The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-25
The Presidents Change of Base.

Some months ago the President transmit
ted to the Senate the text of the fishery
treaty negotiated by Messrs. Bayard, Put
nam and Angel and commended it to the
favorable consideration of the Senate in
these words:
After many conferences and protracted eff
forts, an agreement has at length been arrived at
which Is embodied In the treaty which, now lay
cause believe it supplies satisfactory, practi-
cal and final adjustment upon q basis honorable
| question to which it relates. believe
the treaty win be found to contain justice and
honor. and therefore, a. satisfactory solution of
the difhcultes which clouded our relations with
our peighbors on the northern border. IS
The treaty now committed TO You has been framed
10 the conviction that mutual ADVANTAGE and con,
tween the States; and that with the adoption Of
the agreement now placed before the Senate.
beneficial and satisfactory intercourse between
the two countries will be established so as to Sc
cnre perpetual peace and harmony
One Of the grievances of our fishermen had
been that they were not permitted to ship
their cargoes across Canadian territory into
the United States This treaty in no way
redressed this grievance. 1t did not accord
to our fishermen the privilege OF sending
their cargoes through Canadian territory.
As regards that privilege our fishermen were
no better off than they were before Yet
Mr.. Cleveland commended the treaty and
urged its adoption. The treaty was reject
ed. Suddenly Mr.. Cleveland discovers that
the refusal of the privilege of shipping our
fish across Canadian territory is sin such
marked contrast to the liberal and friendly
disposition Of our country as in my opinion
to call for such legislation as will properly
supplement the power to inaugurate retalia-
tion already vested in the executive" The
legislation he calls for is permission for the
executive to refuse Canada the privilege of
transporting her goods destined for foreign
shipment across our territory free Of duty.
Two days ago the privilege Of shipping fish
across Canadian territory was of so little
consequence to our fishermen that the Presi-
dent was using all bis influence to secure the
adoption of permanent treaty in which
that privilege was nowhere conceded Now
| it has become of such importance that he
wants a law TO authorize him to retaliate
upon Canada for not according it. Such rap
i'd conversion has not been heard of since
Paul was stopped on his way to Damascus.
If the conversion Is genuine and sincere
American fishermen ought to be thankful.
But 1t seems to us that the President in
changing his base has not been sufficiently
mindful Of the predicament in which his
argument leaves his fish commissioners.
more especially the commissioner from
Maine. The President says:
deem 1t my duty, therefore, to call the
attention of the Congress to certain particu-
| lars In the action of the authorities of the
Dominion of Canada, In addition to the gen.
eral agtati0ns already made, which appear
to be In such marked contrast to the liberal
and friendly disposition of our country as In
NV opinion to call for such legislation as
will, upon the principles already stated.
properly supplement the power to inaugu-
rate retaliation already vested In the execu-
tive.
Actuated by the generous. and neighborly
| spirit which has characterized our legisla-
1 ton, our tariff laws have, since 1866 been SO
far worked in favor of Canada as to allow
Tree OF duty the transit across the territory
OF the United States of property arriving at
onr ports and destined to Canada, or ex-
| poItea from Canada to other foreign coup-
Llies; When the treaty of Washington was
nesoTIlalea 10 1911 between the United States
anu SIeat britain. having for its object very
iargeiy tne modification Of the treaty of 1878,
the privileges above referred to were made
reciprocal and given in return by Canada to
the United States in the following language
contained In the 10Th article of said treaty.
Its agreed that for the term of vears mon.
TONED In Art. 80 of this treaty, goods, wares. or