Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-31
FOREIGN intelligence.
DOMINION UTTERANCES.
The Canadian Government Expresses
Itself Publicly on Retaliation.

TORONTO, Aug. 80.
Five thousand persons assembled at Hag-
ersvrile yesterday, to listen to political adj
dresses from Sir Hector Langevin, minister
of public works, and Sir John Thompson,
minister of justice. The speeches of both
ministers were pregnant with a significance
of being the first public utteranees of minis
ters of the government since Cleveland's re-
taliating threats. Sir Hector sketched the
history of the fisheries dispute, showing how
the United States fell back on the treaty of
1918 of its own accord and that Canada was
maintaining her just rights. After great
deal of labor to adjust the differences amic-
ably by the treaty, the United States Senate
had frustrated their efforts. Then Cleveland
followed that up with a threat to punish
Canada.
The President wanted to stop Canadian goods
from coming over American railways in
bond, because American fishermen not per-
mitted TO bond these fish over the Canadian
railways, but that right, with others, was
given up by Americans long ago, in consid-
Grafton of Labrador's fishing advanatag IS.
The advantages she had and would not give
up, while right to bond was demanded with
out any concession. The United States
could not expect all conceeding on the Cana
dian side.
Referring to unrestricted reciprocity he
said it was sugar coated commercial union.
While discussing the President Cleveland
message, he said they should be collected aud
calm. Canada was territorially larger than
the United States. They had different in
stitutions, some of which were better in
his opinion than those in the United States
Canada had ministers responsible to the
people, which was not the case in the United
States. Was it not much better to have a
ministry directly responsible to the people,
so that when wrong doing and msmanage
ment prevailed the people could turn the
ministers out.
Sir John Thompson said there was but lit
tie prospect of getting any advantage from
the United States when its representatives
showed such hostility. But he was sincerely
glad at the good the Presidents message had
done in this country. The citizens OF Cana
da were in no mood to submit 10 dicta,ion
from any foreign power. The policy of this
country should be of great prudence and a
desire TO conciliate rather than to irritate; TO
be friendly with rather than untriendly with
any power in the world. But this was also n
great country, and hen the rights of their
fishermen were imposed upon it was their
duty to uphold the rights and honor of the
country. If, as Mr.. Laurier, the leader of
the opposition, says, our carrying trade is
going to be so much injured, does not that
show the great folly it would be to have
commercial arrangement with the United
States? Did you ever see man who, when
his house was on fire, wished his house was
larger and the loss greater? If we make the
proposed arrangement the next time we get
in the whirl of American politics every vital
interest of ours will be sacrificed to win the
votes of few wards in the city of New
York. We can live without American rail
ways and steamship lines. We can live in
comparative comfort even if the United
States will not deal with us or trade with us
at all. All this is much better policy for
this country than to hand over its destines
to a people who are ready to sacrifice them
to their own political interests.