The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-25

1
| wanted to pile up great surplus in the
| Treasury in order that it might be used as
an argument for an assault on our protective
system and accordingly 1t affected to. have
grave doubts whether the law gave the
Secretary power ito expend that surplus fol
bonds Of the United States and, after the
| mischief was already done and the surplus
was piled up and distributed among the
national banks without interest, the Presi-
dent sent in communication saying he
thought he ought to have the authority in
| buying bonds. When both branches Of Con.
| gress passed resolution stating that the
PRESIDENT had that right, he said: well,
guess have" and proceeded to make the
purchases. Here were two unquestionable
acts affirming the power to suspend this
impose such terms, regulations and condi-
lions as the Secretary may see fit, and vet,
with that power, the President allsws it to
sumber during all these years, as he says,
these outrages on the part Of Canada were
going on; and now he comes in and asks the
Senate and House Of Representatives to
grant him the power which he knows per-
fectly well he has the right to exercise. How
could he reconcile 1t either with our honor or
dignity III this treaty had been ratified, inn
Britain: Now that got this treaty signed,
L AN going to declare non-intercourse with
you on another ground which was never
mentioned in the negotiations" II the pa
eAAostO spun VI tuC uidJOIlty VI Tie DtHdIc
had not rejected the treaty. the American
people would never have heard from the Ex-
ecutlve lisp of his desire TO affirm, main
tain, defend and establish their rights in re-
lation to system of transportation.
IL was idle for the President to undertake
at this time to cover his retreat and cover up
his surrender by undertaking to come to the
front In regard to this matter.
SENATOR MORGAN.
Senator Morgan said the message which
had come in yesterday afternoon and which
had been read this morning seemed to have
produced great shock upon the Senators Of
the Republican side. Its first effect was
to cause the Senator from Vermont to inter
rupt the Senator from iowa and ask him to
give way for adjournment.
Senator EdmundS-"May / interrupt the
Senator to say that he is entirely mistak-
emp"
what my eyes have SEEM"
. Senator Edmunds-"l suggested as the
Senate chamber was empty, knowing moth
ing OF the paper of which we are now speak
ing, to my friend from Iowa that he had bet
yer let us adjourn and he said he would when
ne reached paragraph as he did,
Senator M0rgan-"Thereupon being great
ly surprised that the President of the United
States should be treated with so much dis
courtesy,I interrupted the Senator from Yer
mont, to say that message had been
brought into this body which related to the
fisheries treaty. and thereupon the Senator
from Vermont informed the Senate that the
reading OF that message could wait.
Senator Edmunds-"That is true"
senator Hoar here asked leave to add one
remark to his speech, saying, that for him
sell, and he had no doubt for the Republican
Senate, he was In favor of giving the Presi-
dent any authority in regard to the matter If
on examination it should be found to be
needed. lie accordingly offered the follow
ing resolution, which was laid over for the
present:
Resolved, That the President of the United
states be instructed, IL It is not in his judgment
Incompatible with public interest, to cOmmuni-
II any, addressed by his direction to the govern,
ment OF Great Britain demonstrating with the
government against the wrongs and unfair treat
ent OF our citizens by the action OF the Canadian
government IN refuunding to vessels and canals
nearly the entire tolls If they are destined to Ca
narts narlaa u p0r.s wnlle tnose bound TO American
breaking OF the engagement contailed in the treaty
9I hS1i whereby Great Britain promised the
United States equality in the matter Of such canal
transportation; also, copies OF any demand made
Dy MS direction upon Great Britain for redress Of
sucn % wrongs and the replies of Great Britain to
such communication and demand.
Senator Morgan charged Senator Edmunds
and the Republican side with fillihustering
ana discourteousness to the President yester-
DAY IL not considering his message which
Edmunds disclaimed as there were SIX other
pllls laid before the Senate the day before.
Senator Morgan said that the Senate did
not know what those messages related to.
ana therefore 1t was nothing less than a de.
termined effort on the part of that Senator
20 say to tho President that he still enter
Ialned SIl very sovereign contempt for him.
lie believed the President and the Demo-
cratic party both could stand that without
the slightest trem0r. He said that more
careful and precise arraignment of gov
eminent was never made than was made by
Ine foreign relations committee of Great
britain In charging in its report actual, will
IuI ana Intentional violation Of the treaty Of |
lolo. NOBODY could daaw a paper in which
2 clearer accusation was made That report |
was made on the 10th day: Of January, 1887. |
anI adUl upon u was based the act of March Sd, |
1881, which the Senator now instanced as a
mandatory law, requiring the President to /
enter upon retaliation and abandon resort to |
MS constitutional right to attempt to GET
.hrougn with these troubles with Canada In |
me ny. exercise OF the treaty making power. |
ly the Senator from Vermont SO as To throw
me 1 entire responsibility for action on the /
resident. 1t was competent as a declara-
Ion made In the report to have prepared n
aw i contsing recital Of the matter haec
'ef0d and commanding the President. he
'ause the treaty had been violated. to pro-
'eed to retaliation and then have supplied
lin Win men and means to have made that /
|; ,s;sallation efectlye. 1t was left in the
llscIellon y OF tne PRESIDENT 10 do or not to do
entatiyes had passed law very Similar in |
Is tone to that of the Senate, but CONTAINING
, stipulation that the President should have
ne right, by proclamation, of the exclusion
= Iaiway trade from coming into the
'ietely intercourse between the people, not
merely commercial, but social. The proyis-
on on that subject in the report Of the COM
alttee on conference, read by the Senator
rom Vermont, had no relation to the pas
ween these countries. That subject was
IL to be disposed Of according to the treaty
1871, and upon the laws az the limited |
tates based upon that treaty.
senator Hale spoke briefly on the message.
nd the Senate adjourned until Monday.
what Maine's Senators Say.
Touchi1g the message, Senator Hale saws:
The President message is q desperate at
empt to recover lost ground. 1t shows
learly that the attitude of the Republican
enatorS In opposing the treaty, was sound
nd patriotic. and that their position, that
ne treaty met none Of the grievances of the
ltuation, was well taken. In speech
Ehich delivered in the Senate, June 18th.
took the ground that nothing of good
ould come out of the negotiations, because
no negotiators declined to consider many
I the chief subjects of complaint which
re have against Canada, The President
ow recommends legislation covering pre-
lsely the ground taken by me at that time.
he treaty was good for nothing because il
either protected our fishermen nor secured |
Ights to them for the future, nor dealt with |
ny OF the commercial subjects, like free |
llpment of our fisheries; nor the advantages |
'hlch Canada enjoys by transportation over |
ur railroads; nor the unjust Determinations |
galnst us IN the waterways between the |
treat Lakes where she has the control. |
he resistance Of the Republicans to the
'eaty and the discussion upon 1t have driven |
ne President to assume our side of the ques. |
on and to argue 1t from our basis. But |
18th the same hesitaney and lack of patri- |
tic action that has BEEN the besetting sin of |
le administration from the beginning. he |
Ill declines to do anything. Under the re-
lliation act Of 1887 he has authority, as he |
as had Tor nearly eighteen months, to put
! force any measure of retaliation which he |
ow requires. The appeal to the legislative |
ranch for further authority is only an in
anee OF his inhdelity Of action and lack of
lpacity to appreciate the situation which |
wolves not only the rights of our own citil
ms. but the dignity and respect of onr |
,untry in its dealings with foreign neonia
he message will not help the President nor
lie administration. The people See clearIv
le object that Mr.. Cleveland has in view
I'D will credit him nothing for his tardy mt.
I lIa,i.o as 10 American rights and American