Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-01

hands of the local authorities to Identify
the recipients and prevent abuse, and
can form no impeachment to those who in
tend to use them fairly. The hospitality
secured for our vessels IN all cases of &C.
tual distress, with liberty to unload and
sell and traaship their cargoes, is full and
liberal. The provisions will secure the
substan tial enjoyment of the treaty
rights for orr fishermen under
treaty of 1918 for which contention had
been steadily made in the CORES pondeDce
of the department of state and our min
lister at London, and by the American ne
eotlators Of the present treaty. The
right of our fishermen under the treaty
of 1918 did not extend to the procurement
of distinctive fishery supplies in Canadian
ports and harbors and one item supposed
to be essential, to wit: bait was plainly
denied them by the explicit and definite
words of that treaty of 1918,
emphasized By the course OF negotiation
and express decisions which preceded
the conclusion of that treaty. The treaty
now submitted contains no provision af-
fecting the tariff duties an d inde pendent
~ of the position assumed upon the part
Of the United States that no altera-
ton in our tariff or other domestic leg
lslatlon coutd be made as the price or
consideration of obtaining the rights Of
our citizens secured by the treaty, if was
considerably more expedient to allow
cry change IN the revenue laws OF the
United States to be made by the ordinary
exercise of legislative will and in the
promotion of public interests. There
fore the addition to the free list of fish,
fish oil, whale and seal oil, ETC., recited in
Inc last articles of the treaty, is wholly
left to the action Of congress, and in con-
nection Herewith the Canadian and New
foundland right to
REGULATE THE SALES OF BAIT
and other fishing supplies within their
own jurisdiction is recognized ana the
right of our fishermen to freely purchase
these things is made contingent by this
treaty upon the action of congress in the
modification of our tariff laws. OF our
social and commercial intercourse with
those populations who have been placed
upon our borders and made forever our
neighbors is made apparent by
a list Of United States common car
rlers, marine and inland, con-
Meeting their lines with Canada, which
was returned by the secretary of the
treasury to the senate on the 9TH day of
February, 1888, in answer to a resolution
of that body, and this is instructive as to
the great volume of mutually profitable
interchanges which has come into exist
ence during the last half century. This
intercourse is still but partially develop
ed, and if amicable enterprise and whole
some rivalry between the two populations
is now constructed, the promise of the
future is full of the fruits of an
UNBoUNDED PROSPERITY
on both sides OF the border. The treaty
now submitted to you has been framed in
the spirit of liberal equity and the re-
ciprOcal benefits is the conviction that
the mutual advantage and convenience
are the only permanent foundation of
peace and friendship between states, aud
that with the adoption of the agreement
now placed before the senate a bene-
fetal and satisfactory intercourse
between the two countries will be estab-
iished so as to secure perpetual peace and
harmony. In connection with the treaty
herewith submitted I deem it also my
duty to transmit to the senate
WRITTEN OFFER Or ARRANGEMENT
in the nature of mOdus vivendi, tender
ed after the conclusion on the part Of the
British plenipotentiaries to secure kind
lily and peaceful relations during the
period that may be required for
the consideration of the treaty by
the respective governments and for the
enactment of necessary legislation to car
ry its provisions into effect if approved.
This paper, freely and on their own
motion signed by the British conferes,
not only extends advantages to our fish
ermen pending the ratification of the
treaty but appears to have been dictated
by friendly and amicable spirit. am Civ
On to understand that other governments
concerned in this treaty will within a few
days, in accordance with their methods
of conducting public business, submit the
said treaty to their respective legisla
lures, when it will be at once published
to the world. In view Of such All action.
it appears to be advisable that by
publication here, early and full knowledge
of all that has been done in the premises
should be afforded to our people. It
would also seem to be useful to inform
the popular mind concerning the history
of the long continued disputes growing
out of the subjec embodied in the treaty
and to satisfy the public interests touch
ing that same as Well as TO
acquaint our people with the present
status of the questions involved and TO
give the exact terms of the proposed ad
justment in place of the exaggerated and
imaginative statements which will other
wise reach them. I therefore beg re-
spectiyely to suggest that the said treaty,
and all such correspondence, messages
and documents relating to the same as
may be deemed important to accomplish
these purposes, be at once made public
by order of your honorable body.
(Signed,) GROVER CLEVELAND.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 20, 1883.