Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-03
President Grant interviewed.

NEW ORR. june "A Herald reporter,
who interviewed President Grant yesterday re,
! ports him as saying: The treaty was fully and
| ably discussed. and in my Judgment IS the lest
settlement possible Of the outstanding diiier-
once between the United States and Great
mtted to me after it was adopted by the COM
mission, and approved by me, and each article
was in the same way submitted to tic British
Cabinet and approved by the Ministers of the
crown at once The EngliShC ommss toner's spent
great deal of money in teegrapiling the sec
tons ofthe treaty ThcQueeu ofEug!and pledged
her signature before hand | therefore regard
the treaty as practically ratified. There Viii be
pecuniary considerations Of course. Measures
will have to be adopted on both sides to carry
out the provisions of the treaty. Our House
| of REPRESENTATIVES will, fell certain, act pa
triotical!y and wisely i'll the matter The treaty
must be ratified and made law OF both na-
! tons. 1t is necessary; the necessity IS 1minc-
dlatc.
As far as we arc concerned we would like to
have better tcrlucs but there were two parties
to the bargain. 1T had it all my own way
think could make it more favorable to US IA
smile. The Point aimed at was not pecun!a-
~ satisfaction for our losses By the Alabama
and other cruisers from British ports. but the
settlement Of an irritating and disturbing qncs-
ton likely any day to bring the two nations into
armed conflict My aim was hy- this treaty to
secure peace through justice, and believe |
have succeeded. No appre heEslon nccd be ieIt
as to the course Of the British people. l would
regard it as al act of bad faith on their. part
! to reject the treaty after Its almost unanimous
ACCEPTANCE by our Senate. The Eng!lsi must
surely prefer fair settlement OF our differences
with them for which this treaty provides, than
to nurse g cause Of war. Settlement or war
were the alternatives. The Erai ratification
will he q blessing to both countries. The Cana
dams will be rcconcilcd to it By and by, and
whv should Mt they? The fishery clauses Of
the treaty are as favorable to them is to us,
prehaps more SO. I'll be glad ifthey settle the
! matter at once and be done with it. The Cana
! dian fisheries don't amount to much for Us.
while the equivalents we grant must be consld-
cradle to them. don't attach much importance
to the pccuniary consideration. one way or the
other. The pith Of the thing is the avoidance
of war. 1t was dangerous question to be held
open.
Our fisheries were always L trouble and an
annoyance The fishermen Of the East who
fish on the Canadian coast have but little
! respect for treaties or engagements lhcy are
rough fellows, hardy self reliant, and arc a
law unto themselves They insist on going
where they like and doing what they please
OF course they find opposition and that
too whether they are right or wrong They
are sure to have supporters in many quarters.
Indeed the public sympathy is always with our
fishermen 10 matter what they do This
backing up our own people under all cilcun-
stances shows lively patriotic spirit, but 1t
has its evils. We are forced to send our men
oi:war to the Canadian coast TO protect these
men from the consequences Of their own acts.
The English must send armed ships tn watch
the doncs of ours and so the relations between
us and Great Britain which ought and | now
believe will be of the friendliest nature, arc
constantly disturbed by anticipation of strife.
The fishery affair was not the worst Difficult
ty We had to meet but it was very cmbarrasS-
inc. Now hope the whole affair will be set
tied There were so many questions between
us and England demanding settlement that
war seemed the only alternative It. is we'll
that war has been avoided prefer the treaty
to war. War would be hurtfuI to both nations
and pro6tablc'to neither. 1t might ruin one.
Relative to the stories recently ahoot about
! Cabinet changes the President says There is
not word oftruth in these statements. what
ever they are; not 4 whisper Of Mr.. Fi$hs rc-
tirement has lately reached me; Mr.. Fish will not
leave the Cabinet or resi- IN the seat of the
State Department with ny consent while | am
President; he responded unwiilingly to M call
and entered upon the arduous duties Of the
foreign office with dithdcncc; he has discharged
them well: he has been faithful. patriotic ar,.
diligcn;; should be grirvca if he resigned now.
AS to Cuba there has been no discussion in the
Cabinet in reference to Cuban affairs of late 70
Justify what you say IS i'll the papers. The
policy of the administration is unchanselin re-
gard to Cuba; we arc mindia! of our obligation:
to friendly nations, while careful of our rights:
The United States will not hc urjH>t while
am President. We vii! 10 as we would he done
f by The condition oi affairs in the Island o.
Cuba does not seem to Inc CT to Mr. Fish II
demand action Gil our part Time heals more
wounds than medicine: and patience is Il very
good specific
An