Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13
THE FISHER les TREATY.
Mr.. HOAR'S CAUSTlC SPEECH ON
THE NEGOTIATIONS.
The Work of the Administration Pro.
neunced Bungling and Inc efficient Our
Rights Yielded without an Equiva.
lent-Worse than Before.

WAsnlNGToN, July 1O.-ln the Senate
to-day the fisheries treaty being under
consideration Senator Hoar said
| make no apology for entering upon
this discussion. This is the oldest ques-
ton in our foreign relations. The ques-
tion of the rights OF her fishermen has
mingled with the history of Massachusetts,
from the beginning, as their skill and
courage have been from the beginning a
chief part of her glory and pride. the
war OF the revolution, of course. in
terrupted for time the fisheries of the
American colonies. But the fishermen
were not idle They manned the little
navy whose exploits have never yet re-
ceived from history its dine need of praise.
They furnished the ships companies of
Manly and Tudor and BiddIe And Abra.
ham Whipple. They helped Paul Jones
to strike terror into st. Georges channel
After the revolution, when our fisheries
began to revive, England endesvored to
allure all fisherman into her dominion by
a high SN NStem of bOuuiieS and an absolute
prohibition of foreign fish in her markets
She issued an invitation, re-eniOrCed by
nigh bOuuJies to our fishermen, under tue
general description of foreigners who
had been employed III the whale fishery
to pass oven with their families and yes
sells to the British dUmilious, either in
America or in Europe.
France took the alarm Lafayette wrote
a letter to dls-uAde our fishermen from &C
ceptug the British proposal, and prom
ispd that France wonid do better for Them
The French minister gave a cOunter-invi-
tatIon and offered a bounty of 50 lvres
near $40, a ton on every fishing vessel they
would equip.
have seen with deep regret that the
president of the United States, or some
person upOn whose advice be has acted,
tn n thHt this Of,iArf WHiCp "a
tar sighted pOicY OF Great Britain and
France Thought so desirable for them, of
transferring foreign fishermen from their
own country to ours, is undesirable. He
mas FASTENED to put himself on record by
a letter to the collector OF Boston, signed
with his own name, as intending to use all
the powers vested IN nm by law, even un-
der the most strained construction, to pre-
vent the employment under the American
flag of fishermen of foreign origin. | do
NOT think many precedeuts can he found
of instructions given by the departments
to their subordlnates under the signature
of the president. | am sure no example
can be found in our history, and think
none is likely to Ccur again, of an eXecu-
tive stralning his powers and departing
from the propriety of his stat on to pre-
vent al accession OF killed Seamtn to
America ike tnat which England and
France so eagerly strove to gain at the
close OF the last century.
The presidents shaft is aimed at the
wrong mark. Among the best and most
valued citizens ON the Massachusetts
coast, in Gloucester IN Marblehead, in
Provincetown, are to be found many
of these brave and skllltul mariners,
whom our policy III II gard to cur fisheries
has attracted from tine British provinces
to take their lot under the American flag.
The Massachusetts, fishery report gives
"A ,G1G fishermen engaged in the fishing
vessels Of Massachusetts. OF these, II,
lt a ht1aG r
2933 were nou-resldents of Massachus
sets; and OF these nOn-residentS 99S were
Americans OF the whole IA G16 there
were II al either having their homes in
MASSACHUSETTS, or American residents in
other States.
Mr. President, it was to adjust the re
latiOn between the United States and
Great l}rjtan in regard to this great in
terest, SO vital TO the strength and so i'm
pOrtaut to the welfare of both that the
administration solicited the negotiation
which has resulted In the present treaty
1t mas but one aVOWed object That is to
promote the convenience and define the
rights of American fishermen and protect
them against untrlendly interference a.
they pur. ne their calling Yet, is 1t not 4
little remark BILE that there is not to be
found thr ughout the length and breadth
of The land, 50 far as bear, a single ii n
eruan VINO does not deem the provision
an Outra &c
w IA was lnt pIT-tlL &c ts~l III bT Il Tt1
vision OF our Internal lonal reiatiOus win
Canaus rne wrongs with wlicn thi,
treaty does Ot deH' are the wrongs Whcf
had 80 excited public indignation. The
recent and present subject of American
complaint is the ATTEMPT on the part o
Canada TO compel II cnange in our custom,
laws Il purely domestic concern, for het
benefit, by VeXatiCus and iuhOspitablt
treatment of our vessels, in violation o
the plain laws Of international courtesy
To that complaint ii was the duty of H.,
administration to have addressed itself
The administration have passed by the
American grievance, have got neither i'll
demuity FOX the past nor security Tor time
to COME, nave done all that was IN thell
power 10 do to pul future redress out o
our reach They have entered upon IA he
COLLATION. in regard to matters not instant
IL pres, ing, and in dealing with thos'
have Welded nearly all that was of valu,
Iii the AmctIcHu claim, what clearly be
lOnged 10 ~, aud what we had always eu-
lpyed aa matter Of right, without any al
equdte OF important equivalent.
We claim that the refusal to IL hing YES
sels OF The ordinary right of hospitality
ana commercial privileges Is violation
OF the law and u~age~ Of nations a. estab
llshed III modern times, Justify ing no
war, but IKE refusal IN our discretion p,
any vessel from The Otleudng port or dis
tuct Now, here we have treaty stipu
lating for certain restricted and condI
uOnHl privileges 10 our ushln9 vessels
therefore Clearly recognizing the prophet,
of Wlthhuiding them IN all other cases
How can ire president aud secretary eve
hereafter put IN force the provisions of tht
statute Of March 3 1857, IN retaliation TO
conduct whose proprety they have them
selves so admitted The rights of com
mon humanity TO our vessels IN dlstres
have been withheld in many 1agrant IN
stances This is grievance for which tn
cessation OF the Intercourse in respect L
which the complaint aIses furnlsle
abundant remedy. The treaty provide
for removal OF this grievance To a llmlle'
extent and on strict conditions. The pres
ident can hardly hereafter make the con
tinuauce of these grievances ground
complaint IA the case he has not provided
for
But the important question is the Sui
stance Of me treaty itself II is n que'
tion Of the strength of the right arm O
this nation, 1t is "A question of its DoWe
to waId of or To return blow in any fu
ture war IL is a question " that nava
p u ~