Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-09-06
cLEvELANo'S message.
He FavOrs the Adoption of a Rigid
RetaliatOry Measure.

President Cleveland has sent message
to congl ess on the fisheries question. The
message was anticipated, and created little
surprise, as it was Swallowed by the remarks
of Senator Morgan, during the debate, that
il was possible, IL the treaty was rejected
that the president might be forced TO use
the retaliatory act, and precipitate a war
with Canada.
After reciting that citizens of this country
engaged in fishing in waters adjacent to
Canada have been treated by that govern
ment in an inexcusably harsh and Cypress
i've manner, and that il has been justified
by Canada and Great Britain by the claim
that the treaty of 1918 permitted IL, and that
IL was necessary for the protection of Cana
dian interests, all of which he denies, he
still desired an amicable settlement, and
believed that the treaty just rejected would
have been adequate to settle all difficulties
and protect American interests in the fu-
ture, without sacrificing our national pride
or dignity in the least.
But as his method of cooperation has
been declined, the president will now con
sidor the subject OF retaliation. He states
that il will be impossible to impure Cana
dians without intlicting some damage on
our own citizens, but the national policy,
which embraces the infliction of the great
est harm on those who have injured us with
the least possible harm to ourselves, II en-
tered upon should be thorough and vigorous
conferred on the president, Mr.. Cleveland
calls attention to the Goth article of the
treaty of 1871, and the subsequent action OF
Canada in relation thereto, and says that
the powers conferred by congress are not
sufficient TO meet this juncture and recon-
mends immediate legislative action con-
ferring upon the executive the power TO
suspend by proclamation the operation of
all laws and regulation permitting the
transit of goods, ware and merchandise in
bond across or over the territory of the
United States TO or from Canada.
'There need be no hesitation he says,
"in suspending these laws arising from the
supposition that their continuation is Sc
cured by treaty obligations. 1t seems quite
plain that article % of the treaty Of II,
which was the only article incorporating
such laws. terminated July l, 1885"
In addition to this very satisfactory egi-
deuce supporting this construction of the
language of article 20, il will be found that
the law passed by congress to carry the
treaty into effect furnishes conclusive
proof Of the correctness of such construc-
ton. The law was passed March /, 1871,
and is entitled IAN act TO carry into effect
the provisions of the treaty between the
United States and Great Britain, signed in
Washington May s, 1871, relating to the
fisheries"
From the act of congress Of 1888 the
President concludes that these articles
have been formally terminated, and he sug-
gests that the privileges now granted 10
Canada of transporting goods from our
ports and over our soil be suspended, and
adds: II am satisfied that upon the princi-
pies that should govern retaliation, our in
tercourse and relations with the Dominion
of Canada furnish no better opportunity
than is suggested by the conditions therein
presented: and ii could not be more effec-
lively inaugurated than under the power of
suspension recommended"
The President also calls attention To the
unfair treatment of our vessels upon the
lakes in the matter of tolls and charges, and
recommends that such legislation be had as
will give Canadian vessels navigating our
canals precisely the advantages granted
our vessels and cargoes on Canadian canals,
and that the same be measured by exactly
the same rule of discrimination.
In conclusion President Cleveland says
'',rhe course which have outlined and the
recommendations made relate to the hone
and dignity of our country and the protec-
ton and preservation of the rights and in
terests of our people A government does
but half its duty when it protects its citi-
Zens at home and permits them to be inn
posed upon and Inundated by the unfair
and over reaching disposition of other ma
TONS IL we invite our people to rely upon
arrangements made for their benefit abroad,
we should see to it that they are not de-
ceived, and il we are generous and liberal
to a neighboring country, our people should
reap the advantage of it by q return of lib
erality and generosity