The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-24

IL may be collected that the Canadians, like the
inhabitants of all other countries, exercise the
exclusive right of fishing within their own terri.
torial waters. They have enacted laws for the
protection of their property and for the dis
couragement of trespassers; and General Grant
actually alleges as q grievance the existence of
statutes which it has apparently not been found
necessary TO apply or to enforce. 1t is not pre-
tended that Canadian fishermen would be allowed
TO encroach on American fisheries, or that the
municipal legislation of Canada is inconsistent
with international law. A ltigious landowner
might as reasonably object to the erection of q
fence by his Deighbor on the boundary of his
property. The reprisals which are threatened
IN the message are wholly unprovoked; and un-
less Congress shares the prejudices of General
Grant and General Butler it is difficult to sup
pose that the Presidents suggestions will be
adopted. The demand that the st. Lawrence
shall be opened to American commerce, as the
Rhine and Danube are protected by European
treaties, would be reasonable if any veXatious
impediments to trade were interposed by the
Canadian Government; but it may be doubted
whether the American pretensons are confined
TO q commercial right of way.
Arguments, II they are unsound, may be re-
futed, but motives. can only be, if possible,
ascertained and estimated at their true value.
General Grants advisers seem to have per-
suaded him that his chance of re election will
be increased by appeals to prejudice against
England, and possibly by hostile measures. A
candidate for the Presidency of 1872 VINO is un-
wise enough to pledge hir1sef against free
trade may perhaps be liable to a similar miscAl-
culation when he relies on professions of hos
tility to England The more respectable Sec
tion of the Republican party has been already
in some degree alienated by General Grants
recent encouragement of popular corruption;
and the same class of politicians would GER
tainly deprecate an unfrovoked war, and more
especially a hostile attempt upon Canada. No
dispasslOnate statesman would wish to intro
duce the Canadians into the Union in the capa-
city of defeated and irreconcilable enemies
Reprisals exercised at their expense, in revenge
for the assertion of their rights of property,
would be an awkward preparation even for
General Buffers plebiscites. 1t is probable
that SONG Americans would object on moral
grounds to the unprovoked slaughter and
punder even of Englshmen and the direct
and indirect cost of an unnecessary war would
be still more generally regarded as objection
able. The proposal by which General Butler
hopes to unite his party is much more likely 20
divide il ; and the Republicans have no chance
of success in the next election except by entire
union among themselves. IL General Grant
continues to submit to the tutelage of Que of
the most disreputable politicians in tue United
States. he will either fail to secure the Repub-
lican nomination, or he will drag down his
party in his merted fail. 1t is rash to prepare
Tor q contest which must be delayed for two
years by relying on domestic corruption, on
foreign complications, and on opposition to
the laws of political economy. ON some at
least of these questions Mr.. Hoffman, who will
probably be the Democratic candidate. will
occupy more tenable ground.