The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-06
TIE MESSAGE ON OUR CANADIAN
NEIGHBORS.


The President uses very decided language in
regard to our difficulties with Canada on the
subjects of the fisheries and the free naviga-
tion of the st. Lawrence river; and we believe
that this portion of his message will be COR
daily endorsed by the whole country. There
is point where patience ceases to be virtue,
and it is certainly high time that our Govern
ment should adopt line of policy that will
settle the points of controversy with our
semi British neighbors in manner that will
prevent any reasonable pretext for difficulty
in the future. The President correctly de-
signates the Dominion Government as a semi
independent but irresponsible agent. 1t
has tie power to inhict injury
upon us, while we are obliged
to apply for redress in London instead of
Ottawa position of affairs that is likely to
be source of trouble so long as it con-
tinues; and it is a serious question whether
the United States, for their own protection,
have not right to demand that the Dominion
of Canada shall either be erected into COM
pletely independent State or else that it shall
be deprived of the power of exciting the
animosities of its neighbors and then appeal
ing to the mother country for assistance in
case it is threatened. In nearly every oon-
troversy the United States have had with
Great Britain concerning her claims upon
this continent we have, in the interest of
peace, yielded more than dignity and justice
demanded, and it is time now that our rights
were asserted in q more positive manner
than they ever have been before. In regard
to the fishing dispute there is no difficulty
whatever, except such as has been created by
the Canadians themselves, and the whole
matter could be settled satisfactorily if the
Dominion Government or Great Britain were
disposed to carry out the provisions of the
convention of 1918 in good faith. In order
to compel the United States to renew the
reciprocity treaty that was discontinued on
account of Canadian bad faith during the
Rebellion, the "Bluenoses" have revived the
fishing dispute solely for the purpose of
annoying us and forcing us to come to terms,
and, for the same reason, they have attempted
to control the navigation of the st. Lawrence
river in such way as to impede our COM
merce. The President says plainly
that in case any attempt is made
to confscate United States fishing
vessels under the Canadian statute authori-
zing such proceeding in event of trespass,
under their Interpretation of the convention
of 1918, it will become his duty to take such
steps as may be necessary to protect the
rights of the citizens of the United States
This language is certainly plain enough for
the most obtuse "Bluenose" or "John Bull
to understand, and the President, in using it,
we are convinced expresses the sentiments
of large majority of the people of the
United States.
In regard to the free navigation Of the St.
Lawrence the President demonstrates that,
not only by treaty but by recognized inter
national law, the United States are entitled to
use the river as highway without impedi-
ment, and that the Dominion authorities have
no right TO interfere with the navigation of
our vessels except by such police regulations
as are absolutely necessary for their own pro-
lection. We have more than once alluded to
the necessity for the free navigation of the
st. Lawrence being at the command of the
J United States, and to ensure this the whole