National Republican., 1888-01-27
MIR. Lodge on the Fisheries.

The Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge has con-
tributed an article on 1.-THE Fisheries Cues.
tion" to the North .imcyicdn RevictO which
is given, as It Justly deserves to be, the
place OF honor In that magazine. Tue
article, like all that Mr.. Lodge writes or
says, is scholarly and convincing, and
treats the subject from tn beginning, show
ing the utter unteuabiity Of the Canadian
position, even II It was honestly assumed.
lie then destroys with single illustration
the whole bulwark Of commission to arbi-
trate, behind which the administration las
been endeavoring to conceal Its liability In
dealing with this subject. He says:
X spain comes to tLe conclu lou that she
would like to hnyo uur tobacco duties removed
and were to seila all Our vessels going to Cuba
insult Our flag, and close CABIN ports to all
our merchants, does any one suppose that we
should invite Spanish commissioners to Wash
ington to arbitrate?
After describing the manner 10 which our
fishermen have been treated, Mr.. Lodge
Gays:
But what shall be said of our own govern.
ment, whose policy makes such actions posi-
BILE? The administration peak like John.
a.dreams, unpregnant of their cause, and can
say nothing" when even political expediency
would seem to render such weak attitude OBJ,
yiously and utterly undesirable.
Showing from the census reports the great
value Of the fishing industry OF tie country,
Mr.. Lodge gives the statistics of the New
England fishing business as follows.
The New England fisheries, which are
chiefly involved in this contest, employed In
1850 3704S men, 2,O66 vessels, li,7S7 boats. and
yield an annual product of sii,27o,S93. The
amoun. of food fish landed in Gloucester in
1856 was 459,759 barrels. An industry which
supports in one section OF the country alone
some 10000 people, and which furnishes q
large part of a most important article of food,
cannot be neglected or overlooked, and when
it is remembered that we must turn TO that
industry for sailors to mat our ships in time
| of war it has a right to demand not only the
protection, but the fostering care of the gov
eminent.
Commenting upon the failure OF the ad-
| ministrarion to protect the American fish
ermen in their rights and its refusal to use
the remedies placed In Its hands by Con.
gress, Mr.. Lodge says:
Il was the greatest glory of Rome in ancient
| times, II has been one of the chief glorles of
| England in our time that no risk and NJ ex-
| pense were to be considered in defending, In
all his rights and wherever he mi ght be, every
man who was honestly entitled to the Rom III
| or the English name. We have q greater em-
| pire than either Rome or England, aud we
cannot be too jealous OF the lives ana safety OF
our citizens. The case of le man to-day seems
! distant and unimporIaut but 1t NAV be the
| case Of any one Of us tomorrow. This prot &c.
| tion to citizens ofthc republic engaged In law
| fu'caling is what underlies our dispute with
| England aud Canada to-day. 1t is something
| more vital than the three mile limit or free
fish or reciprocity treaties. 1t is the question
Of te defense of the rights of American citI2 ans
which have been in,erlered with in contrl-
yerliOn ofall commerciai privileges aud all
the rules OF international comfy. It is rs ne n
and as important to the citizens OF California
or Illinois or Florida as 1t is to the Gloucester
fishermen, for If the fishermen can be attacked
| with impnnity by Great Britain some othel
| nation may see iit to treat in like fashion III,
| people of any other part OF the country.
The article is one that ought to he univer.
| sally read.