The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-25


lately occurring. But it would have been
manly thing If the Presideat had received an
indication OF what those cases were, and what
was meant to be included in the words 'thsn
lately"
After discussing the subject OF the statute of
1873 and of the treaty articles bearing on the
question of transportation In bond between the
United States and Canads. Mr. Morgan declared
that the President found himself confronted
with that act Of Congress-as to the trsnsporta-
ton in bond-which had mol been modified or
referred TO in the act OF lS6I-the retaliation
act. 1t had been asked by MIR. Hoar why the
President had not brought up that subject be-
fore. He Mr.. Morganl asked why Congress
had not brought il up.
Mr.. Hale asked Mr. Morgan whether. in view
of the Presidents message, be did rot believe
that il would have been better. 10 laying tbs
keel of recent negotiations. to have included In
them the subject atters which now seemed so
grievous in the eye of the President. Would It
not have been better to have had an all-embrae-
ing treaty.
Mr.. Morgan replied that 'an all-embracing
treaty would include the Behrine fisheries,
the Monroe doctrine. the Clayton Bulwer treaty,
and quite a number Of matters
Mr.. Hale-And why notl If they s-s in yolved
in our relations with Canada why not embrace
theml Why not make treaty which should
settle all of those things. and not make treaty
and afterwards tc confronted with a message
from the President dealing with subject-matters
which have no more TO do with the treaty than
with the Declaration Of Independence!
Mr. Morgan-I could give several answers to
your question. The first answer is that they
are not kindred subjects. The President says
that he finds o statute in the way Of retaliation,
the statute of March. 1873, and he comes TO
Congress and says: 'T am willing and anxious
to do oil that can to redress the xrongs Of the
ference, but find this statute
barring my way desire 20 exclude from the
right of transit through the United States the
products of Canada and goods imported by her
astrsv sr he
last six years to nearly $500, 900. 600. I desire
to stop this. il am under compusion 70 re-
taliate. because thus the heavy part OF the blow
will fall on the people of Canada. aud not on fay
own people, And the President asks Congress
10 declare whether he has the right to do that
under the law Is it stands 1t was a congress
sional declaration which put the difficulty IN his
path, and he has q right to ask CONGRESS TO have
1t removed. He says: Remove that difficulty
if you want retaliation. and will prohibit the
passage OF goods between the United States and
Canada on these railroads" But that
is not the thing which Senators on the
other side want to have done. The
Grand Trunk and other connected railways are
valuable properties. they are money-making in
sritutious They are of great convenience to
the Eastern part OF the country; The railroads
have been the pets Of the Republican Senators.
am now quite satisfied that il we give the
President the power to prohibit the passage OF
goods in 5ond free Of duty over these railroads,
we will touch the whole subject right at the
core, and then two sets OF people Will be con-
vinced-the railroad owners and managers in
New England and the Canadians; then we will
have agreement and il will make no differences
whether Cleveland or Harrison be elected. But
you compel the President 20 retalate and yet
take good care that certain of your great inter
ests shall not be interfered with, and your can
didate for the vice-presideucy is a director IN
one of these railroad companies.
Mr. Frye informed Mr.. Morgan that Mr.. Nor
ton bad, some time ago. resigned his position 80
railroad director.
Mr. Morgan intimated that the nominal date
of resignation might not be the actual one. It
might have been ante6ated.
Mr.. Edmunds resented that implication. and
said that Mr.. Morton was honorable man
and played tricks on the people Of the United
States or ANYBODY else. He asked Mr. Morgan
whether he thought that the twenty ninth arti-
cls of the treaty OF 1871 was still in force.
Mr.. Morean-No think IL Is not in force
Mr.. Hale characterized the Presidents mes
sage as desperate expedient 70 recover lost
ground. and confession that the attitude taken
by him and his administration as TO the treaty
was an attitude that had no accent or force in
II. Nothing had shown the wisdom anc patriot
srn OF the course taken by Republican Senstors
n rejecting the treaty as worthless.
clearly as this message. Why had the
President waited until TO call attention
to the matter Of tolls on Canadian canals and
other matters of injustice to AmercaLsG It was
q desperate attempt on the part or the President
20 recover Loaf ground. Ii was because he and
his administration felt that they had been dis
American people would understand that With
the infrnities which characterized the admin
istration, with the lack of being able TO 90
anything in the direction OF American interests
which characterized it the President did net
now propose to do anything. After having
failed In the treaty, the President found fault
with the statute of retaliation. and said that it
was not enough; that there was not power
enough given him to retaliate against Canadian
aggression. And yet his Secretary OF the Treas
ury had found power enough in the statutes
to give to British steamships and 10 the Cana
dian Pacific railroad permission 20 transport
goods from one American port, San Francisco.
to another American port. and thence to the ter
minus of that railway. He Eeld that under the
retaliation act the President had ample powers.
It was an act that was further reaching and
further extensive than any act that had ever
been called upon 20 be put ia exercise by an ad-
ministration. Ii the grievances recited existed
now. they had existed for the last two years,
aud it Gid not lie in the power of the President
to attempt here to recover fallen fortunes, aud
to set back the tide that was running against
him. The American people would see through
that
Mir Sherman confessed tha. the message Of
the President gave him more pleasure than be
usually derived from messages coming from that
high authority. But he thought that it was q
movement to supply lost ground III the Presi-
dent had based his treaty upon tie principles
laid down In his message. there would have been
difficulty about the treaty, and it would have
been ratified by unanimous vote. The princi-
pal point made by the President had beer
whether Article % Of the treaty had been abro-
gated by the notice given In 1883 aud by the
subsequent action of Congress. The Presidents
argument on that point appeared plausible, but
it seemed that the conference committee on tbs
retaliation bill had taken q different view
But. whether that article was abrc-
gated or not the power of the Presi-
dent, under existing law, ample
The message of the President q sign that
he was willing to stand with the Senate in the
position taken by it Mr.. Sherman proceeded
TO speak of the discriminating tolls on the Ca
madam canals. and said they ought not to be
submitted to- Reciprocal rights ought TO be in
sisted upon. The matter OF sending goods
through Canada to Portland was q matter of i'm
portancs, and beneficial to the people of both
countries. and if conducted fairly and properly.
there coald be complaint about It He spoke
of the financial policy of the administration.
and said that of all the financial management
that he had read OF in story song, it was the
worst He spoke of the countless millions that
had been lost through the administration
declining for nearly three years 20 use
the surplus in purchasing bonds. although
both houses had declared shat the Secretary Of
the Treasury possessed the power 10 do So But
the President had doubted his power iu that
case. just as he doubted it In this. And again
he comes to Congress and demands more power.
Why. he has power 10 bring the Canadians to
terms in twenty-four hours A mere declaration
on these two points-that we will not allow
fresh fish to como free into our markets ss long
as our fishermen denied their rights and
Al..s ill