Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1903-12-11

Tt will be remembered that during the
second session of the last Congress Great
ance for the purpose OF blockading the
ports Of Venezuela and using such other
means of pressure as would secure settle
ment of claims due, as they alleged, to GER
tain Of their subjects. Their employment OF
force for the collection Of these claims was
terminated by an agreement brought about
sentatives Of the United States at Caracas
and the Government at Washington, there
by ending q situation which was bound to
cause increasing friction, and which jeopaar-
died the peace of the continent Under
! this agreement Venezuela agreed to set
apart q certain percentage of the customs
receipts of two of her ports to be applied
might be ascertained by mixed commits
sIons appointed for that purpose to be due
from her, not only to the three powers al
| ready mentioned, whose proceedings against
her had resulted In state OF war, but also
| to the United States, France, Spain, Bel
gum the Netherlands; Sweden and Norway,
| for the collection of the claims alleged to be
due to certain of their citizens.
demand was then made by the so-called
| ed to be due to their citizens by such
mixed commissions should be accorded pay
ment In full before anything was paid
upon the claims of any, Of the ocalled
| peace powers. Venezuela, on the other
hand, insisted that all her creditors should
| be paid upon a basis OF exact equality.
| During the efforts TO ADJUST LnlS dispute II
was suggested by the powers in interest
| that 1t should be referred to me for de-
| cision, but l was clearly of the opinion
that far wiser course would be to sub
| of Arbitration at The Hague 1t seemed
| to me to offer an admirable opportunity to
advance the practice Of the peaceful settle
ment of disputes between nations and to Sc
cure for the Hague Tribunal memorable
! increase of its practical Importance. The
nations interested In the controversy were
powerful as to make 1t evident that bcnefi-
! cent results would follow from their ap-
pearance at the same time before the bar
of that august tribunal OF peace; ,oo ro.,
| lied. Russia and Austria are represented
in the persons of the learned and distin-
While Great Britain, Germany, France,
Spain, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Sweden and Norway, Mexico, the United
| States, and Venezuela are represented by
J their respective agents and counsel
There seems good ground for the BELIEF
that there has been real growth among
| the civilized nations Of a sentiment which
will permit gradual substitution of other
methods than the method of war In the
settlement Of disputes. 1t Is not pretended
that yet we are near position In which
it will be possible wholly to prevent war,
or that Just regard for national interest
| and honor will in all cases permit of the
settlement of international disputes by ar
| bitration; but by mixture of prudence
IL
possible to do away with much of the provo
| cation and excuse for war, and at least IN
many cases to substitute some other and
more rational method for the settlement OF
| disputes.
Relations with Turkey and China,
Early in July, having received intelligence,
which happily turned out to be erroneous,
| of the assassination of Vice Consul
| at Beirut, / dispatched q small squadron
to that port for such service rs might be
found necessary on arrival Although the
attempt on the life Of our Vice Consul
had not been successful, yet the outrage
| was symptomatic of state of excitement
and disorder which demanded immediate at
tention. The arrival of the vessels had the
happiest result. A feeling of security at
once took the place of the former alarm
and disqulet; our officers were cordially
welcomed by the consular body and the
leading merchants, and ordinary business
the Sultan gave considerate nearing TO
the representations of our minister; the Of
fetal who was regarded as responsible for
the disturbed condition of affairs was re
moved. Our relations with the Turkish
Government remain friendly; our claims
founded on iaequitabe treatment of some
of our schools and missions appear to be III
process Of amicable adjustment.
The signing Of new commercial treaty
with China, which took place at Shanghai
on the 9Th of October, is cause for salts
faction This act, the result Of long dis
cussion and negotiation, places our com
merclal relations with the great Oriental
Empire on more satisfactory footing than
they have ever heretofore enjoyed. 1t pro-
vides not only for the ordinary rights and
| privileges Of diplomatic and consular OH
GERS, but also for an important extension
OF our commerce by increased facility or
access to Chinese ports, and for the refer
of trade by the removal of some or the
obstacles which have embarrassed 1t In
the past. The full measure Of develop
ment which our commerce may riGhtfuly
| expect can hardly be looked for until the
| settlement of the present abnormal state
Of things In the Empire; but the founda-
ton for such development has at last been
laid.
Rural Free Delivery.
The rural free-delvery service has been
| steadily extended. The attention of the
| Congress is asked to the question of the
clerks engaged In the postal service, espe-
cialy on the new rural free-delivery routes.
| More routes have been installed since the
first of July last than in any like period
In the Departments history. While due
| regard to economy must be kept in mind
in the establishment OF new routes, yet
the extension of the rural free-deliyery
| system must be continued, for reasons of
sound public policy. No governmental
movement of recent years has resulted in
| greater immediate benefit to the people Of
taken in connection with the telephone,
the bicycle, and the trolley, accomplishes
much toward lessening the isolation of
| farm life and making Ii brighter and more
| attractive. Rural free delivery is not only
good thing In itself, but is good because
| it Is one of the causes which check this
unwholesome tendency toward the urban
concentration of our population ut the ex-
pense of the country districts 1t Is for
the same reason that we sympathize with
and approve of the policy Of building good
roads.
Alaska and Insu1ar Possessions.
I call your special attention to the Ter
ritory of Alaska. The country Is develop
inn run
The mineral wealth is great and has as yet
hardly been tapped. The fisheries, IL wise
ly handled and kept under national con-
any other, and of the utmost Importance
to the people. The forests If properly
guarded will form another great source Of
wealth. Portions of Alaska are fitted for
farming and stock raising, although the
methods must be adapted to the peculiar
conditions of the country, Alaska Is stu
ated In the far north; but so are Norway
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