The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-23
SIR JOHN MACDONALD.
HIS SPEECH AT THE CHAPLEAU
BANQUET ON THE 18TH.
He Regards Cleveland's Retaliation Mes
sage as 80 Much Buncombe Made for
the Presidential Campaign, and There
fore Feels Easy.

New York, Oct. 22.-The Stars Toronto
correspondent teegraphs that the talk Of
the hour is Sir John Macdonald's peech at
the Chapleau banquet today, when he out
lined Canada's future policy regarding the
fishery difficulty. His speech is an assur-
ance that Canada will not back down, and
his remarks are regarded as official. He
said: 81 have no doubt that some of you
have felt rather annoyed and irritated,
almost insulted, by the language that has
been used by some of the public men-
statesmen-of the United States-by some
OF the threats that were held out with re-
gard to Canada, but l am proud Of the
calm dignity with which Canadians have
met all the threats, the GOODNESS with
which Canada has looked upon the
threats, which we can afford to look on
calmly because we have got right and JUS
tice on our side.
''If this were an ordinary season in the
United States we might really feel irri-
tated and insulted, but we know that this
is a mere theatrical display Of both the
great political parties Of that country. 1t
is sham battle. The leaders OF the two
parties there are trying to gain u majority
OF the votes, and they believe that TO
abuse England, and Canada as Il portion
OF Great Britain, is rather apractical way OF
affecting the vote; and, therefore, II on
the one side statesman says anything
against England or Canada the statesmen
on the other side get up and 90 one better.
As the game goes on they perhaps may,
like other gamesters, lose their GOODNESS
and moderation.
"0ur course has been plain, and will be
plain. A treaty was settled, and we
Canadians had distinguished repre-
sentative at Washington to help in draw
ing up that treaty. mean Sir Charles
Upper, whom you all admire. The settle
ment OF that treaty is an honest, fair and
honorable settlement OF a question that
has hitherto caused certain amount Of
friction between the United States and
Canada. II is an honest attempt on the
part OF the negotiators on both sides to re-
move all causes Of ill-feeling between the
two countries. There are some concessions
on our part and some corresponding con-
cessions on the part OF the United States.
We were told by the great Liberal party
that we had abandoned everything 10 the
hlntIlIstlls uuh htll OulrtlNtos
But what occurred in the Statesl We saw
both houses, the House OF Representatives
and the Senate of the United States, stat
ing that Canada and England had got the
best OF the bargain. They absolutely re-
fused TO ratiiy the treaty.
1T was n fair treaty, and believe after
the election is over, after the temporary
fever has subsidized, and when they get 10
the calm and GOODNESS that characlerizes
the Americans, they will look with more
favorable eyes upon the treaty, and that
they will have another arrangement based
on the same lines and principles rs the
treaty which they have rejected hope
and believe that that will be the case.
Whether il be or not, our course rs a gov
eminent, the course OF the Parliament rs a
Parliament, the course OF the people rs APP
proving the action Of the Parliament and
the government will be 10 say, We
are anxious TO carry II out, and
II you don't choose 10 accept /,
we cannot help it. The responsibility
rests upon your shoulders We viii
rely upon the treaty Of 1918; we will Just
rest upon the law and let the law take It's
counc, aud II there be any difficulties rs
10 the construction OF that treaty. We must
find some mode OF arbitration or other
wise To decide what the true legal mean
Ing Of the convention OF 1878 is. That
will be- the course Of the Canadian govern.
mcnt: that will be the course OF the Cana.
dian Parliament; that will be the coursC
approved by the vast majority OF the
people.
1--WE have no fear that there will be any
difficulty with the United States. II ther,
he any question Of the construction OF the
treaty. We can leave II 30 some tribuna
selected 10y both sides to settle what thes'
obstacles are"