The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-08-24
A SHORT MESSAGE
From President Cleveland on
the Fisheries Question.
He MEETS THFIIssUE BRAVELY
And Recon meuds Retaliatorv MeAs-
ures Be ADOPTED In Dealing
With Canada.
The Presidents Message.

WASHINGTON, August z0.-lue ErSS1-
dent sent the following message to
Congress this afternoon:
To the Congress of the United States
The rejection by the Senate of the
treaty negotiated for the settlement
aud adjustment Of the differences ex-
listing between the United States and
Great Britain, concerning the rights
and privileges of American fishermen
in the ports and waters Of British North
America, seems to justify survey OF
the conditions to which the pend
ing question is thus RENTED. The
treaty upon the subject concluded in
1918, through the disagreements as to
the meaning of its terms, has been a
fruitful source of irritation and trouble.
Our citizens engaged in the fishing
waters adjacent TO Canada have been
subjected 10 numerous vexations, inter
terences and annoyance3. Their vessels
have been seized upon pretekt which
appeared TO have been entirely mad
missable and they have been herWise
mistreated by the Canadian authorities
and officials in a manner inexcusably
harsh and oppressive.
THIS CONDUCT
has been justified by Great Britain and
Canada, by the claim that the treaty OF
1918 permitted it, and upon the ground
that it was necessary to the proper pro-
lection Of Canadian interests. We deny
that the treaty agreements Justify
these acts, and further main tain that,
aside from any restraints Of disputed
interpretations. the relative positions of
the United States and Canada, as near
neighbors, the growth of our joiat COM
merce, the development and pros
perity OF both countries, which
amicabie relations surely guaran-
tee, and, above all, the liberality
always extended by the United States
to the people of Canada, furnish more
causes for kindness and consideration
than do treaty covenants. While
keenly sensitive to all that was exasper-
ating in the condition and by no means
indisposed to support the Just com
plants OF our injured citizens, I still
deem 1t my duty to attempt, by nego-
tiations, to remedy the existing wrongs
and finally to eliminate, by fair and
lust treaty, those ever-recurriDg causes
of difficulty. | fully believe the treaty
Just TT jected by the Senate was well
suited 70 the cZigenCy, and that its
provisions were adequate for our secur-
Ity in the future
FROM yEXATIOUS INCIDENTS,
and for the promotion of friendly
neighborhood and intimacy, without
sacrificing il the least our national
pride and dignity. 1t is of Importance
to note that this has been effected with
out any apparent disposition on the
70 fn 70
visions and it is evident that no nego-
tiation should at present be concluded
touching the matter at issue. | am, by
no means, disposed to abandon tEe in
terests and rights Of our people
in the premises, or neglect tiair grey
ances and IheTefor<, turn to the con.
temptation of the plan of retaliation as
made, which still remains for treating
the situation. | am not unthoughtful
Of the gravity of the responsibility as.
sumed in adopting this line of conduct,
nor do fail to appreciate its serious
ness. It will be impossible to iujure
our Canadian neighbors by retsiiatory
measures, without inflicting some dam.
age upon our IN citizens.
THE POLICY OF RETALIATION
embraces the infiction of the greatest
harm upon those who have injured Us,
with the least possible damage to our
selves, and, above all things, the plan
of retaliation, if entered upon, should
be thorough and vigorous. These con
siderations lead me to invoke the aid
and counsel of Congress, and its sup
port, in such further grant of power
as seems necessary and desirable to
render effective the policy have indi-
Gated. Congress has already passed
law providing that in case American
fishing vessels, on the waters, or at
any OF the ports of the British domin-
ions of North America, should be
or have been, lately, deprived of the
rights to which they we've entitled by
law, OR if they were denied the ether
privileges therein specified, the Presi-
dent might deny to vessels anG their
masters and crews of the British do
minions of North America, any en-
trance into the waters, ports or harbors
of the United States, and also deny en-
try into any ports Or place OF the
United States of any product OF SAID
dominions, or other goods coming from
there to the United States.
WHILE SHALL NOT HESITATE
up IN the proper occasions to enforce
this act, itwouId seem necessary to sug-
gest that if the enforcement is limited
in such manner as shall result in the
least possible injury to our own people,
in fact it would probably be entirely in
adequate to the accomplishment of the
purpose. deem it my duty, there
fore to call the attention of Congress to
certain particulars in the action of the
authorities Of the Dominion of Canada
in adoi ion to the general allegations
already made which appear to be in such
marked contrast TO The friendly posi-
ton OF our country as in my opin-
ion to call stor such legislation "a will.
upon principles already stated,
properly supplement the power TO in
augurafe the retaliation already vested
in the executive, actuated by the
generous spirit which has character
lied cur legislation. Our tariff laws,
have, since 1866 been so fsr waived in
favor of Canada as 70 allow, free
OF duty, The transit across the