St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-21
CANADA LIES BLEEDING.
Dominion Newspapers Still Harp on the
Fisheries Treaty.
READ THEIR PITIFUL WALL.
They Very Much Fear That It Has Been
an Unconditional Surrender for
Canada.


owned by Hon. Peter Mitchell, who
was for years minister of marine and
fisheries, in leading article Oh the
fishery question entitled Canada Lies
Bleeding" says to-day: "Although for
absolute certainty we must await the
publication of the treaty which Sir
Charles Upper is reported to have
signed under protest. there is much
reason to fear that it has been a sur
render to the exigencieS of all American
presidential election and the determine
ton of Mr.. Chamberlain to go home
with treaty in his pocket. The United
States press, Democratic and Republi-
can, agree in calling it a triumph for
the United States. The Democratic
press, of course, hail it with delight, as
it greatly populariZes Cleveland in the
United States where the fishing in
terests were likely to go against him.
The treaty is everywhere believed to
be complete surrender on Canada's
part so far as all material points are
concerned. The Americans claimed
the right for their fishermen to use Can
adam ports for all purposes. The
Ottawa government, on the other hand,
denied this right, insisting on maintain
ing Canada's rights under the 1878 con-
ventiOn, and they fitted cruisers to en-
force their prohibition. The treaty, if
accurately understood, comedies this
point to the Americans in every partic-
ular except One-that is, the refusal to
allow Americans to purchase bait; but
this privilege is given i'll another way.
There is to be no penalty for selling
bait, only American fishermen will
not be supposed to buy any. In other
words, any American fishing vessel that
requires to buy bait may do so, but is
not required to notify the customs
authorities of its intention. This one
main part of Canada's case has been
surrendered. The second part is that
which deals with the headlands under
treaty. Great Britain, and therefore
Canada, has claimed as territorial
waters all bays and harbOrS, ETC., and
the waters within three miles of the
shore, measured from one headland to
another.
THIS RIGHT WAS ENFORCED,
enjoyed and not even questioned for
nearly half cetury. until. in fact, it
was temporarily questioned by the re-
ciprOcity treaty of 1854. 1t was the i'm
pOrtant part of Canada'S contention
when Mr.. Chamberlain and Sir Charles
Topper went to Washington. This con-
tentfon, like the other, has been sur
rendered. Canada, under this surrender,
no longer claims Jurisdiction over three
mile waters bounded by headland and
headland. Her line of ocean empire
follows the beach, except to the extent
of limited prOprietorship i'll the bays,
and her sovereignty of England of val
liable fishing grounds has been shared
with the United States. In return for
these two concessions, surrender of
our whole case, what has been conceded?
Nothing, absolutely nothing. United
States fishing craft, which, under this
new treaty, will now enjoy all the rights
of Canadian vessels, must obtain
license. That is all. Canada is not
even to have the option of refusing the
licenses and the Americans are not to
Canadian customs house is required to
stamp an American vessels paper so.
K.' and there is an end of the matter,
and the United States cabinet promise
to use their influence to obtain remis-
sion of the duties on salt, coal and lum-
Der. We have given away nearly every
thing we possessed, and the American
cabinet will use the same kind of influ-
ence on behalf of salt, coal and lumber
as they promised to use in 1871 to OBJ
tain for Canada freedom of the Ameri-
can canals in return for the use of ou1s,
and it may be safely assumed that, I'M
less congress RENTS these duties OH the
presidents recommendation, in the in
terest of the United States. the influence
now to be used will be about as empty
pnSnlt
The history of Canada is a record of
surrender. There has been some Jug
glery of words to give the appearance
of concern to Canada, but there is none
in fact. AS far as the embargo laid
upon the purchase of bait, which seems
to permit i'll fact that which is refused
in theory, it would have been better,
having given everything else to have
given this also. 1t would have been
more straightforward, and it would have
allowed our inShore fishermen to do
that openly, which they are practically
invited to do surreptitiously. There is
not a word about the admission of our
fish into the United States. The treaty
deals with the fisheries question, and
gives American fishermen every adyant-
age we have to offer, but there is no re-
ciprocity concession to the fishermen or
traders of those provinces whose exclu-
siye rights
ARE DECIDED AWAY.
Not the least important point is the
concession of the right to ship Cana
dianS in Canadian ports for service in
American vessels. Our naval strength,
in men at least. as it exists from num-
berS of hardy and experienced seamen
is Slapped by this treaty. Our best men
are to be drawn away to build up Amer
lean trade and the foundation of our
future naval strength is to be insidi-
ousiy destroyed. Ii these young sea-
men do not become American citizens.
if they do not entirely follow the flag
under which they follow their daily
av0catiOns, it will not be the fault of
MIR. Chamberlain and the Dominion
government. A more effective blow for
annexation could hardly have been
struck in the maratime provinces. Sir
John Macdonald is to blame, and alone
to blame for this matter, and it Is no ex-
cuSe to say he is aging and that his
powers are waning. Age should at
least give experience. In enforcing the
treaty against poaching Americans
school boy would have Known that exec
utive action bearing on a debatable
point should be conducted with great
care and liberal spirit. In excluding
American fishing vessels from Cur har-
bors care should have been taken TO
avoid anything resembling undue harsh
ness and inhumanity. When the first
seizure was made in 1855 the Herald
warned the government 10 be careful of
the manner in which it enforced rights
which had the appearance Of being out
4, u, 4.