit Of
Publications of the convention for the pa
chic settlement of international disputes by
16 powers, namely: the United States, Aus
tria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France,
mania. Russia, Siam, Spain, Sweden and
Norway, and the Netherlands. Japan also
has since ratified the convention.
The NicHrnaEunn Canal.
He advocates the speedy building of
the Nicaraguan canal, and recommends
treaty. On this subject he says:
The all-important matter of an inter-
oceanic canal has assumed a new phase.
Adhering to its refusal to reopen the Ques-
ton of the forfeiture of the contract of
the Maritime Canal company, which was
terminated for alleged non-execution in
October, 1859, the government of Nicara-
gua has since supplemented that action
by declaring the so-styled Eyre-Cramin
option void for nonpayment of its stipu-
lated advance. Protests in relation to
these acts have been filed in the state de-
partment and are under consideration.
Deeming itself relieved from existing en-
gagements, the Nicaraguan government
shows a disposition to deal freely with the
canal question either in the way of ne
gotiations with the United States or by
taking measures to promote the waterway.
Overtures Tor a convention to effect the
building of a canal under the auspices
of The United States are under consiaera-
ton. In the meantime the views of the
mgr upon the general subject, in the
light of the report of the commission ap-
pointed to examine the comparative merits
Of the various trans-isthmian s%hip-canal
projects, may be awaited.
l commend to the early attention of the
senate the convention with Great Britain
to facilitate the construction of such a
canal and to remove any objection which
might arise out of the convention COM
monty called the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
New Treaty with Spain.
OF our relations with Spain he says a
new convention of eXtradition Is ap-
preaching completion and trusts that a
commercial convention may follow. OF
and in the Philippine group not covered
by the Paris treaty he says:
BY the terms of the treaty Of peace
the line bounding the ceded Philippine
group in the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying west of the
niZed as under Spanish control. The oc-
cupation of Sibutu and Cagayan Sulu by
our naval forces ELECTED a claim on the
part of Spain. the essential equity Of
cure the defect of the treaty by remov-
ing all possible ground of future mis-
understanding respecting the interpreta-
ton of its third article. l directed the
negotiation of a supplementary treaty.
which will be forthwith laid before the
senate, whereby Spain quits all title and
claim to the islands named, as well as to
any n all Stands belonging to the Phil