The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-05-26
orrosrrIos TO rae TREATY.


A recent caucus Of the Republican
senators revealed the fact that every
Republican member Of the upper house
Of congress is opposed to the ratifica-
ton OF the Chamberlain Bayard FISH
cries treaty. This. Of course, decides
the fate of the treaty. Far from hay
ing the two-thirds vote necessary TO q
ratification. II viii not be supported
by majority Of the senate and 1t viii
be compelled TO take its place among
the failures which have distinguished
the administration Of President Cleye-
land.
This unanimous opposition 70 the
ratification Of the treaty Is not strange.
indeed. II would be strange II the Re
publican senator's were not unani-
mously against il. and II viii he
strange II few Of the Democrats do
not defy the efforts OF the administra-
ton to compel them TO support the
treaty and take their stand with the
Republicans. This treaty, the result
Of the Joint commission which Presi-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Bayard
called together without warrant OF
law. has been denounced by those most
familiar with the fisheries question as
shameful surrender Of all the points
for which the American government
has eontenied. This opinion IL not
confined to those who are politically
hostile 70 the administration. II Is
held by practically every American
who has devoted any time or thought 10
the fisheries question. Notable among
those who have assaiied the treaty
and exposed its fallacies is Mr.. VIII
liam II. Prescott, OF South Carolina,
who has had more experience in the
diplomatic service than any other liv-
ing American. As Mr. Prescott is a
Democrat. IL certainly cannot be al
legged that his powerful attack upon
the treaty was due to hostility 10 the
administration.
One may naturally inquire why IL
was that the administration, II IL had
determined to surrender to the Brit
ish government on every essential
point raised. found il necessary to
have joint committee TO arrange the
matter. II should be easy enough to
settle AN international controversy
through the usual diplomatic chan
nels when one of the parties TO the
controversy was prepared to yield
every point IN dispute. 1t win be re-
memhered that President Cleveland
urged upon congress the desirability
OF providing for joint commission TO
consider the fisheries dispute and that
congress by vote which was nearly
unanimous in both houses declined to
authorize the commission. In def
ance Of this emphatic expression of
the win Of congress the administra-
ton invited the British government to
send commissioners a. Washington
and appointed two American citizens
10 Join with Secretary Bayard in nego-
tiating with them. The results of this
action. as nearly rs they can be ascer-
tanned at present, are that Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain. the chief commissioner
ON the part Of Great Britain. has Sc
cured tho credit of achieving signal
diplomats triumph, that the same
gentleman is in fair way to secure an
American wife. aud that the executive
department OF the United States gov
ernmcnt has been put on record n adj
hitting the correctness 81 the
position of Great Britain in
regard 20 question which
has been subject of contention he
tween the TIVE governments for almost
three quarters OF century The re-
suits of the negotiation would he more
numerous and even more distas,etui
10 American citizens If the senate did
not stand in the way to prevent the
ratification of the treaty.
Il is good thing for the American
people that Republican senate j. in
a position 70 bring Mr. Cleveland and
his secretaries Hp wah round turn
onsss in a while