The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-31
The Message and the Situation.

The masterstroke OF public policy
achieved by the President last week has
a most important party effect, but is not.
on the Presidents side, OF partisan orr
gin.
Secretary Manning, as well as Presi-
dent Cleveland, early in the present ad-
miuistrat:ou wrote vigorous State papers
on the fisheries dispute, and united In
predicting that unless diplomacy was
successfully invoked to terminate the
difference between the United states
and Euglapd's North American Domin-
ion more radical measures would neces-
sarily be resorted to.
The fisheries treaty was rejected by
The Senate for no other conceivable rea-
son than to prevent the advantage that
Democrats would derive from the set
tlement of so important question by
President Cleveland. 1t is true that
fault was found with some OF the pro-
visions of the treaty as agreed upon, but
it was within tie power of the Senate
TO pass amendments securing the re-
moval of any Objectionable features.
The Senate exercised such power In
the case of the Chinese treaty when 'it
was politics" to do so, and the amend
ments thus made were the occasion OF
the postponement OF the actual operation
Of that very happy solution of q danger
ous question. But the Senate, which
amended Cor partisan motives In one
case, refused for similar reasons to even
take amendments under consideration
ia the other case, thus making contra
dictory records on similar matters with
the sole purpose OF putting Cleveland
in a hole"
But the President WAS not made the
victim of the Republican plot to fasten
uoon him the blame for the continuance
of British annoyance to our commerce
and fisheries. In his message ne COM
pletely turned the tables by :hs coura-
geous discharge Of a manifest duty.
He asked an extension OF the power OF
retaliation conferred upon the EIecu-
tive, 90 that, IL Canada continues to
Impose upon our citizens, punishment
upon the unneighborly Dominion may
be inflicted without injury TO Ameri-
cans.
Any suspension of intercourse regard
ing the fisheries or of direct commerce
between Canada and the United States,
would necessarily Inconvenience Ameri-
can business. But Canada has long
enjoyed, through our good nature, the
=
our territory goods taken for through
shipment by Canadian transportation
lines. In this way the British have
nearly absorbed the trade, via America,
between China and Japan and Europe
and there is no reason to suppose that
the English lines would soon moropoliZe
| that important commerce, because their
routes are shorter than ours, the dis
tance over any OF them being nearly
J, 200 miles less than that OF any United
States line.
Senator German OF MARYLAND explain
ed this matter very fully in the debate
which occurred In the first week OF thi.
month. Few foresaw that the heated
discussion of that day would be but a
prelude to an exciting agitation in
which all the people Of the United States
would be engaged.
In the field Of party politics the force
of the Presidents position is simply
this: The Republican Campaign on the
| cry OF Democratic subserviency to Bri-
tIsh interests is sileDced. There can be
no more Haunting OF the Union Jack in
the face OF American voters to induce
their suffrsges in favor Of the Rspubli.
can party. The American flag Is now
in the sight OF all, as it ever should be
the symbol of Democracy. 1t is the
Democratic President who stands tol
American rights against all comsrs. b:
the consequences.what they may. 1t il
the Republican party that exercises ths
Senatorial veto power TO prevent the
vindication of American equality will
Great Britain and to cripple the author
ity OF our Government TO compel justic,
TO its citizens living abroad or engaged
in pursuits that take them beyond ou
borders.
The question is complicated as vel
as interesting, ana must furnish food 70
much discussion during the campaign
The issue of tariff and TAXATION will no
be dropped, but the people will realiz
that Democratic administration liz run
ming upon its record, and that every
thing President Cleveland aud his ad
visers have doEe in matters OF impor
tance is to be taken into account II
determining how votes shall be cast OF
Election day N. Y. Star.