The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-08

tudH Is the case WIFI property IOulsU
on land really to belong to any one ma
ton. Under the modern system of cor
porate ownership the flag of a vessel often
differs from the flag which would mark
the nationality of the real ownership and
money control of the vessel and the car
go may belong to individuals of yet a
different nationality. Much American
capital is now invested in foreign ships
and among foreign nations it often hap
pens that the capital of one is largely
invested in the shipping. of another. Fur
thermore, as a practical matter, it may
be mentioned that while commerce des-
troying may cause loss and great annoy
ance, it can never be more than slib-
sidiary factor IN bringing to terms a reso-
lutte foe. This is now well recognized by
all of our naval experts. The fighting
ship, not the commerce destroyer, is tie
vessel whose feats add renown to a ia
tons history, and establish her place
among the great powers Of the world.
MEETING OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
UNION FOR INTERNATIONAL
ARBITRATION.
Last year the Interparliamentary Union
for International Arbitration met at vi
emma, six hundred members of the diff
attending 1t was provided that the next
meeting should be in 1904 at st. Louis,
subject to our Congress extending an in
vitation. Like The Hague Tribunal, this
parliamentary Union is one of the
forces tending towards peace among the
nations of the earth, and it is entitled
to our support. l trust the invitation
can be extended.
RELATIONS WITH TURKEY.
Early in July, having received intell-
gence, which happily turned out to be
erroneous, of the assassination Of our
vioeconsul at Beirut, 1 dispatched small
squadron to that port for such service
as 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 de-
manded immediate attention. The arrival
of the vessels had the happiest result.
\, feeling of security at once took the
place of the former alarm and dlsquiet;
our officers were cordially welcomed by
the consular body and the leading mer-
chants, and ordinary business resumed
its activity The Government of the Sui
tan gave a conslderate hearing to the
| Representations
fetal who was regarded as responsible
for the disturbed condition Of affairs
was removed Our relations with the
Turkish Government remain friendly; our
claims founded on inequitable treatment
of some of our schools and missions ap-
pear to be in process of amcable adjust
ment.
RELATIONS WITH CHINA.
The signing of new commercial treaty
mith China, which took place at Sha1.g-
hai on the Sth of October, is Il cause for
satisfaction. This act. the result OF long
discussion and negotiation, places our
commercial relations with the great ORR
entail Empire on more satisfactory foot
ing than they have ever heretofore en-
joyed 1t provides not only for the ordi-
nary rights and privileges of diplomatic
and consular officers. but also for an
important extension of our commerce by
increased facility of access to Chinese
ports, and for the relief of trade by the
removal of some of the obstacles which
have embarrassed it in the past. The
Chinese Government engages, on fair and
equitable conditions, which will probably
be accepted by the principal commercial
nations, to abandon the levy of "liken''
and other transit dues throughout the
Empire. and to introduce other desirable
administrative reforms Larger facilities
are to be given to our citizens who desire
to carry on mining enterprises in China.
We have secured for OR missionaries a
valuable privilege the recognition of their
right to rent and lease in perpetuity such
property as their religious societies may
need in all parts of the Empire. And.
what was an INDISPENSABLE condition for
the advance and development of cur com
merce in Manchuria China, by treaty
with us, has opened to foreign commerce
the cities of Mukden. the capit2l of the
province Of Manchuria, and Antung, an
important port on the Yalu River on the
road to Korea The full measure of de-
velopment which our commerce may right
fully expect can hardly be looked for until
the settlement of the present abnormal
state of things in the Empire: but the
| foundation for such development has at
last been laid.
REDUCTION IN COST OF MAINTAIN
ING CONSULAR SERVICE.
GOOD ROADS.
| ! call your attention to the reduced
cost in maintaining the consular service
for the fiscal year ending June 80 1908,
as shown In the annual report of the
auditor for the State and other Depart
ments, as compared with the year pre-
vious. For the year under consideration
the excess of expenditures over receipts
on account of the consular service
amounted to S26.12512, as against $780,
972 so for the year ending June 80, 1902,
and $147,040.16 for theyear ending une
80, 1901 This is the best showing in
this respect for the consular service for
the past fourteen years, and the reduc-
ton in the cost of the service to the Gov
eminent has been made In spite of the
fact that the expenditures for the year
IN question were more than $4,000 greater
than for the previous year.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY SERVICE.
The rural free delivery service has
been steadily extended. The attention OF
the Congress is asked to the question of
the compensation of the letter carriers
and clerks engaged in the postal service,
especially 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 a due regard to economy must