Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-08-29
WANTS TO STRIKE boS,>..

the Senate Of the Fisheries Treaty-Ho
Asks for ImmediHte Legislation to En-.
able Him to Put Into Emeot, ut HIS Dis
oretl0n, . Policy OF Retaliation Against
Canada-The Senate Takes Occasion to
Snub the Executive-A Bill In Accord
ance with the Presidents Recommends
lions Introduced In the House.
WARRINGTON, Aug. M.-The President
yesterday afternoon sent long message
TO Congress in regard to the rejected
fisheries treaty, and recommending that
power be given the Executive to sus-
pend the laws allowing the transit in
bond across United States territory
Of goods going to or coming from Canada.
The President, after referring to the in
juries and annoyances which led up to the
negotiation o. the treaty, and expressing
his belief that the rejected treaty was I'D
equate for the settlement OF the difficulty
without sacrificing our National dignity,
says: :5.s. ~ ,:- n. .,,m...-
liam quite conscious tn at neither my opin.
Ion Of the value Of the rejected treaty nor the
motives which prompted its negotiation are OF
Importance in the light OF the Judgment OF the
Senate thereupon. But 1t 10 OF Importance to
note that this treaty has been rejected with
out any apparent disposition on the part OF
the Senate to alter or amend its provisions,
and with the evident intention, not wanting
expression, that no negotiation should ut pres
emit be concluded touching the matter at issue.
"The cooperation necessary for tho adjust
ment Of the long standing National differences
with which we have to deal, by methods of con-
ference and agreement, having thus been de-
clned, am by no means disposed to abandon
the interests and the rights of our people in the
premises or to neglect their grievances, and
therefore turn to the contemplation of q plan of
retaliation rs q mode which still remains OF
treating the situation. lam not unmindful OF
the gravity of the responsibility assumed in
adopting this line of conduct, nor do fail in
the least to appreciate It's serious conse-
Quences. 1t will be impossible to injure our
Canadian neighbors by retaliatory measures
without infiicting some damage upon our own
citizens.
"Plainly stated, the policy OF National retail
iation manifest,y embraces the infliction OF the
greatest harm upon those who have injured us
with the least possible damage to ourselves.
There also IN evident propriety, as well % an
invitation to moral support, found in visiting
upon the offending party the same measure or
KIND of treatment OF which we complain and
Is far rs possible within the same lines. And
above III things, the plan OF retaliation, IT en-
tered upon should be thorough and gorous.
'Those considerations lead me at tn time
to invoke the aid and counsel OF the Congress
and its support in such q further grant of
power as seems to me necessary and desirable
to rendor effective the policy I have indi-
ccted."
The President then refers 70 the Retail
alton act passed in March, 1887, and argues
that its enforcement in such manner as
would result in the least possible injury
to our own people would prove inadequate
for the accomplishment of the purpose do
sired. The message says:
'While shall not hesitate upon proper ocoa-
sions TO enforce this act, it would seem to DO
to suggest that. II such enforce
ment IL limited in such q manner as shall re-
suit in the least possible injury to our own peo.
pie, the effect would probably be entirely mad
eQuate to the accomplishment Of the purpose
desired.
II deem It my duty, therefore, to call tho at
tention of Congress to certain particulars in
the action Of the authorities OF the dominion of
Canada, In addition to the general allegations
already made, which appear TO be in such
sit on OF our country as, in my opinion, to call
for such legislation as will, upon the principles
already stated, properly supplement the power
to inau2urate retaliation, already vested IN the
Executive"
The message quotes the twenty-ninth
article of the treaty of 1871. allowing the
passage in bond across the United States
territory of goods destined for Canada,
and comforting q like privilege upon goods
passing through Canada and des-
tined for the United States. Since
1856, the President says, this privi-
lege has been denied to American
fishermen, and since then they have not
been allowed to ship their fish in bond
through Canadian territory to this coun-
try. After stating that the value of
British Canadian exports and imports car
ried across American territory during the
last six years was $27O, OOO, 900 (nearly all
OF which was dutiable goods), the Presi
dent says:
II recommend immediate legislative action
comforting upon the Executive power to sus-
pend by proclamation the operation of all laws
and regulations permitting the transit OF goods,
wares and merchandise in bond across or over
the territory of the United States to or from
Canada.
"There need be no hesitation in suspendlng
these laws arising from the supposition that
their continuation is secured by treaty obliga-
lions, for it seems quite plain that article % of
the treaty Of 1871, which was the only article
Incorporating such laws, Terminated the list Of
July, 1885, The article itself declares that
its provisions shall be in force for the term
OF years meat oned IN article IS Of this treaty.
Turning to article SO We find NO mention of the
tWonIy-nlnt0 0EuClo, OUT only provision tn8C
articles 16 to rs, inclusive, and article 30
shall take effect Is soon as the laws re.
Quired to carry them into operation shall be
passed by the legislative bodies OF the different
countries concerned, and that they shall 70
main In force for ten years from the date at
which they may come Tito operation, and
further until the expiration Of two years after
either OF the high contracting parties shall
have given notice to the other Of fts wish to
terminate the same.
II am of the opinion that the term Of years
mentioned in art Gle 50 referred to in article 20
40 the limit Of its duration means the period
during which articles 10 to rs inclusive, and
article 80, commonly called the fishery arti-
cles,' shall continue In force under the Ian
guage OF said art Gle 81"
The President also quotes to the same Of
feet from the law passed by Congress to
carry the treaty into effect, and continues:
I'm any event, and whether the law of 1878
construes the treaty or governs it, sect on %
Of such treaty. I have no doubt, terminated
With tho proceedings taken by our Govern.
ment to terminate articles Is to Is, inclusive,
and article 50 Of the treaty. These
proceedings had their inception in q
Joint resolution of Congress, passed May 3,
1888. declaring that in the judgment Of Con-
gress these articles ought to BE- terminated, and
directing the President to give the notice to
the Government OF Great Britain provided for
IN article SO Of the treaty. Such notice having
been Rven two years prior to the list day Of