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THE ME88AGE IN FULL this In the the was tried and ant from This the and ed was for that The it, not of the mit. of the the as of as Finance and Foreign Affairs the Sole Topic. STANDS FIRM ON ONE POINT The President Evidently Endorsee the Monroe Dootriné, bat Ii Silent on Annexation. Washington, D. C-, Dec. 3.—The pres ident's annual message, as transmitted to both houses of congress today, is given below in its entirety: To the Congress of the United States: The present assemblage of the legisla tive branch of our goveYnment occurs at a time when the Interests' of our people and the needs of the country give especial prominence to the condition of our for eign relations and the exigencies of our national finances. The reports of the different departments of government fully and plainly exhibit what has been ac complished within the scope of their re spective duties and present such recom mendations for the betterment of our coun try's condition as a result of patriotic and intelligent labor and observations. I therefore deem it my executive duty adequately performed at this time by presenting to congress the Important phases of our situation, as related to our intercourse with foreign nations, and a statement of the financial problems which confront us, omitting, except as they are related to these topics, any ref erence to departmental operations. 1 earnestly invite, however, not only the careful consideration, but the severely critical scrutiny, of the congress and my fellow countrymen to the reports con cerning these departmental operations. If justly and fairly examined they will fur nish proof of assidious and painstaking care for the public welfare. I press the recommendations they con tain upon the respectful attention of those charged with the duty of legisla tion, because their adoption would pro mote the people's good. By commendatory tariff legislation in January last, the Ar gentine republic, recognizing the value of the large market opened to the free Im portation of Us wools under our last tar iff act, has permitted certain products of the United States to enter at reduced duties. It is pleasing to note that the efforts we have made to enlarge the ex changes of trade on a sound basis of mu tual benefit are in this instance appreci ated by the country from which our wool en factories obtain their needful sup plies of raw material. BOUNDARY DISPUTE. The Missions boundary dispute between the Argentine Republic and Brazil re ferred to the president of the United States as arbitrator during the term of my predecessor, and which was submitted to me for determination, resulted in an award in favor of Brazil, upon the his torical and documentary evidence pre sented, thus ending a long protracted controversy, and again demonstrating the wisdom and desirability of settling inter national boundary disputes by recourse to friendly arbitration. Negotiations are progressing for a re vival of the United States and Chilean claims commission, whose work was abruptly terminated last year by the ex piration of the stipulated time within which awards could be made. The resumption of specie payments by Chill is a step of great interest and im portance both in its direct consequences upon her own welfare and as evidencing the ascendancy of sound financial princi ples in one of the most influential of the South American republics. THE ORIENTAL WAR. in Is is of The close of the momentous struggle between China and Japan, while relieving the diplomatic agents of this government from the delicate duty they undertook at the request of both countries of re entering such service to the subjects of either belligerent within the territorial limits of the other, as our neutral position permitted, developed a domestic condi tion in the Chinese empire which has caused much anxiety and called for prompt and careful attention. Either as a result of & weak control by the central government over the provincial adminis trations, following a diminution of tradi tional governmental authority under the stress of an overwhelming national disas ter or as a manifestation upon good oppor tunity of the aversions of the Chinese population to all foreign ways and un. dertaklngs, there have occurred in widely separate provinces of China serious out breaks of the old fanatical spirit against foreigners which, unchecked by the local authorities, if not actually connived at by them, have culminated in attacks on for eign missionary stations, causing much destruction of property and attended with personal Injuries as well as loss of life. Although but one American citizen was reported to have been actually wounded, and although the destruction of property may have fallen more heavily upon the missionaries of other nationalities than our own, it plainly behooves this govern ment to take the most prompt and de cided action to guard against similar perhaps more dreadful calamities befall ing hundreds of Americans. The demands of the United States and for the degradation and or other powers punishment of the responsible officials of the respective cities and provinces who by neglect or otherwise had permitted uprisings, and for the adoption of stern measures by the emperor's government for the protection of the life and property of foreigners were followed by the arrest and dismissal of certain provincial offic ials found derelict in duty and the pun ishment by death of a number of those adjudged guilty of participating in the outrages. This government Insisted that a special American commission should visit the province where the first disturb occnrred for the purpose of inves Thls latter commission, formed anoes tigatlng. - - after much opposition, has gone overland ^from Tien Tsln, accompanied by a suita ble Chinese escort, and by its demonstra tion of the readiness and ability of our government to protect its citizens, will act It is believed, as a most Influential deterrent of any similar outbreaks. The energetic steps we have thus taken are all the more likely to result in future safety to our citizens in China, because the Imperial government is, I am persuad ed entirely convinced that we desire only the liberty and protection of our own cit izens and redress for any wrongs they may have suffered, and that we have no ulterior design or objects, political or China will not forget either otherwise. our kindly service to her citizens during the late war, nor the further fact that, while furnishing all the facilities at our command to further the negotiations of peace between her and Japan, we sought no advantages and interposed no counsel. The governments of both China and Ja pan have in special dispatches transmit ted through their respective diplomatic representatives expressed In a most pleas ing manner their grateful appreciation of our assistance to their citizens during the unhappy struggle and of the value of our aid in paving the way to their resumption of peaceful relations. WALLER INCIDENT. The customary cordial relations bitte« this country and Prance have been undis turbed, with the exception that a full ex planation of the treatment of John I«. Waller by the expeditionary military au thorities of France still remains to be given. Mr. Waller, formerly United States consul at Tamatlve, remained in Madagascar, his term of office having expired, and was apparently successful In procuring business concessions from the Hovas of greater or less value. After the occupation of Tamatave and the dec laration of martial law by the French, he was arrested upon various charges.among them that of communicating military In formation to the enemies of France, was tried and convicted by military tribunal and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. Following the course justified by abund ant precedents, this government requested from that of France the record of the proceedings of the French tribunal which resulted in Mr. Waller's condemnation. This request has been complied with to the extent of supplying a copy of the official records, from which appear the constitution and organization of the court, the charges as formulated and the general course and result of the trial, and by which it is shown that the accus ed was tried in open court and was de fended by counsel. But the evidence ad duced In support of the charges, which was not received by the French minister for foreign affairs till the first week in October, has thus far been withheld, the French government taking the ground that its production in response to our de mand would establish a bad precedent. The effortB of our ambassador to procure it, however, though impeded by recent changes in the French ministry, have not been relaxed and it is confidently expected that some satisfactory solution of the matter will shortly be reached. Meanwhile it appears that Mr. Waller's confinement has every alleviation which the state of his health and all the other circumstances of the case demand mit. ference above noted respecting a matter of common concern where nothing is sought except such a mutually satisfac tory outcome as the true merits of the case require, is the solution of the French chambers favoring the conclusion of a permanent treaty of arbitration between the two countries. An invitation has been extended by France to the government and people of the United States to participate in a great International exposition at Paris in 1900, as a suitable commemoration of the close of this, the world's marvelous century of progress. I heartily recommend its ac ceptance, together with such legislation as will adequately provide for a due rep resentation of this government and its people on the occasion. once few lute ing of not tion. does It by of has be so a tion be tion is the of per An agreeable contrast to the dif vey at to 22, at itETALIATiON NOT A GOOD SYSTEM Other Means Advised to Perfect Protcc tlon of Our Markets. Our relations with the states of the German empire are, in some aspects, typi cal of a condition of things elsewhere found in countries whose productions and trade are similar to rivalries of competing industries, the in fluence of the delusive doctrine that the internal development of a nation is pro moted and its wealth increased by a pol icy which undertakes to reserve its home markets for the exclusive use of its own producers, necessarily obstructs their sale in foreign markets and nrevent free ac cess to the products of the world; the de sire to retain trade in 'ime-worn ruts regardless of the inexorable laws of needs and the changed conditions of de mand and supply, and our own halting tardiness in inviting a free exchange of commodities, and by this means imperil ing our footing in the external markets naturally open to us, have created a sit uation somewhat injurious to American export interests, not only in Germany, where they are perhaps most noticeable, but in adjacent countries. The exports affected are largely Amer ican cattle and other food products, the reason assigned for the unfavorable dis crimination being that their consumption Is deleterious to the public health. This is all the more irritating, in view of the fact that no European state is of the excellence and wholesomeness of its exported foôd supplies as the United States, nor so easily able Inherent soundness to guarantee these qualities. Nor are these difficulties con fined to our food products designed for exportation. Our great insurance com panies, for example, having built up a vast business abroad and invested a large share of their gains in foreign countries, in compliance with the local laws and regulations then existing, now find them selves within a narrowing cy*cle of oner ous and unforaeen conditions and are confronted by the necessity of retirement from a field thus made unprofitable, if Indeed they are not summarily expelled, as some of them have lately been in Prus sia. It is not to be forgotten that inter national trade can not be one-sided. Its currents are alternating and its move ments should be honestly reciprocal. Without this it almost necessarily de generates Into a device to gain advantage or a contrivance to secure benefits with only the semblance of a return. In our dealings with other nations we ought to be open-handed and scrupulously fair. This should be our policy as a producing nation, and it plainly becomes us as a people who love generosity and the moral aspect of national good faith and recip rocal forbearance. These considerations should not, however, constrain submit to unfair discrimination,nor to si lently acquiesce in vexatious hindrances to the enjoyment of our share of the le gitimate advantages of proper trade rela tions. If an examination of the situation suggests such measures on our part as would involve restrictions similar to those from which we suffered, the way to such a course is easy. It should, however, by means be lightly entered upon, since the necessity for the inauguration of such a policy would be regretted by the best sentiment of our people, and because it naturally and logically might lead to consequences of the gravest character. I take pleasure in calling to your atten tion the encomiums bestowed on these vessels of our new navy, which took part in the notable ceremony of the opening of the Kiel canal. It was fitting that this extraordinary achievement of the newer German nationality should be celebrated in the progress of American exposition of the latest developments of the world's naval energy ed own. The close jealous account of to RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN -eal Patrol—Alaskan Boundary and the Venezuelan Dispute. Our relations with Great Britain, al ways intimate and important, have de manded during the past year a greater share of consideration than is usual. Sev eral vexatious questions were left undeter mined by the decision of the Bering arbitration tribunal. The application of the principles laid down by that august body has not been followed by the results they were intended to accomplish, either because the principles themselves lacked in breadth and definiteness, or because their execution has been more or less Imperfect. Much correspondence has been exchanged between the two govern ments on the subject of preventing the exterminating slaughter of seals. Tho insufficiency of British patrol of Bering sea under the regulations agreed on by the two governments has been pointed out and yet only two British ships have been on police during this season in these wa ters. The need of a more effective en forcement of existing regulations, as well as the adoption of such additional regu lations as experience has shown to be absolutely necessary urged upon the Brit ish government, but thus far without ef fective results. In the meantime the de* pletlon of the seal herds, by means of pelagic hunting, has so harmfully pro gressed that unless their slaughter is at once checked their extinction within a few years seems to be a matter of abso lute certainty. The understanding by which the United States was to pay and Great Britain to receive a lump sum of $425,000 in full set tlement of all British claims for damages arising from our seizure of British seal ing vessels unauthorized under the award of the Paris tribunal of arbitration« was not confirmed by the last congress, which declined to make the necessary appropria tion. I arrangement was a Judicious and advan tageous one for the government, and I earnestly recommend that It be again con sidered and sanctioned. If, however, this does not meet with the favor of congress, It certainly will hardly dissent from the proposition that the government is bound by every consideration of honor and good faith to provide for the speedy adjustment of these claims by arbitration as the only other alternative. A treaty of arbitration has therefore been agreed upon and will be Immediately laid before the senate so that in one of the modes suggested a final settlement may be reached. Notwithstanding that Great Britain originated the proposal that there be en forced international rules for the preven tion of collision at sea, based on the rec ommendations of the maritime confer ence of Washington and concurred in, suggesting March 1. 1896, as the date to be set by proclamation for carrying these rules into general effect, her majesty's government, having encountered opposi tion on the part of British shipping Inter ests, announced Its inability to accept the findings of the conference, which was con sequently cancelled. The entire matter is still in abeyance, without prospect of a better condition in the near future. The commissioners appointed to mark the international boundary in Passama quoddy bay, according to the description of the treaty of Ghent, have not fully agreed. cede edge sens or ing trary trial have claim not Mr. hav dant that cessor The lan and forts and crime. of for The aliens stages which, our tant bread lision our body by an borers, ped gain nant the reach be of the derful tional acter. sels to the for less their in of for such not still of the opinion that this ALASKAN SURVEY. The completion of the preliminary sur vey of that Alaskan boundary which fol lows the contour of the coast from the southernmost point of Prince of Wales island until it strikes the 141st meridian at or near the summit of Mount St. Ellas, awaits further necessary appropriations, which is urgently recommended. This survey was undertaken under the provisions of the convention entered in to by this country and Great Britain July 22, 1892, and the supplementary conven tion of February 3, 1894. As to the remain ing section of the Alaskan boundary, which follows the 141st meridian north wardly from Mount St. Elias to the frozen ocean, the settlement of which involves the physical location of the meridian men tioned, been made. The ascertainment of a given meridian at a particular point Is work requiring much time and careful observations and Such observations and surveys undertaken by the United States conventional agreement has yet a if a as by of to surveys, were coast and geodetic survey in 1890 and 1891, while similar work in the same quarters under British auspices are believed to give nearly coincident results, but these surveys have been independently conduct ed and no international agreement to mark those or any other parts of the 14lst meridian by permanent monuments has yet been made. In the meantime, the valley of the Yu kon is becoming a highway through the hitherto unexplored wilds Abundant mineral wealth has been discov ered in that region, especially at or near the Junction of the boundary meridian with the Yukon and its tributaries. In these circumstances it is expedient, in deed imperative, that the Jurisdictional limits of the respective governments has proposed a Joint delimitation of the 141st meridian by an international commission of experts, which, if congress will au thorize it and make due provision there for, can be accomplished with no unrea sonable delays. It is impossible to overlook the vital im portance of continuing the work already entered upon and supplementing it by further effective measures looking to the exact location of this entire boundary of Alaska. line. I call attention to the unsatisfactory delimitation of the respective Jurisdictions of the United States ahd the Dominion of Canada In the great lakes and the ap proaches to the narrow waters that con nect them. The waters in question are frequented by fishermen of both nation alities and their nets are here used. Owing to the uncertainty and ignorance true boundary vexatious disputes and in jurious seizures of boats and nets by Canadian cruisers often occur, while any positive settlement thereof by an ac cepted standard is not easily to be reach ed. A joint commission to determine the line in these quarters on a practical basis, by measured . courses following range marks on shore is a necessity for which immediate provision should be made. VENEZUELAN QUESTION. It being apparent that the boundary dis pute between Great Britain and the re public of Venezuela concerning the limits of British Guiana was approaching an acute state, a definite statement of the interest and policy of the United States as regards the controversy seemed to be re quired both view of its relations with the friendly powers directly concerned. In July last, therefore, a dispatch was addressed to our ambassador at London for communication to the British govern ment in which the attitude of the United States web fully and distinctly set forth. The general conclusions therein reached and formulated are in substance that the traditional and established policy of this government is firmly opposed to a forci ble increase by any European power of its territorial possessions nent; that this policy is as well founded in principle as it is strongly supported by numerous presidents; that quence the United States is bound to pro test against the enlargement of area of British Guinea in derogation of the rights and against the will of Venezuela; that, considering the disparity in the strength of Great Britain and Venezuela, the territorial dispute between them can be reasonably settled only by friendly, im partial arbitration and the resort to such arbitration should include the whole con troversy and is not satisfied if one of the powers concerned is permitted to draw arbitrary line through the territory In debate and to declare that it will submit to arbitration only the portion lying on side of it In view of these conclu to the of lic of the its own account and in to ed be a this conti a conso I n rilK LATE UPRISING IN HAWAII 11 _ nited States Interfered to Save the Lives of Men Unjustly condemned. Early in January last an uprising against the government of Hawait was promptly suppressed. Martial law was forthwith proclaimed and numerous ar rests were made of persons suspected of being in sympathy with the royalist party, Among these were several citizens of the | j United States who were euner convicted ' by a military court and sentenced *o 1 death, imprisonment or fine, or were de ported without trial. The United States, while denying protection to such as had | taken the Hawaiian oath of allegiance. insisted that martial law, though alter Ing the forms of Justice, could not super- ? one slons, the dispatch in question called upon the British government for a definite an to the question whether it would the al de of less submit the territorial controversy between Itself and Venezuela in its entirety to im partial arbitration. British government has not yet been re ceived but is expected shortly, when fur ther communication on the subject will probably be made to congress. The answer of the L has the Tho by out been wa en well be Brit ef de* cede Justice itself and demand a stay of | north execution until the proceedings had been submitted to this government and knowl- ! sla edge obtained therefrom that our clti- I sens had received fair trial. The death ! sentences were subsequently commuted son or were remitted on conditions of leav ing the islands. The cases of certain In American« arrested and expelled by arbi- h trary orders without formal charges or .. trial have attention and «orne Instances have found to justify remonstrance and a Jolnt claim fot Indemnity which Hawaii has not thus far conceded Mr. Thurston, the Hawaiian minister. hav n K furnished this government abun- M dant reason for asking that he be recalled, that course was pursued and his sue cessor has lately been received. and ITALIAN LYNCHING. time The deplorable lynching of several Ital- matt lan laborers in Colorado was naturally an( followed by International representations lat and I am happy to say that the best ef- j n forts of the state In which the outrages t occurred have been put forth to discover atte and punish the authors of this atrocious crime. The dependent families of some i ea( of the unfortunate victims invite by their ti deplorable condition, gracious provision for their needs. The manifestations against helpless aliens may be traced through successive stages to the vicious padroni system, which, unchecked by our immigration and contract labor statutes, control these workers from the moment of landing on our shores and farms them out in dis tant and often rude regions where their sharpening competition in the fields of bread winning toil brings them into col lision with other labor interests. While welcoming as we should those who seek our shores to merge themselves in our body politic and win personal competence by honest effort, we can not regard Buch an assemblage of distinctively alien la borers, hired out to speculators and ship ped hither and thither as the prospect of gain may dictate as otherwise than repug nant to the spirit of our civilization, de terrent to individual _ advancement and hinderances to the building up of stable commodities, resting upon the wholesome ambitions of the citizens and constituting the prime factor in the prosperity and progress of our nation. If legislation can reach this growing evil it certainly Bhould be attempted. RELATIONS WITH JAPAN. Japun has furnished abundant evidence of her vast gain in every trait and char acteristic that constitutes a nation's greatness. We have reason for congratu lations in the fact that the government of the United States by the exchange of liberal treaty stipulations with the new Japan, was the first to recognize her won derful advance and to extend to the con sideration and confidence due to her na tional enllghtment and progressive char acter. The boundary dispute which lately threatened to embroil Guatemala and Mexico has happily yielded to pacific coun sels and its determination has by the joint agreement of the parties, been submitted to the sole arbitration of the United States minister to Mexico. The commission appointed under the convention of February 18, 1889, to sot new monuments along the boundary between the United States and Mexico has com pleted its task. As a sequence of the failure of a scheme for the colonization in Mexico of negroes, mostly emigrants, from Alabama under contract, a great number of these help less and suffering people, starving and smitten with contagious disease, made their way or were assisted to the frontier, where in a wretched plight, they were quarantined by the Texas authorities. Learning of their destitute condition, I directed rations to be furnished them through the war department. With the expiration of the quarantine, they were conveyed by the railway company at com paratively nominal rates to their homes in Alabama upon my assurance in the ab senoe of any fund available for the cost of their transportation, that I would recommend to congress an appropriation for its payment. I upon congress the propriety of making such an appropriation. It should be re membered that the measures taken were dictated, not only by sympathy and hu manity, but by a conviction that it was not compatible with the dignity of this government that so large a body of our dependent citizens should be thrown for relief upon the charity of a neighboring state. It AN the of and our the for and to to on strongly urge of in by of be of In on NICARAGUA TROUBLES OF THE Great Britain's Bluff and the Subjuga. tion of the Kepubl c. In last year's message I narrated at some length the Jurisdictional questions then freshly arisen in the Mosaulto Indian strip of Nicaragua. Since that time, by the voluntary act of the Mosquito nation, the territory re served to them has been incorporated with Nicaragua, the Indians formally sub jecting themselves to be governed by the general laws and regulations of the repub lic instead of by their regulations and thus availing themselves of a privilege secured to them by the treaty between Nicaragua and Great Britain of January 28, 1866. After this extension of uniform Nicara guan administration to the Mosquito strip the case of the British vice consul, Hatch, and of several of his countrymen who had been summarily expelled from Nicaragua and treated with considerable indignity, provoked a claim by Great Britain upon Nicaragua for pecuniary indemnity, which upon Nicaragua's refusal to admit lia bility was enforced by Great Britain. While the sovereignty and jurisdiction of way questioned by •n customs and in Nicaragua was in Great Britain, the former's arbitrary con duct in regard to British subjects furnish ed the ground for this proceeding. A British naval force occupied without resistance the Pacific seaport of Corinto, but was soon afterward withdrawn upon the promise that the sum demanded would be paid. Throughout this incident the kindly offices of the United States were invoked and were employer] In favor of a peaceful settlement and with as much consideration and indulgence toward Nicaragua as were consistent with the nature of the case. These efforts have since been made the subject of appropriate and grateful recognition by Nicaragua. RUSSIAN MATTERS. The coronation ot the czar of Russia at Moscow in May next invites the cere monial participation of the United States and In accordance with usage and diplo matic propriety, our minister to the im perial court has been directed to rep resent our government on this occasion. Correspondence is on foot touching the practice of Russian consuls within the jurisdiction of the United States to inter rogate citizens as to their race and re ligious faith and upon ascertainment thereof to deny to Jews authentication of passports or legal documents for use in Russia may be found to infringe the treaty rights of our citizens and which is the an obnoxious invasion of our territorial jurisdiction, it has elicited a fitting remon gtrance, the result of which It is hoped was of TunT'vessels was ^ the united States seized in Russian ar- water8 remain unadjusted. Our recent of conV ention with Russia establishing a modus vivendi as to imperial Jurisdiction the | j n Buch cases has prevented further dif ' flculty of this nature. The Russian gov *o 1 eminent has welcomed in principle our de- suggestion for a modus vivendi to embrace Great Britain and Japan looking to the had | better preservation of seal life in the North Pacific and Bering seas and the extension of the protected area defined by ? the Paris tribunal to all Pacific waters an im re fur will the | north of the 36th parallel, ! sla favors prohibition of the use of the I firearms in seal hunting throughout the ! proposed area and a longer closed sea son for pelagic sealing, Ag SAMOA, In i a8 t tw0 ann ual messages I called h attention of the congre«« to the poal .. K or aKree ment by which we became Jolnt f y bound wlth Kn * land and Germany so interfere with the government and control Samoa manag * men t oflt« affair*. On the »th of M , transmitted to the senate a J, al mes sage with accompanying docu gWlng „.formation on the subject and emphasising the opinion I have at all time entertained that our situation In this matt er was inconsistent with the mission an( j traditions of ou»' government, in vio lat i on of the principles we profess and j n a jj phases, mischievous and vexa t lous. I again press this subject upon the atte ntion of congress and ask for such legislative action or expression as will i ea( j t ^ e way to ti ons bo th irksome and unnatural, I solely to The are a tion suitable terests our The sued from girls have trymen of all out The existing such Our in dividual It is especially noticeable that Rue occupy as one of the parties to a In effect to assume the relief from obllga shlps go, ed other their ed On have ish coast have there and By and half erance agents Is so lately theirs that part at been of zuela the In AN INSURRECTION ON CUBAN SOIL Neutrality Lows Must lie Observed. No Matter \A hot Grievance There Is. Cuba is again gravely disturbed. An Insurrection, In one respect, more active than the last preceding revolt which con tinued from 1868 to 1878 now exists in a large part of the eastern Interior of the Island, menacing even some of the popu lation on the coast. Besides deranging the commercial exchanges of the Island, of which our country takes the predomi nant share, this flagrant condition of hos tilities, by arousing sentimental sympathy and inciting adventurous support among our people, has entailed earnest effort on the part of this government to enforce obedience to our neutrality laws and to prevent the territory of the United States from being abused as a vantage ground from which to aid those bearing arms against Spanish sovereignty. Whatever may be the traditional sym pathy of our countrymen as individuals with a people who seem to be struggling for larger autonomy and greater freedom, and depend, as such sympathy naturally must, on behalf of our neighbors, yet the plain duty of their government is to ob serve In good faith the recognized obli gations of International relationship. The performance of this duty should not be made more difficult by a disregard on the part of our citizens of the obligations growing out of their allegiance to their country, which should restrain them from violating as individuals the neutrality which the nation of which they are mem bers is bound to observe in Its relations to friendly sovereign states. Though neither the warmth of our people's sym pathy with the Cuban Insurgents, nor the loss nor material damage consequent upon the futile endeavors thus far made to restore peace and order, our humane sensibility may have received from the cruelties which appear to especi ally characterize this sanguinary and fiercely conducted war, have in the least shaken the determination of the govern ment to honestly fulfill every international obligation, yet it is to be earnestly hoped on every ground that the devastation of armed confliot may speedily be stayed and order and quiet restored to the dis tracted island, bringing Into their train the activity and thrift of peaceful pur suits. der any shock rhe in ment in is to try, not out the in is of the or der his or fied of ALLIANCA INCIDENT. . One notable instance of Interference by Spain with passing American ships has occurred. On March 8, last, the Alltanea, while bound from Colon to New York, and following the customary track for vessels near the Cuban shore, but outside the three-mile 7imit, was fired upon by a Span ish gunboat. Protest was promptly made by the United States against this act as not being justified by a state of war, nor permissable in respect to vessels on the usual paths of commerce, nor tolerable in view of the wanton peril occasioned to Innocent life and property. The act was disavowed, with full expression of re gret, and assurance of non-recurrence of such just cause of complaint, while the offending officer was relieved of his com mand. Military arrests of citizens of the United States in Cuba have occasioned frequent reclamations, charges their delivery to the ordinary civil Jurisdiction for trial has been de manded and. obtained Jn conformity with treaty provisions and where merely de tained by way of military precaution un der a proclaimed state of seige without formulated accusation their release or trial has been Insisted upon. The right of American consular officers on the island to prefer protests and demands in such cases having been questioned by the in sular authorities, their enjoyment of the privilege stipulated by treaty for the con suls of Germany was claimed under the most favored nation provision of convention and Where held on criminal at act re the the lia of by own promptly recognized as for ly is MORA CLAIM. The long standing demand of Antonio Maximo Mora against Spain has at last been settled by the payment, on the 14th of September last, of the sum originally agreed upon in liquidation of the claim. Its distribution among the parties entitled to receive it has proceeded as rapidly as the rights of those claiming the fund could be safely determined. The enforcement of differential duties against products of this country exported to Cuba and Puerto Rico prompted the our part to the bene immediate claim fit of the minimum tarifT of Spain in re turn for the most favorable treatment permitted by our laws as regards to pro duction of Spanish territories. A com mercial arrangement was concluded in January last securing the treatment bo claimed. Vigorous protests against excessive fines imposed on our merchandise by the customs officers of these islands for tri vial errors have resulted in the remission of such fines in instances where the equity of the complaint was apparent, though the vexatious practice has not been wholly discontinued. the of the of of is a OUR MISSIONARIES IN TURKEY American Consuls Have Done Their Ut most to Protect Them. Advices from Turkey have continued to excite the people concerning the reported massacres of Christians in Armenia and the development there and In other dis tricts of a spirit of fanatical hostility to Christian Influences naturally excited ap prehension for the safety of the devoted men and women who, as dependents of the foreign missionary societies in the United States, reside In Turkey under the guarantee of law and usage and in the legitimate performance of their educa tional and religious mission. No efTorta have been spared in their behalf and their protection in person and property has been earnestly and vigorously enforced by every means within however, that an attempt on our part to obtain better information concerning the true condition of affairs in the disturbed quarters of the Ottoman empire by send ing thither the United States consul at Sivas to make investigation and the report was thwarted by the objections of the Turkish government. This government part was In no sense meant as a gratuitous entanglement of the United States in the so-called eastern question, nor as an officious interference with the right and duty which belong by treaty to certain great European powers, which called for their intervention in political matters affecting the good government and religious freedom of the non-Mussel at cere im rep the the re use the is hoped a on dif gov our the the the by man subjects of the sultan, but it arose power. I regret solely from our desire to bave an accurate knowledge of the conditions in our efTorta to care for those entitled to our protection. The presence of our naval vessels, which are now In the vicinity of the disturbed territories, affords opportunity to acquire a measure of familiarity with the condi tion of affairs, and will enable us to take suitable steps for the protection of any In terests of our countrymen within reach of our ships that might be found imperilled. The Ottoman government bas lately Is sued an Imperial tirade exempting forever from taxation any American college for girls at Scutari. Repeated assurances have also been obtained by our envoy at Constantinople that similar institutions maintained and administered by our couiv trymen shall be secured in the enjoyment of all rights and that our citizens through out the empire shall be protected. The government, however, in view of existing facts, is far from relying upon such assurances as the limit of its duty. Our minister has been vigilant and alert in affording all possible protection in in dividual cases where danger threatened safety was imperilled. We have sent far toward the points of actual shlps disturbance as it is possible for them to go, where they offer refuge to those oblig ed to flee and we have the promise of other powers which have ships In the neighborhood that our citizens, as well as their citizens, will be received and protect ed on board those ships. On the demand of our ministers orfiers have been issued by the sultan that Turk ish soldiers Bhall guard and escort to the coast American refugees. Those orders have been carried out, and telllgence gives assurance of the present personal safety of our citizens and mis sionaries. Though thus far no lives of American citizens have been sacrificed, there can be no doubt that serious loss and destruction of mission property have resulted from riotous conflicts and out rageous attacks. By treaty several of the most powerful European powers have secured a right and have assumed a duty not only In be half of their own citizens and in furth erance of their own Interests, but aa agents of the Christian world. Their right Is to enforce such conduct of the Turkish government as will restrain fanatical brutality and if this fails their duty is to so interfere as to Insure against such dreadful occurences in Turkey as have lately shocked civilization. The powers declare this right and this duty to be theirs alone, and it is earnestly hoped that prompt and effective action on their part will not be delayed. The consulates at Erzeroum and agents at Erzeroum and Karpout, for which ap propriation was made last session, have been previously filed by trusted employes of the department of state. These ap pointees, though now In Turkey, have not received their exequators. ARBITRATED CASES. The arbitration of the claim of the Vene zuela steam transportation company uh the treaty of January 19, 1892, between the United States and Venezuela resulted In an award in favor of the claimant. latest in der IMPROVE THE CONSULAR SERVICE rhe President Advises That Civil Servlea Regulations Apply. In view of the growth of our Interest* in foreign countrloe and the encouraging prospects for general expansion of our commerce, the question of an improve ment in the consular service has increased in importance and urgency. Though there is no doubt that the great body of consular officers are rendering valuable services to the trade and industries of the coun try, the needs of some plan of appoint ment and control which would tend to secure a higher average of efficiency can not be denied. The importance of the subject has led the executive to consider what steps might properly be taken with out additional legislation and answer the need of a better system of consular ap pointments. The matter having been committed to the consideration of the secretary of state in pursuance of his recommendations an executive order was Issued on the 20th of September, 1896, by the terms of which it is provided that after that date any va cancy In a consulate or commercial agency with an annual salary or com pensation from official fees of not mom than $2600 or less than $1000 should be filled either by transfer or promotion from some other position under the department of state of a character tending to qualify the incumbent of the position to be filled; or by the appointment of a person not un der the department of state, but having previously Berved thereunder and shown his capacity and fitness for consular duty; or by the appointment of a person who. having been selected by the president and sent to the board for examination is found upon such examination to be quali fied for the position. Poets which pay less than $1000 being usually, of their small compensation, filled by se lection from residents of the locality, it not deemed practicable to put them system. in to of or of in the account under the The compensation of $2600 was adopted as the maximum limit in tne classification, for the reason that consular officers re ceiving more than that sum are often charged with functions and duties scarce ly Inferior in dignity and Importance to those of diplomatic agents and It was therefore thought best to continue their selection In the discretion of the execu tive without subjecting them to examina tion before a board. Excluding 71 places with compensation at present less than $1000 and 53 places above the maximum in compensation, the number of positions remaining within the scope of the order is 196. This number will undoubtedly be increased by the inclusion of consular officers whose renumeration In fees, now less than $1000, will be augmented with the growth of our foreign commerce and a return to more favorable business condi as the re in bo the tri the tions. In execution of the executive order re ferred to, the secretary of state has desig nated as a board to conduct the prescribed examinations the third assistant secretary of state, the solicitor of the department of the state, and the chief of the consular bureau, and has specified the subjects to which such examinations shall relate. It is not assumed that this system will prove - a full measure of consular reform. It Is quite probable that actual experience will show particulars In which the order al ready issued may be amended, and demon strate that for the best results appro priate legislation by congress is impera tively required. In any event these efforts to Improve the consular service ought to be Imme diately supplemented by legislation pro viding for consular inspection. This has frequently been a subject of executive recommendation, and I again urge such action by congress as will permit the fre quent and thorough Inspection of con sulates by officers appointed for that pur pose matic or consular service. The expense attending such a plan would be insignifi cant compared with Its usefulness, and I hope the legislation necessary to set It on foot will be speedily forthcoming. I am thoroughly convinced that in ad dition to their salaries our ambassadors and ministers at foreign countries should be provided by the government with of ficial residences. The salaries of these officers are comparatively small and In most cases Insufficient to pay, with other necessary expenses, the cost of maintain ing household establishments in keeping with their Important and delicate func tions. The usefulness of a nation's diplo matic representation undeniably depends much upon the appropriateness of his surroundings and a country like ours, while avoiding unnecessary glitter and show, should be certain that it does not Buffer in its relations with foreign no tions through parsimony and shabbineaa Ut to and dis to ap of the the the their has by to the send at report the as a United the to which arose by persons already in the diplo-