The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-25

level yet far below ita just and adequate
Al every turn, therefore, whether It be
in exposing the white American laborer
10 the danger Of European competition by
destroying the protective tariff, or wheth'
or It be in reducing the wages Of the Whlte
man by unfairly making the colored labor:
or his fatal competitor, In all the fields o.
toll, the Democratic party North and
South appears as the enemy Of every IN
terest Of the American workmen, WiIn
that party placed In full power and with
all its measures achieved, the wages Of
the American laborer will fall as certainly
as effect follows cause,
THE FISHERY QUESTION.
The fishery dispute between the United
States and Great Britain has passed
through many singular phases in the last
seventy years, but never before, think,
was 1t surrounded, with such extrsordi'
nary circumstances as we find existing at
this moment. Before discussing the merits
Of the American case 1t may be interesting
to recall the process by which the question
has been placed in its present attitude,
On the 3lst day Of January, 1885, sew.
eral months before the fishing season OF
that year began, President Arthur Issued
a proclamation giving notice to the people
that the fishery articles Of the treaty OF
Washington (lS7l) had, according TO the
condition Of the treaty, been formally ter"
minated. The President made the
results that would hoW from this action
plain and uumistakable by warming all
citizens OF the United States that none Of
the privileges secured to them by these
articles will exist after July |, 1885," This
termination OF the treaty had been deCreed
by an overwhelming vote Of both branches
OF Congress and was now made final and
effective by the Presidents proclamation.
This course had been earnestly desired by
the American fishermen, was fully under
stood by them and was completed with
out protest from q single citizen OF the
United States.
Five weeks after President Arthur's
proclamation was issued, his term closed,
and with the new Administration Mr.,
Bayard became Secretary OF State. In
three or four days after he had been in
stalled In office the British Minister, Hon.
SaCkvilIe West, submitted proposal to
continue the reciprocal fishing arrange.
maRts until January !, 1886. Aitera brist
correspondence Mr.. Bayard accepted the
offer, In other words, Mr.. West aud Mr..
Bayard made treaty OF their own by
which American fishermen were to be al
lowed to fish in British waters six months
longer, and British fishermen should freely
fish in American wAtera for the same perl
cd. When Mr.. West first proposed this
extension Of time, in his note OF March
l2, he based his suggestion solely upon
the generous ground that as the
treaty would terminate during the
fishing season considerable hard.
ship might be oCCRsioned to American
fishermen il they were compelled to desist
fishing at that time" This exact point
had been ioreseen, had been carefully
considered by Congress, by the President,
by tho State Department, aud by the
American fishermen themselves. In
popular parlanCe, they had discounted
IT, aud were fully prepared fer it, when
to their exceeding surprise the British
Minister seemed to be moved with com.
passion for their possible auHerings. APP
parently without other motive than dis.
interested beAevolenCe, Mr.. West was
anxious to allow them six months more
OF that precious time which the Halifax
Commission had declared to be worth to
American fishermen a half million dollars
per annum.
TIED TO THE BRITISH Lions TAIL.
But reading little further in thisre-
markable diplomatic correspondence, We
find that Mr.. West, instead Of acting from
motives Of pure generosity towards Ameri-
can fishermen, was really paving the way
for shrewd trade and q new treaty. A
regular understanding between himself
and Mr.. Bayard was reduced to writing,
showing that he received large consider.
alton for leaving the British waters open
to American fishermen eiX months longer.
Tho consideration was a pledge from Mr.,
Bayard under date OF June 10Th, 1885,
that the President would at the next ses:
sion Of Congress recommend the appoint
ment OF u commission in which the gov.
ernments Of tho United States and Great
Britain shall be respectively represented,
charged with the consideration and set
Element upon a Just, equitable and honor
able basis OF the entire questions Of the
fishing rights OF the two Governments
and Of their respective citizens on the
coasts Of the United States and British
North America" The stipulation was
definite and reduced to writing that "in
Vielv aud in confederation Of such promised
recommendations BY The Precedent" the
British would for the ensuing six months
enforce no restrictive regulations against
American fishermen. In addition to all
this Mr.. Bayard gave significant intima.
ton 10 Mr.. West that the reiunding OF
duties meanwhile collected under our
custom laws upon Canadian llsh might be
brought beioIe the Commission thus
promised.
Accordingly, in the following Deem.
Der, six and q half months after Mr..
Bayard's memorandum pledge that the
President would make the recommends
ton 10 Congress, the President actually
did incorporate 1t in his annual message
aud gave In language which was tran.
script terbdtim Of the words which Mr..
Bayard gave to Mr.. West. 1t would cor.
tainly be apart from my desire to pass any
personal criticism upon the President, Of
whom ! wish at all times to speak In terms
Of respect, but, viewing this as public
question and speaking only with tho free.
dom Of private citizen, must express
my belief that this transaction was
throughout most extraordinary and un.
preCedented. 1t was extraordinary and
unprecedented and altogether beyond his
proper power for Secretary Of State In
the recess OF Congress to revive any part
Of a treaty which Congress had expressly
terminated; II was extraordinary for a
Secretary Of State to begin negotiations
for tho removal Of treaty which every
department OF Government had Just
united in annulling; 1t was extraordinary
for Secretary OF State to enter into q
trade with foreign Minister for present
benefit to be paid for by the future action
Of the Government, and most Of all was 1t
extraordinary that pledge should DO
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