Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-07

Whitten of Portland, Me-, one of the
prominent merchants of that city. Being the
owner Of large number of fishing vessels,
and with large capital employed in that in
dustry, Mr.. Whitten was naturally DESTROYS
of acting, in the present disturbed condition
Of things in Canadian waters, strictly within
the line of hi. maritime rights as an Ameri-
can shipowner.
DESPATCH NUMBER ONE.
Accordingly. questions having arisen in
newspaper discussion OF the fishing question,
especially in the Canadian press, as to the
right Of entry into Canadian ports for the
purpose Of shipping sailors, etc., Mr.. Whit
ten addressed a despatch on the 9th of
March last te Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, Sec
rotary Of State, asking for information re-
spec,ing the attitude of the government of
the United States upon this question.
TO this telegram Mr. Whittier received on
the same date the following reply from the
State Department:
"ATIANTIC TEL. Co.
WASHINGTON, ID. c. March "a, 1886. /
To o. b. Whhten, Portland, Ne.
American vessels Of any character have right to
enter any port which is not actually blockaded for
the purpose of shipping whole or a part of crew
But the right does OF carry with 1t any her prv
lese. JAS. ID. PORTER"
DESPATCH NUMBER Two.
Thus treasured and fortified respecting his
commercial rights, Capt. Written gave such
orders to his vessel as the exlgences of his
business required, and congratulated himself
at length that the fishermen were no longer
to be left to shift for the mselves, as they have
80 long been required to do, through the in
advertence, not to saw the Indifference, of
their own government. Mr.. Whitten's sur
prise may be better imagined than described
therefore, when, on the afternoon of the
same day on which the foregoing despatch
was received, he was the recipient of another
despatch from the State Department, in the
following words
"ATLANTIC TEL. Co.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March u, 1886.
Department informed since sending telegram Of
this morning that American fishing vessels can
ly enter Canadian bays and har5ors for shelter dam
ages, purchasing wood, and obtaining water This
/ Is under the concession OF 1878.
(SignedD JAS. ID. PORTER,
Assistant Secretary
so sudden change of front on the part of
the State Department was calculated to make
its impression upon any disinterested mind
even, and especially upon that of Mr.. Whit
ten, who by virtue of the earlier action of his
government, had been involved in no incon-
siderable an amount pecuniarily; that is to
say, if, notwithstanding the final instructions
of the Department of State, he is involved
at all.
WHAT FISHERMEN WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
But to American citizens, generally. to
those especially who are connected W 18th the
American fisheries, it is an object of para
mount interest to know from what source,
! since sending the despatch of the morning,
| the Department of State obtained that ilumi
/ nation which SO completely changed its rec
ognition of the international right, of the
! American fisherman, in the afternoon
! informed by whom. thai i the interesting
inquiry which an interested public having ut
heart the dignity and independence of the
government and Of all its departments. will
not fail now to address, with an unmstaka BILE
emphasis. to the Department of State. Can
! il be possible that no other than the British
minister Sir Lionel Sackville West newly
knighted by his appreciatve government be-
cause of the valuable information which was
given him last spring to our contiding Secre-
tary of State respecting the needs OF the
! American fishermen, and in return for which
that distinguished head of the cabinet nav.
the Cleveland administration in its whole ey-
tent, entered into that notorious and Ill con-
sidered compact with the British government
for the establishment of q new international
| commission, coupling Herewith the unconsti
tutonal cession of our inshore fisheries. can
1t be that he has become on all these critical
issues touching our maritime rights as ma
ton, whether in Canadian ports or harbors,
or on the high seas, the informant of the
State Department its confidential adviser and
mentor? Stranger things than this have hap
pened and under the present administration,
it is safe to saw. will continue to happen in
an undimnishing ratio.
PERTINENT INQUIRY.
To the plain public. the average citizen,
Jealous Of his countrv's fame and seeking on
" that honorable and creditabe administra-
ton that brings no scandal or reproach upon
American institutions, how shall it be ex-
planned or excused, that one of its great de-
partments, charged under present exigencies
with the most delicate rights of the Americ IN
citizen, and with great national responsible
ties. thus ventured in response to such an
inquiry as that addressed to it by Mr.. Whit.
ten. to reply, not with its own audible and
magisteral voice, Ter reipubfic0 ioquens-
1 hut that il is informed that the limitations of
our maritime rights are so and so.
Government by information" is a new de-
velopmeat in the political history of our
country, and is not likely to commend any
considerable measure of popular approval.
/ Il NAV have its merits on the score of econo
nj, and CELEBRITY of decision. but it is not in
/ the line of craftsmanship. civic capacity. or
( official discipline. Ii reminds one of that
scientific exploit of our old friend John
/ Phoenix, who. after making the most elabor
ate preparations for his astronomical obser-
vstions, and having equipped his expedition
with the most approved instruments. when
informed that the observations and compute
tons necessary for the ascertainment of the
exact time would occupy several weeks, con-
cluded not to wait, but sent q msn into the
corner grocery to inquire the time, who soon
returned with the desired information.
RETALIATION.
But the serious aspect of the case is not so
mach in the Facilitating conduct of the De-
psrtment of State. as illustrated by the tele-
graphic correspondence of which am speak
ing, but in the deplorable fact that the ground
which 1t has finally assumed respecting the
Interpretation of the convention of 1918. is
not founded either 10 law or fact, and involves
consequences of the most serious character,
unless revised and repudiated We are not
TO look to the treaty of 1918. or any other
treaty for the measure of our maritime right.
as nation in the Cansdisnports and harbors :
our rights in this regard rest upon acts of