The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-12-04


and forty-first meridian. A convention to
that end has been before the senate for
some two years, but as no action has been
taken contemplate negotiating a new con-
vention for a joint determination of the
meridian by Geographic observations
These, it is believed, will give more &C
curate and unquestionable results than the
sidereal methods heretofore Independently
followed, which, as is known proved dis
crepant at several points on the line, al
though not varying at any place more than
zoo feet
The War in South Africa.
A review of the incidents connected
with our shipping to South African
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 cousignments in British ships, by
which alone direct trade is kept up be-
tween cur ports and Southern Africa,
were seized in application of munlclpal
law prohibiting British vessels from trad
ing with the enemy without regard to any
contraband character of the goods, Whlle
cargoes shipped to Delagoa Bay IN neu,
trail bottoms were arrested on the ground
of alleged destination to enemys 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 a 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. That coun-
| try is still waiting for the punishment of
| the parties guilty of that crime. The presi-
/ dent saws that successive grand Jur1eS
have failed to find indictments, and says:
| Setting the principle at issue high above
all consideration of merely pecuniary in
Identification, such as this government
| has solemnly invoked the pledges of eX-
| listing treaty and asked that the justice
| to which she is entitled SHAH 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.
I renew the urgent recommendations
made last year that the congress appro-
priately confer upon the federal courts
jurisdiction in this class of international
| cases where the ultimate responsibility of
| the federal government may be involved,
| and I invite action upon the bills to accom-
DIish this which were introduced in the
Senate and house. It is incumbent upon us
| to remedy the statutory omission which
| has led, and may again lead, to such IN
toward results; L nave pointed INT l out the
| of this character. Its enactment is sim
| pie 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,
| disposal of the Tallulah incident, 1 adj
wise that in accordance with precedent,
and in view of the improbability 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.
Lynching.
| In my inaugural address I referred to
| the general subject of lynching in these
"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
preservation of public order, the right of
! discussion, the integrity of courts, and
| the orderly administration of justice
/ must continue forever the rock 81 safety
upon which our government securely
| rests
This 1 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 10 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
| notifications of the convention for the pa
chic settlement of international disputes by
| 16 powers, namely: the United States, AUS
! tria, Belgium, Denmark, England, France,
| Germany Italy, Persia, Portugal, .-RoH-
| mania, Russia, Siam, Spain, SWeden.and
| Norway, and the Netherlands. Japan alst
| has since ratified the convention. v
The Nicarauguan Canal. $3.50
He advocates the speedy building of
| the Nicaraguan canal, and recommends
| the ratification of the Hay-Pauncefote
| treaty. on this subject he says:
The all-impOrtant matter OF an inter
! oceanic canal has assumed a new phase.
| Adhering 10 its refusal to reopen the ques-
| ton OF the forfeiture or the contract OF
! the Maritime Canal company, which was
| terminated tor alleged non-e execution In
| October, 1893, the government Of Nicara-
qua has since supplemented that action
| by declaring the so-styled Eyre-C ramin
| 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
OF the United States are under cOnsidera-
| ton. In the meantime the views of the
| congress upon the general subject, in the
I light of the report OF the commission APP
! pointed to examine the comparative merits
of the various tranS-isthmian ship-canal
projects, may be awaited
! | 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 e1traditiOn is ap-
| preaching completion and trusts that a
| commercial convention may follow OF
] SPANS claim to a number of the is
| lands in the Philippine group not covered
| by the Paris treaty he says:
| BY the terms of the treaty of peace
the line bounding the coded Philippine
| group in the southwest failed to include
several small islands lying west of the
Sulus, which have always been recog-
| nized as under Spanish control The oc-
| cupation of Sibutu and Cagayan Sulu by
| our naval forces elected q claim on the
| part of Spain, the essential equity OF
| which could not be gainsaid. In order to
| cure the defect Of the treaty by remov-
ing all possible ground of future mis-
| understanding respecting the interpreta-
| ton of its third article, I directed. the
! negotiation of a supplementary treaty
| which will be forthwith laid before thr
senate, whereby Spain quits all title and
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