The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-08-04
A MAsTERLT SPEECH.

The speech Of senator J. T. George,
in the Senate Of the I nited States, on
the 18th ult.. ON the fisheries question.
has not attracted the attention and
note from his State papers TO which its
ability entitled it. This is doubtless
from The tact that the subject Is not
one actively interesting the state. Nor
is il strictly speaking, party question,
although the Republican senators
made it such by attacking the treaty
as Il Democratic measure Senator
George fittingly ard forcibly exposed
the attempt Of the Republicans to de-
rive a mean advantage at the expense
Of Senatorial decorum and National
dignity. Violating the UNMARRIED prae-
tice of 100 years, a practice founded
upon true conception of National
policy. the Republican Senatorial eau
Gus decreed that this treaty should be
debated with open doors: that is ora
tors might be heard by the public de-
nouncing the Democrats as assuming
the aBritish side of the fisheries
controversy. We quote from this por-
ton Of the speech.
81 believe, sir, il is an open secret
that this change in the attitude Of the
Senators ON the other side, resulting in
consequent change i'm the uniform
practice of the Senate, was brought
about by the action of caucus or
conference of Republican Senators
from which all the world was excluded.
What arguments were urged, what
reasons presented, which worked this
extraordinary change are unknown to
me, unknown to the world. The Re-
publican Senators became In some un-
known way In secret council from
which the American people were ex-
cluded, convinced-solemnly convin-
ced-by arguments and ON reasoning
which they dared not or would not
commit to the American people, that
secrecy in affairs, secrecy in making
treaties, was all wrong; that the uni
versal practice of our fathers on this
subject was all wrong. The inconslst-
ency between the methods used and
the end attained, the repugnancc be-
tween the principles of these methods
and the principles involved In this end,
are so patent that II requires large
share Of charity in Judging mankind
to believe that both are sincere. Ii is
not to be forgotten, however, that this
change in regard to secret sessions of
the Senate is not by any means the re-
suit of conviction that such secrecy
Is in general wrong. The change is
limited to this very treaty for since
the vote to consider this treaty in open
session we have beon considering all
other executive business In secret, In
cluding not only treaties but matters
Of nominations to public office which
are purely of domestic concern. Thus
we take into our confidence, admit TO
our secret counscls, Great Britain when
we consider matters which serious
" affect our relations with that empire,
aud we exclude from our confidence
the American people when considering
matters affecting them alone,
"Mr President, this action of the
Senate forces me, In stating the con-
yictions have Tor fayoring the ratillca-
ton Of the treaty, to argue In the hear
ing of the British people, If they can
hear so humble man as myself, adj
versely TO some of the alleged rights
which have been claimed by American
diplomatists. Such arguments have
already been stigmatized on this floor
as "the British sdc.' Whether the
denuncIation was intended to deter
Senators from expressing Views favor
able to ratification or destroy their
weight when expressed shall not stop
to inquire. II, however, what ] or
others may say may favor some Of the
prctensions of Great Britain and be
adverse to false claims set up for our
own country, and harm comes from
the fact that Great Britain has been
notified that such views are entertained
and such arguments made, that harm
results from the action of the majority
the Republican side of this Chamber
and not from the action of my party
associates.
"The truth is, Mr.. President, as
: believe. that this debate is not now and
never was inteeded by the other side
of the Chamber to be, as the Constitu-
ton intends it should be. fair ratif-
cation or rejection of the treaty. That
question has already been settled in a
secret caucus of the other side Of the
Chamber. The treaty has been pre-
destined to rejection, and for reasons
unknown to the world; and the open
, debate we are now having is notfor
the purpose of settling what we ought
to do, but to justify what has been de.
creed to be done, by arraigning before
/ tlC AllltiitdH ltOplt tnt itclicht lOi
negligence or Indifference to American
! rights
The body of Senator Georges speech
was of course an argument, exhaustive
and able, of the provisions of the
treaty and the objections to IT. The
debate involved the application Of law
principles and the corclative construc
tion of the language of prior treaties
, line of discussion on which he Is al
his best and strongest.
Speaking of the prcdestined tendency
of the spread of Amcricanization, and
Of the duty of the American Govern
mcnt to fostcI it, Senator George rise,
to the plane of craftsmanship; and
rebukes the narrow and short-sighted
, policy of the Republican Senator,
which would turn the Canadians from
participation in this destiny of uniiica-
ton:
"Notbing can prevent II except tho
failure of the American people to rise
to the height of their great mission
I A \ a 4 IL.