Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-09-15
HGE FISHERIES QUESTION
afse Matter Under Discussion ia ths LOG
Hot4se of Coaqress

afse Matter CHder Discussion ia das Losce
&ottse Of Congress.
The retaliation bill being under dis
cussion III the house ON the 4th, Nc
CreaTy explained and defended th,
measure, and controyerted the state.
ment that the president had already suf
Heient authority to act under the law Of
1881. He believed that article 90 of the
treaty died when the fisheries articles
of the treaty of 1871 died. The presi,
dent had been criticised because he had
not rushed along proclamation under
the act of 1887, but history showed that
General Grant followed exactly the
same line of policy. The power granted
to the president in the pending bin was
necessary 1t was time that the Cana
dian wrongs should be resented by the
United States and suppressed by Great
Britain. The bill should be passed
promptly. The treatment of American
fishermen by the Canadian authorities
was IN violation of that comfy. hospi-
tallty and good feeling that the civiliza.
ton OF this age required between neiglr-
boring nations. The bill under eonsid-
Grafton was no war measure. Ii was a
peace measure. 1t was public an
nouneement to the people Of the United
States and Great Britain that the gov
eminent of the United States proposed
TO maintain its dignity and protect the
rights OF its citizens The president
would exercise the power confiled to
MN lntelli@ently and courageously.
The president had properappreeiation
OF the dignity and honor of this great
republic, and any power placed in his
hands would be used for the protection
OF American dignity and American
rights It was by no means certain that
ne would be required to issue the proc
iamatlon authorized by the bill He
hoped aud believed that when the bill
was enacted into a law the usnal oood
judgment of the English and Canadian
authorities would be manifested, and All
difficulties arranged without ANYTHING
which would break mp the cordial rela-
lions which had existed for many wears
between Great Britain and the United
States. But let the result be what it
might, the president would be support
ed by the people of the United States
without regard to party, and 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
III solid phalanx to defend the rights of
of American honor. Applause. $3.50
Hit OF illinois, commented upon the
fact that the presidents fisheries mess
age had been received with partisan APP
plause, and that one democratic mem
Der had declared that it was good cam
paign document He was not willing to
accept the proposition, coming even
from friend of the president, that the
message was an electioneering device.
The gentleman from Kentucky Me
Creary) connected the message on the
fisheries with what was known as the
free trade message. 1t was an apt
The treatment of our
fishermen and the tendency toward free
trade had gone hand in hand since the
LAY OF the Inauguration. [AppIause.
Was there anyone who could forget the
indignant feeling iii the United States in
1886, at the recurrent scene from week
TO week OF American ships tied up, and /
OF inhumanity to American fishermen.
The whole story was one of wrong and |
outrage unredressed and insult I'M
avenged. Congress had taken the mat.
ter up and passed retaliation act. IL |
stood on the statute book still, and einh- |
teen months had passed by and none OF |
the powers conferred by it had been ex- |
ercised. The system of outrage had |
been checked in part, largely By the in
hnence OF the passage of the retaliation |
bill. Then negotiations went on, and |
blossOmed into the Bayard- Chamberlain
treaty. In the senate it was subjected
10 severe debate and discussion, and was
found wanting. The opinion of the
country rejected it long before the vote
Of the senate. The treaty was a bargain.
There was more OF bargain than was
written down. The protocols were sent
to the senate, but the daily struggle Of
mind with mind in adjusting all Dues
lions were not shown there.