The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-07-31
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,neries dispute, the Senate has tax
dsures which shows that it is in earn
81. 1t has been arranged that sub-com-
mittee of the committee on Foreign affairs
shall meet at Gloucester, Mass, in Septem-
Der and work along the coast, examining all
points in the dispute. They will ascertain
the exact facts relating to seizures and other
prosecutions of our fishermen, obtain exact
information concerning the Canadian Gus
toms laws, investigate the questions which
relate to the three mile limit, and generally
make thorough inquiry into the subject.
The committee is an especially strong one,
composed of Messrs. Frye, Edmunds, Evarts,
Morgan and Salisbury. Frye and Edmunds
are well acquainted with New England in
Z terests; Evarts has been Secretary of State,
and is well acquainted with the course of
diplomacy in such matters; Morgan is ma
tive of Alabama and noted for his extensive
knowledge of foreign affairs, Mr.. Salisbury
comes from Delaware and perhaps may learn
something which he can tell to Mr.. Bayard,
to the advantage of the latter. Good work
by such committee will put the Senate in
possession of such facts that the Canadians
will put aside forever the hope they now
cherish of forcing us to give the freedom of
our markets for the paltry privileges of buy
ing little bait and fishing within a limit
where our fishermen rarely want to go.
COL. EDWARDS AND THE COUNT
OUT.
Whether Col Edwards called the Grand
Army "set of bummers" or not, is a ques-
ton which will probably never be any nearer
settlement than it is now. half dozen
gentlemen of unimpeachable character say
that they have heard him use that language.
Col. Edwards just as stoutly affirms that he
never did use it. 1t has come to be simply
question of veracity, in which the words of
half dozen men are pitted against the word
of one. Those who see fit to take Col.
Edwards's word in preference to the word
of these men will doubtless continue to do
so though the number be increased to a
dozen or score or even a hundred There
is no circumstantial evidence in the case
tending to corroborate one side,or the other
at present, and there probably never will be.
But one of the affidavits in support of this
charge makes a much more serious allega-
ton. In his sworn statement Judge Wood
bury of Bethel, whose integrity is unim-
peached and we believe unimpeachable,
says:
''Col. C. s. Edwards left Bethel the 18th
January, 1880, for Augusta, saving that he
was appointed member Of Gov Smiths
staff. Soon after his return to Bethel /
met him on the street, and inquired how he found
things at Augusta (You wilt excuse me for not
repeating the profanity with which his converse
berlan is a traitor. The G. A. r. are a political
machine -un by the Republicans they are a id
set of bummers, and if the party had been of my
mind, they would have pulled the State House
down over their heads if it had Killed every one
of them"
Now here is matter far more important
than calling the Grand Army bummers To
appreciate its full force it will be necessary
to revert to the situation as it existed at the
time Col. Edwards started for Augusta.
Two days before the Supreme court of the