The Portland daily press., 1886-04-10

blows struck by its own treaty-naking poweri
During the last thirty years it has been exposed tC
twenty-fOur of unrestricted competition WIN :
foreign power, and in that time the government
has Withdrawn all friendly bountles. In quartel
OF century its fleet has decreased about izo,Uo.
tons and thousand vessels, while the demand tol
the products of the sea has increased tenfold
Has it forgotten that its proud position was large
ly won by the endurance, skill, courage and hdeli
ty of these sailors; that LOuisburg was wresteC
from the French by their val0r, and that these
very waters, now in contention, were secured tt
Great Britain by their courage? Can she be un
mindful of their conspicuous services in the wal
for our independence?
on lake and on sea were their achievement? Who
does not know that in our last terrible struggle
for life there was not deck of orr fleet unmols
tened with their blood? five ever have another
war, which God forbid, it will be on the sea. Who
shall man our fleet? 1t is asserted, and believe
truly, that go per cent. of the sailors employed in
our ocean forelgn-carrylng trade are foreigners
owing our country no allegiance and inspired by
no love for our flag. They surely would be d
broken reed IN the hour Of national peril OF the
one hundred thousand men in our fishing feet Ss
per cent are American citizens, 65 per cent Of
American birth. Injured to every hardship, ex.
posed to constant danger fighting eeaseless bat
tie with wind and wave, loving freedom for free
dom'S sake, and ready on call to defend theil
rights; courageous, skilled, and patriotic, they
are to-day the best and most reliable sailors ii
the world, and to man would promptly respond
to their cOuntry's call.
Why then should these men be selected tol
sacrifice, and their rights he surrendered to the
tender mercies of British diplomacy? OF all oul
industries this alone is left unprotected, and the
men employed in it are the most exposed, the
hardest worked end the poorest paid. The duty
which England seeks to repeal Is the lowest II
the list of duties, less than that on any agricul
tural products, not one,nan SO greaI d. that t oI
sugar and rice; lower than that on beef, or NUT
ton or pork. Outside of England no one seeks it:
repeal other than a few of our city importers
fish, who are practically nothing more than agents
OF Canada. From the people OF our country ~
snch demand comes to u.s. on the contrary ytat tat
protests from the Atlantic the Gull, the Pac1nt
coasts. and from the great lakes are pouring into
Congress.
Now, sir what do these fishermen ask? In this
emergency, when England is demanding one more
sacrifice and the administration seems to have
been beguiled by the alurements of the British
minister and Slr Ambrose Shea, their hrst @ anG
about for century by the winds and waves Of
English diplomacy. buffeted by Canadian penal
laws, stripped and dsmantled in provincial provincial
would say to this tempestuous sea, peace; be
STILL their cupof content would be full. The
resolution now under consideration answers this
demand But, Mr. President the Republic should
demand more than this of Congress. 1t should
INSIST hrst, that Great Britain must abstain from
the assumption OF "a territorial or any other ur-
lsdlctlon over the vessels of the United States
navigating or harborlng in the open seas under
without three miles of the shore; second, upon
the ordinary rights of hospitality, wood, water
and shelter regardless of treaties.
3. Upon the same commercial privil6g
es in the ports and hsrbors of the
Dominica of Canada as she enjoys in ours
Ii these are not accorded, tnen that Congress
should promptly resort to retaliatory legislation,
and our Government send ipto those waters armed
cruisers, not to perpetrate sny wrongs upon or do
any injustice to our neghbors, but to protect our
own citizens from outrage As to legislation 9TH
erwise very little is required. Our fishermen are
not asking for bountes or subsidies, They
ought, however, to be included in all the benefits
conferred by the statrte on our ocean-going ton
mage, especially the light to withdraw from bond,
no increase of duty though the Canadian duty is
double of ours BON on fresh and cured fish. II
should either be provided by law or determined
by decision of the Secretary OF the Treasury
be admitted to our markets free, under the clause
of the tariff fish resh for immediate consump-
ton - that small herring to be converted into sar
dimes, capelin, and sqnids ior pant saaii De ad-
vessels of the united states licensed for
the fisheries in any waters, or by the
crews of said .esses, or by any person, means, or
method employed by the masters of said Vessels,
and which are delivered fresh on board such yes
sells pad cured or preserved thereon ana proughl
to the United States by such vessels, shall be
deemed the product of the American fisheries ana
entitled to free entry, 1t being understood tnat
the above liberty shall not apply to the employ
ment of vessels under foreign registry, or TO their
crews, boats, senes, nets, or other appurtenanees
belonging to such foreign vessels.
Mr.. President these are not serious demands,
and trust that the Importance OF the industry
urging them upon Congress will be regarded as
complete Justification for their favorable consider
alton. But, sir, the first and absolutely necessary
condition to stopthe progress of decline and de-
cay Is an emphatic declaration OF the Senate
against the recommended commission and as TINS
is question into which no politics nor partlsan-
ship can intrude, sincerely hope that the vote re-
corded for this resolution shall be so decisive in
its majority to allay all excitement, and remove
all apprehension from the minds of the intelligent
brave, and loyal sailor-dshermen OF the RepuDhc.