Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-08-24
WASHINGTON.
The Dignity of the Nation
Upheld,
THE MESSAGE TO CONGRESS-
What the President Says About the
Rejection of the Fish
cries Treaty.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

cries Treaty.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
WASHINGTON, August 23.-The Presi-
dent sent the following message to Con-
gress this afternoon:
To the Congress of the United States:
The rejection by the Senate of the
treaty negotiated for the settlement and
adjustment of the differences existing be-
tween the United States and Great Bri.
tain concerning the rights and privileges
of the American Fishermen in the ports
and waters of British North America
seems to justify q survey of the condition
to which the pending question is thus re
mitted. The treaty, upon the subject,
concluded in 1918, through disagreements
as to the meaning of its terms, has been
fruitful Sc urte Of irritation and trouble.
Our citizens engaged in fishing in the
waters adjacent to Canada have been
subjected to numerous veXatious, inter-
ferences and annoyances. Their vessels
have been seized upon pretexts which
appeared to be entirely inadmissible, and
they have been otherwise treated by the
Canadian auth orities and officials in q
manner inexcusably harsh and oppres-
i've. This conduct has been iusti-
fed by Great Britain and Canada
by the claim that the treaty
of 1878 permitted it, and upon the ground
lection of Canadian interests. We deny
that the treaty agreements justify these
acts, and further maintain that, aside
from any restraints of disputed interpre-
tation, the relative positions of the
United States and Canada as near neigh.
bors, the growth of our ,int commerce,
the development and prosperity of both
countries, which amicable relations sure
ly guarantee, and above all, the liberal.
ity always extended by the United States
to the people of Canada, furnish ties fol-
kindness and consideration
BETTER THAN TREATY COVENANTS.
While keenly sensitive to all that was
exasperating in the condition, and by nc
means indisposed to support the Jus,
complaints of our injured citizens, still
deemed it my duty to attempt by negoti.
ations to remedy the existing wrongs,
and finally to eliminate by fair and just
treaty those ever.recurring causes oil
difficulty. l fully believe the treaty just
rejected by the Senate was we'll suited
to the exigency, and that it's pro.
visions were adequate for security
in future from vexa'ious incidents
and for the promotion of friendly neigh.
borhood and intimacy, without sacrificing
in the least our National pride or dignity
1t is OF importance to note that this has
been effected without any apparent dis.
position on the part of the Senate to
amend its provisions, and with the evi.
dent intention that no negotiations should
at present be concluded touching the
matter at issue. l am by no means dis
posed to abandon the interests and rights
OF our people in the premises, or neglect
their grievances, and therefore turn tc
the contemplation of
THE PLAN OF RETALIATION
Which still remains of treating the sit.
uation. | am not unmindful of the
gravity of tho responsibility assumed in
the adoption of this line of conduct, nor
do | fail to appreciate it's seriousness. II
will be impossible to injure our Canadian
neighbors by retaliatory measures with
out infiicting some damage upon
our own citizens. The policy of
retaliation embraces the infiction
of the greatest harm upon those who
have injured us with the least possible
damage to ourselves, and above all things
the plan OF retaliation, if entered upon,
should be thorough and vigorous. These
considerations lead me to invoke the aid
and counsel of Congress and it's support
IN such further grant of power as seems
necessary and desirable to render effec.
tive the policy have indicated. Con.
gress has already passed law providing
that in the case American fishing ves-
sells be in, or visiting on the waters, or at
any OF the ports of the British dominions
OF North America, should be, or have
been lately deprived of the rights which
they were entitled by law, or if they
were denied other privileges therein
specified, the President might deny to
vessels, and their masters and crews, OF
the British dominions of North America
any entrance into the water, ports or
harbors of the United States, and also de-
ny entry into any port or place of the
United States of any product OF said do
minions, or other goods coming from
there to the United States, While I
shall not hesitate upon proper occasions
to enforce this act, it would seem neces-
sary to suggest that if its enforcement is
limited in such manner as shall result
in the least possible injury to our own
people, it would propably be
~ ENTIRELY INADEQUATE.
To the accomplishment of it's urposes
l deem it my duty. therefore, to call the
attention of Congress to certain particu.
lars 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 marked contrast to
the friendly position of our country, as.
in my opinion, to call for such legislation
as will, upon the principles already
stated, properly supplement the power to
inaugurate the retaliation already vested
in the Executive. Actuated by the gem
erous spirit which has characterized our
legislation, our tariff laws have since
1865 been so far waived in favor of
Canada as to allow free of duty the tram
sit across the territory of the United
States of property arriving at our ports
and destined to Canada, or exported
from Canada to other countries.
The President here quotes the twenty
ninth article of the treaty OF Washington,
between the United States and Great
Britain, negotiated in 1871, which he
says was largely modification of the
treaty of 1878, in which the privileges
referred to were made reciprocal and
given by Canada to the United States.
Continuing the Presidents message saws
DnrinO the last sir noufhc tbo ~, ,,r~t,