New-York tribune., 1888-08-30
SELI.rONTTCTED

The Presidents Retaliation Message is cor
rectly interpreted in the Republican platform
adopted at Saratoga. II is pronounced a con-
fession that his Administration has been gross
ly negligent of its duties in the protection oi
American fisheries, and has invited new an
nOyances and aggreSsions on the part o1 the
Canadians by the failures to make manlul pro-
tests and to employ the peaceful means OF sell
defence committed to him" This is an indict-
ment on which the Administration can be con-
victed by the testimony Of the President him
self.
The President stated in his message what
was not previously known that in 1886 no
tice was received by the representatives OF our
Government that our fishermen would no long
or be allowed TO ship their fish in bond and
free of duty through Canadian territory 10 this
country, and ever since that time such ship
ment has been denied" This privilege OF
transShipment Of cargoes was treaty night
under Article xxx Of the convention oil
1871. The Canadian Government gave no
tice that they would no longer allow American
fishermen to tranSship their cargoes This was
a repudiation Of their responsibilities under
y
Informed Congress Immediately of their de-
cision. lie ought moreover, to have recon-
mended legislation in retaliation, by which
Canada would be deprived of corresponding
privileges Of transit from American ports lie
did neither one thing nor the other. lie sup
pressed the information, made nc recommends
ton. and did not avail himself of the rctaliatory
mowers already conferred upon him by Con-
gress. Hence, the Administration was gross
ly negligent of its duties in the protection oil
American fisheries"
This inaction moreover "invited new an
noyances and aggressons on the part OF the
Canadiansn Having repudiated Article HNlH
the Dominion Government gave orders Tor a
campaign Of outrage on the seaboard. Hun
dreds Of American vcsselS were boarded. seized
hafassed and denied their treaty and CONNER
ciaI rights Even the commonest rights OF
hospitality were withheld from shipwrecked
crews and vessels in distress The American
flag was hauled down from the masthead 10y
arrogant customs officials. Outrages continued
for two years as the direct result Of the Ad-
ministratons systematic neglect Of the III
terests Of American citizens.
Meanwhile, what was the Administration
doing? 1t was allowing Canada to remain in
und sputed possession of the transit privilege
Of which it had deprived American fishermen.
1t was showering gratuities upon the Canadian
Pacific and enabling it to compete with the
American railways in transporting freight
across the continent without being subjected
to the restrictions Of the Interstate Act. 1t
was multiplying Canadian benefits derived
from the transit trade in bond under the same
Article NIX which the Dominion Govern
ment had repudiated. II was negotiating
humiliating treaty Of surrender without max
ING an honest effort to secure repaIatlon FOR
WRONGS. outlagcs and insults on the Canadian
,eab board. 1, W~s .csc.yine in pd"n for u ifee
market for Canadian fish the right of trans
shipment Of carcoeS. Under Article HNlA OF
the old treaty American fishermen were en-
titled 70 this privilege. Under Article XIV of
The Chamberlain Dayard treaty it was with
held until the duties on fish should be removed.
Canada renougced It's treaty obligations re-
spccting transshipment in transit. The Ad-
mnislralion made no protest that was elective
but meekly and submsSvey agreed to reserve
2 treaty right, already guaranteed by Article
XXX, until the Canadians should have Tree
market for their fish, As the outrages were
multiplied. it enormously increased the value
Of the transit privileges to the Dominion by
its bounties to the Canadian Pacific. This is
the Administration that now has recourse to
bluster in the hope Of preventing a stampede
of The Irish vote.