National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-02

THE FIsHERIEs-TH TREATY OF
WASHINGTON.

In our news columns this morning will be
found the proclamation OF the President
giving Official notification to all whom Il nav
concern that the laws necessary to give effect
to the provisions Of the treaty Of Washing
ton from article eighteen to twenty-nyc In
elusive, having been passed by the Congress
of the United States, the Imperial Parliament
Of Great Britain, the Parliament of Canada,
and the Legislature OF Prince Edwards Isl
and, the said articles are now In full force
and operation.
Thus passes away one OF the most yexa-
tious and difficult questions which has worried
Presidents, prime ministers, cabinets and
parliaments since the beginning Of the re-
public, and which on more occasions than one
brought the United States and Great Britain
almost to the verge Of war. For more than
half century the fishery question has been
one Of the standing grievances of the New
England fshcrmcn-a constant source of
irritation between the citizens Of the United
states and OF the British provinces. Time
and again the fishing squadron has left our
harbors with shotted guns, determined to
maintain the rights which they claimed
had becn Invaded and tramplcd upon.
Only short time ago We had the report
Of an engagement between the two parties,
resulteding In the capture and detention
Of an American fishing sloop, which
was afterwards cut out by the pris-
oners and brought In triumph to the Uni
ted States. Under the articles Just promul-
gated all the troubles come to an end, and
our citizens will have In the future the same
rights that were guaranteed to their fathers
at the close of the Revolutionary war.
Whom the treaties between the United States
and England at the end OF the war Of indie
pcndcncc were under discussion the British
Government steadily resisted the claim Of
the United States of the right to free and un-
restricted commerce in the North American
waters. Public feeling on the subject ran so
high In the United States that Mr.. Adams de-
clarcd he would sign no articles which did
not concede the demands Of our commits
sioners presented under tho instruction Of
Congress. Finally, in the treaty OF 1883, II
was stipulated that the citizens OF the United
states should continue to enjoy unmolested
the right" to fish In the waters of the North
American provinces, and to land and cure fish
on their shores.
hho thSh NohSSuCu SoutIlucu 10 TX
ist down to our second war W it'll Great
Britain, when British cruisers chased our
fishing vessels and drove thom from the seas.
AT the close Of tho war England maintained
that whatever rights In these waters our citi-
yens possessed under the treaty Of 1888 had
been forfeited by the war. Again the coun-
try was wrought up TO high pitch Of cx-
citcment, which was, II possible, intensified
when by the treaty Of 1878 we surrendered
the right to FISH within three miles OF the
shore. Then followed numerous acts of I'M
friendly legislation on the part OF the
colonists. Concessions were made by
Great Britain In 1915. and again In
1854, when the reciprocity treaty went into
operation. Then came the licensing srs-
ten, which failed to give satisfaction. In
1870 the question was again reopened and,
after lengthy correspondence between the
two Governments, was referred to the joint
high commission, with the result told In the
proclamation Of the President this morning.
The settlement OF the fishery question Is one
Of the most substantial victories of the Ad-
ministration. 1t ends long and bitter con-
test between the two countries, which began
with the very beginning of the Government,
and has been the source Of more III feeling
and strife than almost all other causes COM
bincd