The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-29
INCOMPETENCE
AS THE RULER
Troubles of Americans Under
a WortleSs Consul.
APPEALS COUNT LITTLE
Story of Scotchman and Gen.
trail American Tyrant.
APPEALS COUNT LITTLE

UldlIlSIdy
was shut down, after listening to Abe
Smiths reading of a paragraph in the
Weekly Granger, illustrate how often the
great American people are blind to their
| own interests in matters appertalning 10
their foreign policy. The paragraph was
| to the effect that an American citizen IN
| another part OF the world had been ar
bitrarily arrested, his property confiscated
and finally, without trial, he had been eX-
PEELED from the country as pernicious
| foreigner. The comments were to the ef-
| feet that it served the fellow right for
| being in any such outlandish country;
| he should stay at home and behave him
self, and yet if these farmers had known
the truth they would have recognized
that the fellow thus ruined and exiled
| from the country by an arbitrary govern
ment had gone there on the representa-
lions of that very government itself; re-
presentations that foreign investments
and enterprises were required to build up
| the country, and that his intentions were
J to follow the peaceful pursuit of COM
|! merce and find a market for the output
| of the very mills now shut down.
A case of this kind is wildly impressed
upon my mind. Some years ago lone
American wandered into the interior of
| Central American state. He found a
people living there far from the outside
| world, cut off almost as completely as
though they were the inhabitants of the
moon. Their commerce was controlled by
a few native merchants. who made peri
odical trips to the coast with their mules
loaded with rubber and COW skins, and
after many days returned with such sup
plies as the people needed. Flour in that
remote region was worth $40 barrel,
and the streets were lighted at night with
petroleum which sold for $24 case. The
Yankee on investigation found that these
merchants made perhaps two trips year
and were content TO live the rest OF the
year on the profits of these two trips. He
figured out that he could easily make six
trips; that he could supply the people
with their necessities and luxuries of life
as well, at a much lower figure, and he
embarked in the business.
He went down to the coast and returned
with a credit OF $4,000, and soon he had
upwards of fifty people employed with
mules and boats in this new enterprise.
This, of course, meant cheaper goods for
the people, increased consumption, and
get out or competition on the part of the
few native merchants who had hitherto
monopolized the trade. But the native
merchants did not propose to do either.
They understood thoroughly the proper
way to fix the enterprising Yankee, way
which he understood not. They simply
stole a hand organ which he was import
ing into the country, and then had him
arrested for smuggling. The Judge, out
of sympathy for the American, advised
him to settle the matter out of court,
which he finally reluctantly consented to
do. Scarcely had he settled this case than
he found that a package of goods had
disappeared like the hand organ, from an
invoice already in the customs house,
and, again summoned to court, he found
one of the clerks sitting on the missing
package. He was charged with smuggling
it. Naturally he undertook to fight the
case, and ne was about to bring it to
successful issue, he was suddenly sur
rounded by squad of soldiers with fixed
bayonets and trotted off to jail.
He succeeded in getting dispatch to the
American Consul at the capital. and after
languishing many days in prison, denied
a hearing, and with all his property con-
fiscated. he received a reply from the Con-
sui. Let us know all about it." Even
this simple message to the imprisoned
Yankee had the effect of stirring up the
authorities to the extent of making him
a proposition that if he would plead guilty
to the charge of smuggling and promise
to make no further complaint either
through his Consulate, or to their Gov
eminent direct they would let him of
with a nominal fine and restore his pro-
perty TO him. This he refused to do. After
undergoing an Imprisonment of two
months he made his escape, and reaching
the capital laid his case before the Ameri-
can Consul The American Consul told
him that the United States was not over
Jealous in protecting the interests of
American citizens. charged him $50 for
witnessing his signature. and then pigeon
holed the papers in the case which he had
signed.
At the end of six months the injured
American. learning that nothing had been
done in the matter. sent a written state-
ment Of the case direct to the State De-
partment at Washington The Secretary
Of state Immediately ordered the Consul
to make a complete investigation. The
Consul. highly indignant that he should
have been complained Of 10 the State De-
partment, Immediately found a party VIII
ling TO swear that the American had gone
to prison voluntarily. and that he had re
fused his liberty when Il was offered 20
him This evidence was forwarded as the
sum and substance OF the investigation
and ii is still on file at the State Depart
ment. doubtless with thousands OF other
- T,~F-- 49,
gated
Compare this with the case Of British
subject which occurred in the same coun-
try, but in another remote town about
the same time. Mr.. Charles Angus was
travelling from Quezaltenango 70 the cap
ital and incidentally looking az some tim
her land which took him away from the
beaten road OF travel Arriving al the
little town Of SscapuIas late in the even
ing ne obtained lodging az house, the
owner % which. woman, readily con
scented 20 provide the necessary enter
tainment- Angus was tired. and soon
after seeing his horse fed and getting
his own supper. retired for the night His
slurnber was broken b. = disturbance
which LASTED nearly ell night in the plaza
near by. Upon inquiring the cause II The
morning. his hostess replied oarelsssiys
Yesterday was the Aicade's birthday
and he was celebrat ting
While the old woman was preparing his
breakfast Argus went out 10 take look
AZ the town Scarcely had he crossed the
plaza than he was sceosted By couple
OF Indians who informed him that ths
Alcada in hi. courtroom aerG<s tbs Wax