The Somerset reporter., 1888-08-30
The Presidents Message.
LANDS COURSE IN HIS SPEECH AT
LEWISTON SATURDAY.


LEWISTON SATURDAY.
did not happen to have an opportu-
nifty for reading the full text of Presi.
dent Cleyelands message on the subject
until this morning, and, with all due
respects to the chief executive of the
nation, must say that considering all
the circumstances, it is the most extra
ordinary document that was ever sent
from the White House to the capitol.
You know the maine fact of the issue
between Canada and the United States,
or, perhaps, to speak more exactly, be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States, in respect to the fisheries. 1t was
our belief and still is that after the ar
tcles Of the treaty of Washington relat-
ing to the fisheries, had expired, the
Canadian government behaved in an I'M
neighborly, unseemly and unjust manner
toward our fishermen in refusing them
rights which they had enjoyed by long
prescription. In order to bring the gov
eminent of the Dominion to just ap-
probation of the subject, Congress au-
thorized the President in the spring of
1887, to adopt at his dissertation policy
of suitable retaliation, directing among
other things that whenever and so long
as American vessels were deprived of
commercial privilege in the ports of
Canada, Canadian vessels should be de-
deprived of like privileges in the ports
of the United States. This, IL | may in
dulge in appropriate slang, was genuine
tit for tat policy, In which the punish
ment was adm rably fitted to the crime.
President Cleveland declined to enforce
the policy, and allow outrage after out
rage upon our fishing vessels to go unre-
dressed. He was bent on some form of
negotiation with England, even against
the expressed wish and will of the United
States Senate, and in defiance of the
larger share in the treaty-making power,
which the constitution assigns to the
Senate Finally, without the consent of
the Senate, and practically against its
protest, the President organized a com
mission ITO frame treaty that should
settle all point of dispute, He thus gave
what was never intended by the constitu-
ton, PARTISAN side to an international
discussion. 1t was never designed by
the founders of our government that in
tercourse with foreign nations should be
conducted by republicans or by democrats
or by wings or by federalists 1t should
only be by the nation as a whole We
can have our party differences at home
and settle them on our own soil In our
own way, bat toward all foreign powers
on the globe we should present one unit
ed lndivisible American republic. But
this was not done The treaty was |
as democratic PARTISAN meas
ure, rather than patriotic American
measure, and the London papers have
been following their usual vocation of
the democracy and abusing
the republicans, with great increased vitu
peration against the republican party
ever since 1t was found that the Senate
was bent on maintaining the national
Lightly. 1t is plainly apparent from the
ext of the constitution itself that the
wise men who framed 1t intended that
he ordinary Legislative power should be
committed to the majority, however
mall, but that no treaty could be framed
Without the overwhelming support of
,ublic opinion. They provided, there
ore, that 1t should require In all cases
wo thirds of the Senate to ratify
realty but despite this the national ad-
went ahead. regardless of I
esults, and negotiated treaty as re- {
ugnant to the American instinct of ma !
|onal self respect, that, instead of secur- ,
AZ q ratification by two third Of the
enste, It was absolutely rejected by a /
Majority vote. What thenf At the first b
pbound the President has lesped so far ,
yer on the other side that he asked au- i
,ority 70 cripple oil our commercial re-
Itl0us with Canada, from Psssmaquoddy
Nv 70 Vspcou vsr's island. Having for :;
hfss years offered 70 waive the rights Of 4
" AsAasmsn and the national dignity Ut
- aa1s tims, the PRssldent desires HOw