, 1880-07-12
The Broken Treaty of Washington.

The Broken Treaty Of Washington.
Uader the Treaty of Washington,
our Government agreed, in considera-
tion of the concession to our people of
the right to fish in Canadian waters for
the term ct twelve years, te remit the
customs duties on provincial fish and
fish oil, and to pay to Great Britain
gross sum as indemnity for the priv
ilege thus granted. The award of
money, to the astonishment of every
one. was the enormous sum of S., ,5Oo,-
OOO-an amount absurdly dispropor-
toned to the value of the advantages
secured. The money was, however,
paid. But it appears, as the affair now
stands, that not only have we g. paid
too dear for the WHISTLE" but we are
not to have the whistle after paying
for it.
The treaty was made with the In
perial Government; but after its rati-
fication the Dominion authorities as
sumed the right to impose local re-
strictions upon the privileges granted,
some of which we're so framed MS vir-
tually to exclude our citizens from the
enjoyment of the most important ad-
vantages conferred by the treaty. The
affair in Fortune Bay, in January, 1878,
when a number of American fishermen
were set upon by a mob, robbed of
their catch of fish and other property.
and driven away, on the ground that
they were violating the laws of New
foundland, illustrates the extent to
which this assumption has been carried
by our Dominion neighbors. When
demonstrated with respecting this
breach of treaty sGpulati Is, the Im-
perial Government ooslly sustained the
position of the provincial overnments,
and declined to afford the redress
sought. In this curious condition
of affairs three courses we're open to
our Government, namely, to submit to
the deprivation of its rights by the
Provincial authorities; or to protect
our fishermen by armed force, ut the
almost certain cost of disastrous war;
or, finally, to take such action as should
lead to the proper observance of the
treaty by Great Britain, or its formal
abrogation.
The last method of dealing with the
| question commends itself as the one
best calculated to maintain "peace
with honor" between the two nations.
The Government OF the United States
cannot tamely submit to the nulliica-
ton of its treaty rights by petty pro-
vincial power, nor can q war between
this country and England be contem-
plated without the utmost horror. By
pursuing the third course suggested we
shall at once preserve our nationl self
respect, and avoid shameful and ruin
GUS conflict between the two foremost
nations of Christendom.
| This is substantially the course reo-
commended in the recent communica-
tions of the President and Secretary of
the State to Congress. The Secretary
proposes the re-imposition of the duties
upon fish and fsh-oil, as they existed
before the Treaty of Washington came
! into operation, $50 to continue until
the two Governments shall be in accord
as to the Interpretation and execution
of the fishery articles of the treaty."
He advises also the examination and
auditing of the claims of eur fishermen
for injuries suffered by the infraction
or denial OF their treaty privileges,
with the view of some ultimate pro-
vision by convention with Great Britain
or by this Government for their in
dennity." The matter of revising or
abrogating the treaty must be. as the
Secretary intimates, remitted to diplo-
matic correspondence; but bill has
already been introduced in Congress
for giving effect to the recommendation
respecting the customs duties.
It is fortunate circumstance that as
this troublesome question comes up
for renewed consideration, the same
liberal minded statesmen who negoti-
ated the treaty on the part of England
are again in power. The London Times,
in speaking approvingly of Secretary
Evarts' suggestion of some joint action
! for the regulation of the fisheries,
pointedly declares that the Ministry
will not shrink from the task of amend
ing the treaty where they see that
amendment is needed. There ought to
be no difficulty in arriving at peace
full and mutually satisfactory settlement
of the points at issue; and notwith-
standing the truculent attitude of our
peppery neighbors across the borders
who are working themselves into a
white heat at the bare suggestion of
yielding to the demands of our Gov
ernment, we cannot doubt that such a
settlement will ere long be reached, and
thus now illustration be afforded of
the ability of two Christian nations to
adjust their differences in peaceful,
Christian way.-N. Y. Examiner and
| Chronicle.
The water in which the Prince of