Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-08-30
A SPECIAL MESSAGE.
The President on the Fisheries
Complications.
He Reviews the Situation In Special Mes
sage and Asks for More Specific Powers
In Protecting the Rights of Amer
lean Fishermen.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 24.-The President
sent the following message to Congress
yesterday afternoon:
To the Congress: The rejection by the Senate
Of the treaty lately negotiated for the settle
ment and adjustment of the dif1iculties existing
between the United States and Great Britain
concerning the rights and privileges OF Ameri-
can fishermen in the ports and wa ers OF British
North America, seems to justify a survey OF the
condition 10 which the pending question is
thus RENTED The treaty upon this subject,
concluded in 1873 through disagreements as
70 the meaning OF its terms. has been fruit
full source OF irritation and trouble. Our
citizens engaged in fishing emit rprises in waters
adjacent to Canada have been subjected TO
numerous vexatious interferences and an
noyances; 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 a manner inexcusa-
bly, harsh and oppressive. This conduct has
been justified by Great Britain and Canada by
the claim that the treaty OF 1878 permitted il,
and upon the ground that 1t was necessary 10
the proper protection of Canadian interests.
We deny that treaty agreements justify these
acts, and We further maintain that. aside from
any treaty restraints of disputed Interpretation,
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 relations surely
guarantee, and. above all, the hberality 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 sensitive to all that was exas-
perat1ng in the condition. and by no means in
disposed to support the just complaints of our
injured citizens, still deemed 1t my duty for
the preservation of important American inter
ests which were directly involved and in view
OF all the details OF the situation. to attempt by
remedy existing
finally terminate by fair and just treaty, these
ever recurring causes OF difhculty. fully be-
leved that the treaty just rejected by the
Senate well suited to the exigency and
that its provisions were adequate for our
security in the future from vexatious in
cidents and for the promotion of friendly
neighborhood and intimacy, without
sacrificing IN the least our National pride or
dignity. 1 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 thereupon. but it is OF importance
to notice that this treaty has been rejected
without any apparent disposition on the part of
the Senate to alter or amend its provisions
and with the evident intention, not wanting ex-
preston. that no negotiation should at present
be concluded touching the matter at issue.
The cooperation necessary for the adjust
ment of the long standing National differences
with which We have to deal by methods OF con-
ference and agreement having thus been de-
the interests and rights OF our people in the
premises or TO neglect their grievances. and
| therefore turn TO the contemplation OF plan
OF retaliation as mode which still remains OF
| treating the situation. 1 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 inture
! our Canadian neighbors by retaliatory meas
| ures without infiicting some damage upon
citizens
proximity, community OF interests and
| the inevitable commingling OF the business en-
| terprises which have been developed by our
mutual activity. Plainly stated, the policy of
National retaliation manifestly embraces the
infiiction Of the greatest harm upon the sea to
those who have injured Us, with the least posi-
| BILE damage to ourselves.
| There is also an evident propriety as well as
an invitation to moral support found in visiting
| upon the offending 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 retaliation, If en-
| tered upon should be thorough and vigorous.
| These considerations lead me at the same
| time to invoke the aid and counsel OF the Con-
gress and its support in such a further grant of
| power seems to me necessary and desirable
to render effective the policy have indicated.
| The Congress has already passed a law, which
| received executive assent on March 8, 1887,
| providing that in case American fishing YES
| sells, being or visiting in the waters or at any
|
| America, should be or lately had been deprived
1 OF the rights to which they were entitled by
| treaty or law, If they were denied certain
other privileges therein specified, or II Vexed
| or harassed in the enjoyment OF the same,
the President might deny to vessels and their
masters and crews Of the British dominions
| OF North America any entrance into the
| waters, ports or harbors OF the United States
| and also deny entry into any port or place OF
the United States of any product OF said Do
minionS other goods coming from said Do
minions to the United States. While shall
| not hesitate upon proper occasions to enforce
| this act, it would seem to be unnecessary TO
| suggest that if such enforcement is limited in
| such manner as shall result in the least pos
sible injury to our own people, the effect would
| probably be entirely inadequate to the accom-
plishment of the purpose desired deem it
my duty, therefore, to call the attention OF
! Congress to certain particulars 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 con-
| trast to the liberal and friendly disposition OF
| our country as in my opinion to call for such
| legislation as will, upon the principle already
| stated, properly supplement the power to in
augurate retaliation already vested in the ex-
Actuated by the generous and neighborly
spirit which has characterized our legisla-
| ton, our tariff laws have since 1866 been so
free of duty the transit across the territory OF
the United States OF proDerty arriving at our
ports and destined to Canada or exported
| from Canada to other countries. When the
| tt aty OF Washington was negotiated in 1871
! between the United States and Great Britain.
| having for its object very largely the
| modification OF that treaty OF 1918, the
| privileges above referred to were made
reciprocal and given in return by Canada to the
! United States. in the following language, con-
tanned in the twenty-ninth article of SAID treaty
1T is agreed that for the term of years men,
toned in article IS OF this treaty. goods, wares
| or merchandise arriving at the ports OF New
! York, Boston and Portland. and any other ports
| in the United States which may have been, or
| which may be, from time TO time, especially
| designated by the President OF the United
States. and destined for her Britannia Majesty s
! possessions in North America, may be
| entered at the proper custom house and con-
] yaved In transit without tho o=vrnent NJ