The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-28
THO President to Congress-.

The message OF PRESIDENT Cleveland, deal
ing with the relations between the United
States and Canada In regard to the fisheries
dispute, is by far the most important state
paper that has emanated from the white
house since the war.
1t is document that recalls the days of
Jackson, and gives to the petty partisanship
of the republican senate the conspicuous
ness of utter insignifcance. In dealing
with the probable and necessary results of
the failure of the republican senate to ratify
the treaty, the president lifts the whole sub
jcct out of the atmosphere of party poll
tics and places it on plane of statesman
ship that no republican president save one
has ever reached.
For the first time in many long years we
have public document into which .the
breath of American patriotism has been
breathed by a sincere and courageous man.
Here we have for the first time in many
long years proclamation from the white
house that the rights, interests and privi-
leges of the United States are to be fully
protected. Naturally, such ringing proc
lamation could only issue from the pen of a
democratic president--a president grounded
in the principles that animated jefferson
and Jackson.
President Cleveland does not dwell on the
fact that the fisheries treaty negotiated under
the auspices of his administration was re-
jected by the republican senate for purely
partisan reasons. He simply treats the re-
lection as fact-a fact that may be de-
plored, but, nevertheless, fact to be dealt
with promptly and practically.
The rejection of the treaty by the senate
leaves the whole matter where it was before
the recent negotiations were begun. The
| responsibility for this, in political sense,
rests with the republican party of course,
but the president, ignoring this feature, ac-
cepts the result as an American RESPONSE
bility, and deals with the matter from the
standpoint of patriotic American.
Even Senator Edmunds, who, however
dull as a statesman, is very shrewd par
tsan, pays passing tribute to the genuine
! American spirit displayed in the president s
message. True, however, to his pettifogging
nature, he attemps to belittle its Importance
/ by calling attention to the law already on
the statute books. As a matter of fact, this
law, which was passed for purposes Of re-
taliation, fails to cover the ground, and it is
this fact that has called forth the presi.
dents message-a document that will ap.
peal to the American spirit that has lair
dormant for so many years.
The message clears the atmosphere. II
strikes the real keynote Of democracy. Be
side it. how Insignificant appears the pid
ding diplomacy of such man as Blaine,
Beside il, how Insignificant and eontempti
BILE becomes the republican policy which ha'
for It's purpose the persecution and humilia
tion Of The citizens of a large section Of th'
United Statesl The message marks new
era in the progress Of democracy, and j
any Of our readers have failed to take not
of 81, they cannot DO better than to refer 70
Yesterdays CONSTITUTIONS. Il is whole
some: il Is refreshing. 1t demonstrates IA,
fact that the democratic people Of thi
country have selected statesman to execar
their will.