The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-08-30
MESSAGE,
A Policy of National Retaliation
the Only Course Open to
the Administration.
An Extension of the Power Con
ferred by the Retaliatory
Act Requested.

WASHINGTON, August 25.-tOlloWlng is
the message of President Cleveland on the
fisheries question. 1t has created greater
excitement than any measure presented
to congress for twenty years. The DEM
ocrats are jubilant, while the republicans
are dismayed and crest-fallen:
To the congress-The rejection by the
senate of the treaty lately negotiated for
the settlement and adjustment of the
difficulties existing between the United
States and Great Britain, concerning the
rights and privileges of American fisher
men in the ports and waters of British
North America, seems to justify a survey
of the condition to which the pressing
question is thus brought.
The treaty upon this subject concluded
in 1918, though disagreements as to the
meaning of its terms have been a fruitful
source of irritation and trouble. OuI
citizens engaged in fishing enterprise In
waters adjacent to Canada have been sub
jected to numerous vexatious interterences
and annoyances; their vessels have been
seized upon pretexts which appeared to
be entirely inadmissable, and they have
been otherwise treated by the Canadian
authorities and officials in manner
1NExoUsABLY HARSH AND OPPRESSIVE.
This conduct has been justified by
Great Britain and Canada by the claim
that the treaty of 1918 permitted it and
upon the ground that it was necessary to
the proper protection of Canadian in
terests. We deny that treaty agreements
Justify these acts, and we further main
tain that aside from any treaty restraints
of disputed interpretations, the relative
positions of the United States and Canada
as neighbors, the growth of our joint
commerce, the development and prosperity
of both countries, which amicable rela-
tions surely guarantee, and above all the
liberality always extended by the United
States to the people of Canada, furnished
motives for kindness and consideration
higher and better than treaty covenants.
While keenly sensible to all that was
exasperating in the condition, and by no
means indisposed to support the just
complaints of our injured fishermen,
still deemed it my duty, for the preserva-
tion of important American interests
which were directly involved, and in view
of all the details of the situation, to
attempt by negotiation to remedy existing
wrongs, and to finally terminate by
FAIR AND JUST TREATY
these ever recurring cases of difficulty,
1 fully believe that the treaty just rejected
by the senate was we'll suited to the
exigency, and that It's provisions were
adequate for our security in the future
from vexatious incidents and for the
promotion of friendly neighborhood and
intimacy without sacrificing in the least
our national pride or dignity.
I am quite conscious that neither my
opinion 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 there
upon. But it is of importance to note
that this treaty has been rejected without
any apparent disposition on the part of
the senate to alter or amend its pro-
visions and with the evident intention,
not wanting expression, that no negotia'
ton should at present be concluded
touching the matter at issue.
The cooperation necessary for the ad-
justment of the long standing national
differences with which we have to deal, by
methods of conference and agreement
having thus been declined, 1 am by no
and the rights of our people in the
premises, or to neglect their grievances;
and l therefore turn to the contemplation
of a plan of retaliation as mode which
still remains of treating the situation.
am not unmindful of the gravity of
the responsibility assumed in adopting
this line of conduct, nor do fail in the
least to appreciate its serious conse-
quences. 1t will be impossible to injure
our Canadian neighbors by retaliatory
measures without inficting some damage
upon our own citizens. This results from
our proximity, our community of inter
ests and the inevitable commingling of
the business enterprises which have been
developed by mutual activity.
Plainly stated,
THE POLICY OF NATIONAL RETALIATION
manifestly embraces the infection of the
the greatest harm upon those who have
injured us with the least possible damage
to ourselves. There is also an evident
propriety as we'll as an invitation to moral
support found in visiting upon the Of
Tending party the same measure or kind
of treatment of which we complain, and
as far as possible within the same lines.
And above all things the plan of retalia-
tion entered upon should be thorough and
vigorous.
These considerations lead me at this
time to invoke the aid and counsel OF
congress, and its support in such further
grant of power as seems to me necessary
and desirable to render effective the policy
have indicated.
The congress has already passed law
which received executive assent on March
3, 1887, providing that, in case American
fishing vessels being or visiting in the
waters or at any Of the ports of the
British dominions of North America
should be or lately had been deprived OF
the rights to which they were entitled by
treaty or law, or if they we're denied GER
tain other privileges therein specified, Oh
vexed and hsrrassed in the enjoyment OF
the same, the president might deny tc
vessels and their masters and crews of the
British donations of North America any
entrance Into the waters, ports or harbors
of the United States, and also
DENY ENTAY INTO ANY PORT