Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-05

falia.son had come. There was nothing
left for the President now but retaliation.
At some length Mr.. McCreary described
the motive OF the various treaties and
told of the causes which had led to their
negotiation and revocation He also
touched upon the outrages COM
najtted upon the American hsn1ng
vessels by tho Canadian officials. The
bill how under consideration en-.
larged the Presidents power OF
retaliation. II was q strong but APP
propriate measure. The existing law did
not touch the transportation question,
nor did IL authorize him to meet the dis
elimination against our ships in the Ca
madam canals. Ho claimed that be was
able 10 show that Article xxx. OF the
Treaty Of Washington (Which it was as
serted by some persons was IN conflict
with the proposed legislation) was
not in force. Congress should
not forget our obligation TO the
hundred thousand men engaged In
the fisheries-a number sufficient to
insure an interest In their welfare. Our
Legislation should prove that We are IN
earnest The bill was not war mea~
sure it was a peace measure when it
became a law. dc hoped that the usual
wisdom Of tho Canadian and the Eng
lish Governments would manifest itself,
and that tho existing difficulties would
be early adjusted. But lot the result he
what il might, the President would be
supported by the people OF the United
States without regard TO party. There
would be no division ON sectional lines,
but the men of the South and the men
OF the North would stand shoulder to
shoulder in solid phalanx to defend
American rights and American honor.
[Applnuse. :,
Mr.. Hit. of Illinois, next addressed
the House, and commented upon the
fact that the Presidents fisheries mes
SAGE had been received with partisan APP
plause. and that one, Democratic MEM
Der. had declared that it was good cam
paien document. He was not willing to
accept the proposition, coming even from
n trend OF the President, that the mes
SAGE was an electioneering device-lt
must still be considered q presidential
message.
Mr.. HIT went into an exhaustive argu-
ment to show that Article xxx. OF the
treaty of 1871 had not been abrogated,
and stated that last year the President
had approved of the Belmont bill, which
contained an express recognition OF the
twentv-ninth article. President Cleveland
thought hist year that the twenty ninth
article was valid. When the House passed
retaliation act great pains were taken
to avoid infringing on tho twenty-nlnth
article, and the two nations had conceded
itasa strong, sound pledge of their mutual
faith Now comes the revelation that it
had died in a night, oil the world uncon-
scious OF the fact. 1t was evident from re-
marks OF Canadian ministers that they
had not heard the news from Washing
ton. But there was no necessity for
resorting to any bubble to justify the
action of Congress in comforting retala-
tory power on the President. The
Canadian authorities had disregarded
their obligations III regard to the
transit in bond, and the obligation
was not binding on the United States
if it choose to assert its rights. The au-
thority the President asked he possessed
already, for the retaliation act gave him
vast and enormous power, by winch
he might exclude not only Canadian
vessels from our ports aud Canadian pro-
ducts from our country, but any goods
coming from Canada of foreign produc-
ton. Mr.. Chapman, of Michigan, de
clared that the honor OF the country
must always be asserted with that deco
run which became her dignity. She was
70 strong that she might be forbearng
without being suspected OF cowardice
and patient without insuring the re-
proach of ignorance. 1t WAS IN that
spirit the United States oughttO treat the
Canadian people. 1t was to the interest
of both nations that their relations
should be friendly. Perhaps the Cana
dams had mistaken patience for fear (;
perhaps the intense "Jingoism OF the
party in power IN the Dominion
made it believe in Its power to
drive hard bargains. However that
might be, American citizens had been
uniustly treated, and he favored the
pending bill, which gave the President
power 10 resent such treatment Al
| luding TO the suggestion that two years
notice should be given to England OF the
proposed action as a matter OF diplo-
matte courtesy, he gave utterance to
the following epigram, which was
received with applause and hugh
| ter: 1.-The nearer man approaches
diplomat in form, the nearer ne IS to a
fool; and the nearer he approaches one
IN substance, the nearer he Is to a
knave." lie did not want, no said, to be
more polite to England than self-respect
required. Her foot had been on every
weak neck. She had pressed her inter
ests by the brutality of force or the
meanness of diplomacy, as circumstances
of the case required. Everywhere
she had been selfish and pitiless. She
was q monster money-changer IN Gods
temple of the earth. What honor OF our
country required he would concede to
her. and not an atom more. This bill
was in the pathway of duty, and he
would vote for it with stout heart and
q clear conscience.
Pending further debate the House, at
500 o'clock, adjourned.
Messrs. Phelps and Belmont Will
speak on the subject tomorrow.