Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-15
THE PRESIDENTS RECORD.
L Revicw of tho Peculiar Canadian Policy
of the Present Ad1ninistr>tisn

| Tx F1E0IOcNt y o6NOF10s
| of the Present Administrator.
The presidents desperate attempt to
retrieve the diplomatic reputation Of his
administration renders q review Of its
Canadian policy timely. When he en-
tered upon office a transition stage in the
relation of the United States and the Do
ninion was approaching. The fisheries
clauses Of the treaty of Washington had
| proved an unsatisfactory and inequfable
arrangement so far as American interests
were concerned. An exorbitant price for
inshore fishing rights had been exacted BY
the Halifax arbitrators- The award Of
| s., SOC, 600 was paid under protest, and
when the period which it embraced had
passed there was no disposition ON the
part of the United States to reopen neso-
tiations for renewal of the contract E-
perience had demonstrated that the Cana
dian inShore fisheries were not worth as
much to American fishermen as the privi-
lege Of free entry to the New England
market was to the Dominion fishing feet.
Accordingly, notice was given to the
British government Of the abrogatiou of
the fisheries articles. By act of congress
and President Arthur's proclamation
these articles were to lapse on July l,
1885. The American fishing feet had
known for two years what would happen,
and were not only fully prepared for the
change, but very eager 10 have their home
market protected against their Canadian
rivals.
This was the situation when the presi-
dent was inaugurated. Congress had abb
rogatcd the fisheries articles; President
Arthur had proclaimed the change of pol
icy, and American fishermen were de-
lighted with the prospect of securing re-
lief from the burdens of an inequitable
treaty. What was the first diplomatic
act of the new administration in these cir
cumstances? Secretary Bayard having
been approached by the astute British
minister affected alarm on account of the
reversion to the treaty of 1918 in the mid
die Of fishing season. he gratefully ac-
cepted an offer from Canada for tenn
porary extension of the inshore fishing
privileges. provided the president in his
first message would recommend a settle
ment of the fisheries dispute by arbitra-
ton. The British minister was thus al
lowed III the first instance to dictate
passage of the message relating to the
fisheries. The abrogated clauses were
continued in force for six months without
authority of congress. A policy in the
interest of American fishermen, which
bad received the approval of senate and
house, and had been officially proclaimed
by President Arthur. was reversed before
the new administration had been in power
for three months.
The president carried out Secretary
Bayard's compact with the British minis
ter, but the senate rejected by decisive
vote his recommendation for arbitration.
The season of 1886 opened with the treaty
Of 1913 in operation, and the first series
of outrages on American commerce oc-
Cured on the Dominion seaboard Con-
gress passed a retaliation measure with
out division ON party lines. The president
made no attempt to enforce this 1egisla-
ton during that season, nor in the fol-
lowing year, although as many as 400
American vessels were boarded, seized,
harassed and subjected to expense or an
noyance on the Dominion seaboard. He
met congress with complaint that the
retaliatory powers were inadequate, and
the declaration that diplomacy was the
only remedy. The senate promptly en-
larged those powers In 1887, Democrats
and Republicans voting as one man.
Then was witnessed a strange spectacle.
The administration exerted all it's inhu-
ence for months to prevent the passage
of any retaliation measure. The Belmont
and Manning projects were brought for
ward apparently for the express purpose
of blocking Legislation altogether on this
subject. This maneuver was defeated by
the passage of the senate blu in the house
largely by Republican votes.
The administration having been twice
armed with authority from congress
evaded it's responsibility, neglected to en-
force the retaliation acts and pursued its
diplomatic adventures. After hundreds
of American vessels had been harassed
and denied their commercial rights St
made a humilistins treaty of surrender
without securing reparation for wrongs
suffered by American citizens OF for in
suits offered to the American flag. At
the same time it had loaded Canadian cor
porations with gratuities worth millions
of dollars to them in their warfare upon
American commerce and railways. This
is the administration that suddenly
bounces upon the scene like circus
clown In the stripes and spangles Of
the American flag, shrieking that 1t will
retaltate and fight hard if congress will
only furnish 1t with larger pair of box.
~ o11,-a, N>-, VII 7Stl,,,a