The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-23
THE FISHERIES TREATY.
COMMENTS OF THE LEAJING PAPERS
ON THE COMPACT.
The Tribune, as Usual. Not Satisfied.
Saying 1t Is q Feeble and Inoohcrent
Compromise -The Other Papers Think
Differently. However.

NEW York, Feb. 22.--In regard 20 the
fishery treaty tho Tribune says ''rhe
State departments diplomatic triumph is
feeble and incoherent compromise. The
full text OF the fisheries treaty enables us
to understand why Secretary Bayard con-
sidors the hollow truce arranged by him a
decisive triumph. Ho has never APP
preached this subject from an American
point OF view. lie has dealt with IL as an
International quarrel caused by ambiguous
constructions OF an antiquated treaty and
by complex and ill-defned fishery rights.
lie has regarded II rs technical contro-
yemy which could be settled by new and
more cupiul definitions OF those rights and
by more elastic constructions Of the dis
puted clauses Of the treaty Of 1918. lie
has negotiated convention on this basis
3 defining the threc-milc limit, compromis-
ing the hoadlands question and designating
certain commercial privileges In addition TO
the right conferred upon American fisher
men seventy years ago, to obtain shelter,
cpairs, wood and water In Can
adian waters. From his own point
Of view he has succeeded fairly
well In adjusting these technical
qucstjons; but even II he has done this
he has failed TO yindicute the honor OF the
nation by defending tho rights Of citizens
engaged in lawful calling. He has iniled
10 do this because he has never perceived
that the honor Of the nation had been
compromised by the outragcs on the Can
ndinn scaboard. He has approached the
subject IN the spirit Of pcitifoging law
yer, bent upon splitting hairs over tcchni-
cal points, and not ns the patriotic repre-
sentative OF q great nation undor obllga-
lions TO resent insults TO the flag and
vanton interference with established
rights and international comfy. The
most valid objection 10 the treaty is this
patent fact-ihat nearly all these ouiragcs
and indignitics can be repeated under II
with the same IMMUNITY M before. The
technical questions relating 10 the three
mile limit, the hcadlands claim and the
brcadth OF the bays, closed against Amer.
can fishermen, did not affect one seizure
n the twcnty made In 1890.
III certain commercial privileges have
been added 10 the four treaty rights Of
shelter, repairs, wood and water the
the proclamatlons OF 1880, relating 10
maritime reciprocity; and even II they did
not, the rights under the treaty Of 1918
wem wantonly denied aud any new privi-
ice,s conferred by the Chamberlain. llayard
convention may prove equally worthless.
The Canadian government with those Gus.
toms regulations deliberately hnrassod and
prosecuted American fishermen IN order
10 force the United States "a take OF the
duty ON flsh. That was theirobjectivc point,
and u will be again, treaty or no treaty.
Indeed by the provisions for tonnage dues
10 be paid to Canadian officials, Secretary
Hayard arms them with new facilities for
operating against American fishermen.
There Is nothing In this treaty To pre-
vent the recurrence OF outrngcs on the
dominion scaboard. II In a convention
that viii be ~ unpopular In Canada as In
New England. II does not offer basis for
The permanent settlement of the fisheries
question. u should bo sunimaIily rejected
by patriotic and scli.respccting Senate,
which proposes lar more adequate meth
oil Of protecting American fishing rights"
The Hrfdld spyE 1--WE advise the fish
crnen Of New England Ia examine this
treaty carefully before they allow Republic.
can clamor ~ lead them 10 find fault with
H. II seems Ia ms 81 remedy all their lust
grievances. and We advise them not 10 for
pct that the country NJ large has never be-
como very deeply excited over their com
plants, and ilini II they should now show
themselves unreasonable, they will lose
even the moderate public sympathy which
was With thom."
The Inns ayE "This treaty has nj.
really bcen heartily opposed and bitterly
criticised by some 81 the Republican soma
tor, particularly those representing the
fisheries Interests. This opposition II nat.
uml though Il II inconsistent. We do
not believe Il " Misc, aud hope u may not
h. shared 10y enough other Republicans to
defeat the treaty. We obtain under this
agreement grcnier advantages than have
ever bccn accorled eoirOcly before. These
Include everything thnt has been claimed
by us, with the exception of fishing In u
Nlslivcly limited ana. They included the
abolition OF the hcadland theory, and
nearly complete fr'cdom 81 intercourse.
with the exception Of The purchase Of bait
and like supplies. We cannot hope 90 Oh.
tain better Terms by mutual agreement ID
h open 10 Us NJ any time TO obtain all We
have ever wished by the nopcal Of tie duty
ca Canadian fish. which, "a 10 most Of the
prodnct, is cent a pound. The alicfna.
live 10 the ratification Of the trnty IL the
ruopcnlng and indefinite prolongition Of a
vcxcd, complicated and, In our opinion,
usclcss and scnscless quarrel. We DO not
believe the American people desire thai"
The World announces la ~ editorial col.
umns that The treaty y published in full on
smother page, bat makes no comment ON
thc diameter Of the document.