The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-25
TOO MUCH FOR EN-.
Republican Senators Are Troubled.
Their Silly Twaddle About the Mes
sage Amounts to Nothing.
Even In Their Partisan Combative-
ness They Make Confession
That 1t Is an Admirable, Patriotic
and Time State Document.
The Truth is They Have Had the Tables
Turned on Them and They Tremble
at the Strengthened Demo-
cratic Chances.

WASHINGTON, Aug, H.-[Senate. l-Im-
mediately after the reading OF the journal,
y the message from the President on the
subject of the rejection Of the fisheries
-thtaty was laid before the Senate and was
read in full by the clerk.
The reading was listened to by Senators
on both sides of the chamber with close
attention. When ii came to a close Mr..
Sherman moved that it be printed and re-
ferred to the committee on foreign rela-
tons.
Mr.. Edmunds-0n that motion would
like to say word, although am in favor
OF ii. II had been five or six years
younger than | am, | should have been
surprised at that message. But | am not
so, and am only very highly gratifed at
the patriotic expression Of hopes, wishes,
almost intentions Of the President OF the
United States in reference to the protection
OF American interests and American rights.
But the popularity Of the situation, as II
seems TO me, is that having had a statute
providing for self defence approved by
the President OF the United States, and
passed by the substantially unanimous
vote Of both Houses, II that made any diff
ference TO his duty in faithfully executing
the laws, and after full consideration OF
all its points and bearing the extent TO
which il should 90, the object TO which il
should be limited, and the circumstances
under which II should be brought into
play, eighteen months, in round numbers,
have gone by, and We are now informed
by the President OF the United States, for
take IL that that is what he means. al
though no word OF that kind is in the mes
sage, that no step Of any kind has been
taken 10 carry into execution the plain pro-
visions OF the law. II is true that the law
did not require the President 10 put into
effect in the way OF self defense, rs ! pre-
ict.to call IL, rather than retaliation, until
case should have. arisen OF wrong and in
Justice, which should satisfy him that
American rights and interests were being
unjus,ly dealt with. Now, what has hap
pened since the passage of that act? II
nothing has happened, II there have been
no instances Of injustice, OF denial
oi American rights, OF unjust treatment,
oi American citizens in the provinces Of
the dominion, then, OF course, the nrcs-
dent has been entirely right in taking no
steps in respect 30 the matter. II, how
ever, in his opinion las he now states ~,
there have been instances OF denial oi Just
rights TO American citizens engaged in the
business described in the act Of 1857, why
is il that the President has not taken any
step i'm the exercise Of the power which
the law imposed upon him aud IN the cx-
orrisc Of the high duty which the consli-
tuition imposes upon him, Of taking care
that the laws are faithfully executed?
iicre was law he was TO execute when
the contingency should arise, or on the
existence OF a particular fact and when lac
was satisfied that the fact existed, then IL
was made his duty TO take steps 10 obtain
redress in the method which the statute
pointed out. So that We have now the
case Of a period Of nearly eighteen months
during which, rs lac states IN his message,
action has been called for. Why has he
been silent for eighteen months with the
whole power OF the law In his hands! Aud
why has lac remained inactiyc2 Doubtless
under the patriotic advice OF the gentle
mon who compose his Cabinet and doubt
less with the most patriotic motives that
IL might be best to submit 10 what II now
declared 10 bc a gross aud gricyous wrong,
with the means NJ hand 10 redress Il or 90
defend against H. and 90 enter into dis
cussion with the wrong d0cr 10 provide
for new arrangement on broader basis
of British tcrrtorality and an arrangement
-. a broader basis oi British free trade,
/ confess my asiOnishmcnt nt such course
ON the part OF the President ] must cX'
prcss my surprise and rcgrct-not, using
The language ot the message, the regret ol
n partisan, but the regret o., citizen, thai
for more than year, with the means u
his hand 20 redress IL, hC has failed tu tax,
nny step and now sends tn us n message
asking that additional powers bearing, %.
hc supposes. on q broader field Of rctglia
tion, and covering other topics, be gycr
him. And | must suppose, under the
principle which he has already acted upon
that until these powers are given 10 him
bc will do nothing at all. We find In thu
message, a thing 10 which ] want 30 cal
spccial attention, discussion ~ &
whether the twcnty.ninth article OF th
treaty Of 1871 Is IN force or not The Cana
dian government has not refused 10 trans
ship fish on the ground that that arlicl
Was not IN force. IL has made no sucl
pfutcnsion. II has refused 10 trlns.shil
iish on the ground that that ariiclcdid no
override the convention oi ISIS 10y WhicI
an American fishing vessel was not {
come Nlllllll Nllf AlllfN-llAiIN llNAlAs " ~
The Canadian authorities denied 10 Amer
can fishermen the right 10 trans-ship thci
fsh from Halifax to Boston or New York
the President was justified in dcnyingan
Il was his duty 10 deny 10 Canadian iis
Transportation across our country or an
other Canadian goods, just ~ far aud a
fast ns he should deem II an adequate .,
dress for the wrong committed on us.
WAS within the competency and was th
duty Of the resident 10 inform the Brit
ish government that We regarded th
tventy-ninth article OF the treaty "a y
longer In force because 1t could not be !
force ON the one side and not the oih'
side at the same time, and Il is that whic
previous Presidents and Secretaries
---fta,c have done 10 the honor aud bcne'
OF the American name aud American u
tercsts. As We stand now, We have got
the only fishing wrong which the Pre-.
dent mentions, ~ Of crying and great IN
poriance, and Il is one, the denial by u
Canadian authorities persisted IN, ~ u
President says, from 1856 till now and sti
continued, OF tn right OF Amer
can fishermen 10 trans-ship th,
fsh from Halifax to Bosl'