New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-05
RETALIATION DISCUSSED.
cLEvELAND's "PoLIcYn DIssECTED BY Hrrf
DEMOCRATIC "srAGE THUNDER" EXPOSED -
M'cREARY's wEARIsoME sPEEcH-A PAIN
FUL LACK OF DEMOCRATIC INTEREST,"
THE PRESIDENT FISHING FOR
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WASHINGTON. Sept 4.-Whcn Acting Chairman
McCrcary of the Foreign Affairs Committee, ross
behind big pile Of manuscript to-day TO open tho
debate in the House on the Retaliation bill nearly
onc-ffth of the Democratic Representatives were in
their seats. There we.e not 50 many when he SAT
down. painful lack Of Democratic interest In
the measure was apparent All the enthusiasm,
real or simulated with which the Retaliation mes
sage was hailed when it appeared has evaporatcd,
and tho partsans of the Administration seem fuhy
TO realize that that campaign dodge was Ilac
failure
Before the debate began Chairman Belmone
showed symptoms of extreme nervousness and ne
watched McCreary, who stood guard over the big
pile of manuscript, and kept an eve on William Ia
Scott who sat near him. The Democratic mem
hers OF Foreign Affsirs had come TO the COM
cluson that Scott needed careful watching to pro-
vent him from capturing the bill and making of
with IT, At least McCrcary rose and was recog-
nized He buttoned his coat tightly across his
ample chest thrust ono hand into his bosom,
struck Henry Clay attitude, opened his mouth
end almost Immediately put his foot In it, to
declared that President Cleveland had assumed q
firm end courageous attitude and that his free-
Trade message and Retaliation message will wander
Gown the corridors OF umc Unkcu togth't hN"
Samese twins an never be forgotten Tho
coupling OF the two documents was unfortunate
for Mr. McCraary as he discovered after Mr.. Hits
began his reply Tac Kentuslan's speech was
little else than spiritess tame and cold rchash OF
the message and was wcarisome in the extreme.
Mr. McCrcary did not bore the House with acgu-
ment but treated it to some trite and superficial
historical observations, and some rather startling
propositions in logic. For example his examination
of the act Of 1873 and the Joint rcso-
luton Of 1883 had convinced him that
the authors of those measures had Article
xxx of the Treaty Of Washington before them
and therefore" that article fell' when Congress
directed President Arthur 10 give notice OF the
termination of Articles XVIII TO XIV and Article
Xxx of the Treaty. The few Democrats present
sat in gloomy silence during the delivery Of
McCnary's speech, but they rewarded him with
a round Of applause when he sat down.
SHARP THRUsTs BY MR.. HIT.
There was visible increase of interest when
Mr.. Hit rose TO continue the debate. The sub
icct is one with which he is thoroughly familiar.
and his experience in the State Department and
the diplomatic service has given him an insight
into such questions which enables him TO make
them interesting. In his speech to-day he thor
oughly dissected the Administration policy in
regard TO the Fisheries controversy from tho
beginning, and was repeatedly appauded by the
Republicans. Mr. Hit declared that it was
gratifying 10 find that the President at last had
assumed the attitude Of an Amcrican-even II only
under the stress of political campaign emergency
and that he has abandoned. at least temporarily.
the policy of Offering to pay for rights which the
United States had asserted from the beginning
down TO the time Of the attempted frce-trade
dicxcr with Canada and Great Britain. The
treaty is dead to be sure, but IL has left on record
some most damaging admissions from the EXecu-
tive Department oil the Government. The Demo.
cratic party IN and out OF Congress had applauded
and defended the proposed treaty and In tho
House had voted for bill to remit duties on
Canadian goods which amounted last year 10
81, 100000 without receiving any bcneht IN re-
turn. Now the same party, following the Presi-
dents lead, shouts for greater measure OF retail-
atior and declares that Cleveland has taken the
British Lion by the snout' probably to cram that
81, 500. 900 per annum down his hungry throat.
Mr. Hit then went into an exhaustive argu-
ment to show that Article xxx of the Treaty
of S7l had not been abrogated and stated that
last year the President had approved OF the BEL
mont bill, which contained an express recognition
of that article. When the House passed tho
Retaliation act, great pains were taken to avoid
infringing on the AXlAth Article, and the
two nations had considered 1t as a
strong sound pledge of their mutual faith:
Now came the revelation that 1t had died IN tho
night. 1t was evident from the remarks OF the
Canadian Ministers that they had not heard the
news from Washington The Canadian authori-
transit in bond and the obligation was not binding
the United States. If 1t chose to assert IT'S
ghts. The authority the Pre- ldent asked he
possessed already, Tor the Retaliation act gave him
enormous power by which he. might exclude not
only Canadian vessels from our ports and Canadian
products from our country. but any goods coming
from Canada of foreign production
lie commented on the fact that the President
in his message laid stress on the enlargement OF
his power to stop traffic in bond. The PRACTICAL
result of an interruption of traffic IN bond would
hurt the people of the United States materially,
especially the people of the, great Northwest.
10 prevent the tendency of the people 10 press
in sympathy into the mighty American empire
VAS the effort Of every Canadian statesman. and
the provinces had been bound together by costly
and Improbable railroads. Stop the transit IN
bond and those roads would be ovcriOwing with
business The President had used the words,
visiting on the offending parties The fishermen
were the offending parties. stop the transit IN
bond and the offending larties would be rewarded
and the harbors of Halifax and ST Johns would
be turned into prosperous centres OF new life and
wealth. The people of the Northwest would be
hurt it, of ali the methods of retaliation at his
DISPOSAL the President should be so nudclous
rs to select this He would take away tho
competition of the Canadian lines and would mako
the trunk lines master Of the situation, and they
would he able to dictate such terms as they pleased
10 the producers Of the Northwest. Ii would not
be long before in other and better hands, an
Administration would take the matter up and
bring il to n satisfactory Just and honorable
cluSion. lie hoped that when men ceased To regard
Presidents messages as campaign documents and
clectionecrng devices the question would be
solved permanently for the manifest good OF both
parties and the permanent peace Of both nations
Mr.. Phelps and Mr.. Belmont will speak on the
subject tomorrow.
MR. BLAIR LAYS OUT MR. REAGAN
THE TEXAN OVERCOME AT EVERY PoINT-REA.
CANS VERACITY ESTABLISHED.
.tnh