The Delta independent., 1888-08-28
A PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE.
Retalinting on Canada for Her POSI-
tion on the Fishing Controversy.

| WASHINGTON, Aug. 2o.-lhe ffesl-
dent sent the following message to Con.
gress this afternoon:
To the Congress: The rejection by tae
Senate OF the treaty lately negotiated for
the settlement and ad djustment of the differ
ences existing between the United States
and Great Britain concerning the rights
and privileges OF American fishermen in
the ports and waters Of British North
America seems TO Justify survey of the
condition TO which the pending question is
thus remitted.
The treaty upon this subject con cluded
In ISIS through disagreements as to the
meaning Of its terms has been the fruitful
source of Irritation and trouble. Our citi,
zens engaged in fishing enterprises in the
waters adjacent t. Canada have been SUBJ
jected TO numerous vexatious interferences
and annoyances. Their vessels have besn
seized upon pretexts which appeared to be
entirely inadmissiDle, and they have been
Otherwise treated by the Canadian author
tiles and officials in manner inexcusabiy
harsh and oppressive. This conduct has
been justified by Great Britain and Canada
by the claim that the treaty OF ISIS permit
ted II, and upon the ground that 1t was
necessary to the proper protection Of the
Canadian interests. We deny that the
treaty agreements justify these acts, and
we further maintain that aside from any
treaty restraints of disputed Interpretation
the relative position OF the United States
and Canada as near neighbors, the growth
| Of our joint commerce, the development
aud prosperity of both countries, which
amicable relations surely guarantee, and
above all the llberality extended By the
United States to the people of Canada, fur
nished motives higher AMI better than any
treaty covenants.
While keeniy sensitive TO all that was
exasperating in the condition and by no
means indisposed to support the just com
plants OF our injured cItis' n 2, | still deemed
ii my duty TO attempt by negotiations
to remedy the existing wrongs and finally
terminate, by fair and just treaty, these
oveT-recurring cases of difficulty. l fully
believe the i'eAty iusi rejected by the Sem
ate was well suited to the emergency, and
that Its provisions were adequate for our
security IN the future, for our freedom from
yexatious incidents and for the promotion
OF friendly neighborhood intimacy with
out sacrificing In the least our national
pride or dignity.
II is OF importance to note that this
treaty has been rejected without any ap-
| parent disposition on the part of the Sen
ate 10 alter or amend Its provisions and
with the evident intention that no nego
| tiAtions should al present be concluded
touching the matter at issue. am by no
| means disposed 10 abandon the interests
and rights OF our people in the premises or
| 70 neglect their grievances: and l there
fore turn TO the contemplation of the plan
ot retaliation a. the means which still re-
mains Of treating the situation. lam not
upmindtul of the gravity of the responsi-
hillty assumed in adopting this line OF con-
duct Nor do fail In the least to apprec.-
ale Its serious consequences. II will he
impossible to iniure our Canadian neigh
bors by retalistory measures, without iu-
ficting some damage upon our own ciii-
zens. The policy OF national retaliation
manfesily embraces the infection of the
greatest harm upon those who have injured
| Us, with tho least possible damage to our
| selves. And, above all things, the plan
OF retaliation, IL entered upon,
should be thorough and vigorous.
| These considerations lead me to invoke the
| aid and counsel OF Congress and its support
| in such further grant OF power as seems
necessary and desirable 10 render effective
the policy have indicated. Congress has
already passed law providing that in case
| m American f,hing vessel being in or Wis.
| itlng In the waters or at auy OF the ports of
| the British dominion of North America
| should be, or lately had been, deprived OF
| the rights 10 which they were entitled by
| treaty or law, or II they were denied certain
other privileges therein specified, the
President might deny TO the vessels and
| the masters and crews Of the British DO
minions of North America, any entrance
in,o Che waters, ports or barsors of the
United States and also deny The entry into
any port or place OF the United States OF
any product of the said dominions or other
goods coming from said domiHions TO the
| United States.
While shall not hesitate upon proper
occasions to enforce this net, It would seem
unnecessary to suggest thatit such enforce
ment is limited in such manner as shall
! result In the least possible injury 10 our
| own people, IL In fact would probably be
| entirely inadequate to the accomplish
| ment OF the purpose desired. l deem
| It my duty therefore to call the attention OF
| Congress to certain particulars in the action
OF the authorities OF the Dominion OF Can
| ada in addition TO the allegations already
made. which appear to be in such marked
contrast to the liberal and friendly position
of our country, as In my opinion TO call 70:
such legislation as will, upon principles al
ready stated, properly supplement the power
| to inaugurate retaliation already vested In
the executive.
Actuated by the generous spirit which
has ever characterized our legislation our
| tarIif laws have since 1896, been so far
waived In favor OF Canada as to allow free
of duty the transit across the territory of
the United States of property arriving at
our ports and destined TO Canada or ex-
ported from Canada to other countries"
| The President here quotes the twenty
ninth article of the treaty OF Washington
between the United States and Great Brit.
| ain, negotiated In 1871, which he says was
largely modification of the treaty of ISIS,
in which the privileges above referred to
were made reciprocal and given in return
by Canada to the United States.
| Continuing the President says: During