Omaha daily bee., 1888-07-18
Bayard's Lame Defense.

The speech OF Senator Hoar on the
fisheries treaty, which necessarily in
volved n criticism of the administra-
ton, drew out from Secretary Bayard
an attempted defense which we have no
doubt the best friends of the premier OF
the cabinet will admit he would have
been wiser to have withheld. The ar
raigninent made by the Massachusetts
senator was exceedingly severe, per-
haps in some respects o much so, but
we cannot find in the effort at defense
made by the secretary of state that it
was not without substantial grounds.
On the contrary, some of the
most important OF the state
ments made by Senator Hoar are
virtually admitted by Secretary Bay
ard, while as to the others, if the sena-
tor erred it was simply because the
state department had withheld from the
country Information which 1t was enti-
tied to.
1t is pretty clearly shown by the in
terview with Secretary Bayard-which
uuder the circumstances is entitled to
just as much credence as a statement
over his own signature-that the COM
mission on the part Of the United States
to arrange the fisheries controversy, of
which Mr.. Bayard was the head and
spokesman, was not the equal in diplo-
matte ability Of the British pleni-
potentiarles. The fact is made evident
by the admissions of Mr.. Bayard
that the most important concessions
were made by the representatives Of the
United States, and that where there
vas really any vital issue it was this
country that yielded. The spirit which
appeared to control the American rep
r~esentatives was that OF compromise,
and quite naturally Chamberlain and
his associates took advantage of this.
The concessions were, OF course, not all
on one side, but the best OF them were
not in favor of this country.
The claim OF Secretary Bayard that
the administration is jealous of the
rights of American seamen and has
maintained them will not stand the test
of investigation. 1t Is q matter of gen.
eral knowledge that the administration
showed a complete apathy and indiffer-
ence regarding the rights OF American
fishermen until it was most vigorously
| spurred to interest by the universal
popular condemnation of its conduct
and the action of congress providing for
q policy of retaliation in the event of a
continuance by Canada Of its outrages
in palpable defiance of treaty obliga-
tions. Never in its history was the
country more completely Inundated
thar by tho liberation of the abuses
heaped upon American fishermen by
the Canadian authorities-abuses which
any other self-~respccting nation would
have resented in the most forci-
BILE manner. Bnt the administra-
ton was satisfied with forwarding to
the British government some mild pro-
tests, which that government arrogantly
took its own time to respond to, the Can
adian authorities meantime defiantly
and i~nsolently continuing the outrages.
Secretary Bayard is himself on record
as complaining that the British govern.
ment had failed to give his commune
cations such prompt attention as the SO.
rious character Of their Representations
called for, but the administration seems
never to have realized that such treat,
ment was m insult of tho gravest
nature to the nation. In &
communication to congress regarding
this controversy, the late Secretary
Manning referred in vigorous terms tC
the neglect which the British govern
ment had shown in giving attention tc
the protests and demands of this gov.
ernmcnt, while setting forth in the
strongest language the character OF the
outrages that had been committed
Yet when congress, moved to decisive
action by this state OF affairs, author
lied the president to adopt a retaliation,
policy in tho event Of the abuses being
persisted in, the administration, in
stead OF taking steps to protec
the rights of American fishermen, in
sisted upon the observance Of treaty OBJ
legations, and to maintain the dignit,
of the government, on its own accoun
and in disregard Of the expressed viii
of congress-, opened negotiations for
commission to arrange a treaty for tn,
settlement of the controversy.
There would be no SERIOUS objection
to this If the treaty agreed OF by tn
commission was entirely fair to Ameri
can interests, ION the people of thi
country would like to see the Issue set
tied on q just basis. but it is apparent
even from the admissions Of Secretar
Bayard, that under the treaty sub
mitted TO the senate the Unite
States would be placed at