The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-08-31
President and Senate.

The Republicans IN Washington have
not yet recovered from the confusion
and dismay into which they were
thro why President Cleve.and's message
While the whole nation rejoiced over
this firm but moderate assertion or II
rights and honor. a few partisan enc
mics OF the President busted themselves,
as they did with the treaty, in vain ef-
fort to pick flaws In IL. After taking
twenty four hours to regain their eQua-
nimity, Senators Edmunds and Sher-
man undertook TO parry the blow OF the
President by asserting that he now pos
sesses in the Reprisals Act OF 1887 and
under the Treaty of Washington all the
power he seeks. III there should be any
doubt on this score these Senators pre-
tend further that President Cleveland
has only to invoke the Act OF Congress
of 1866 authorizing the Secretary OF the
Treasury to grant, under certain reGu-
iations. the shipment OF goods in bond
through the United States TO Canada
as IL the authority to execute an Act OF
Congress granting certain right car
ried with IL the power to deny that
right. If Secretary Fsirchild should
use this alleged power to defea. law
OF Congress, none would be swift
er or more sealous in demanding his i'm
peachment than the Republican foes OF
the Administration, and. as be truly
says, he would deserve impeachment.
President Cleveland has declined to
use the power conferred upon him by
the Reprisals Act of 1887 as long as
other and better ways of attaining the
end sought in the dispute with Canada
should remain open to him. One OF
thsaa ha 6ahariaa fraatv which
conferred on the fishermen of this
country every right they could reasona-
bly, claim. and which Was rejected by
partisan Senate on the paltriest OF pre-
texts. The other 10 such an application OF
the right Of making reprisals upon Can
ada as would infiict the least possible
injury upon the trade of this country.
For this power the President has ap-
pealed to Congress. 1t would be poor
repsratioD to put an embargo upon the
whole trade with Canada, and thus do
more harm to American commerce than
to that of our neighbor. The Canadi-
ans would send their fsh to other mark
cts, as they are doing now, and the
New England Fish Trust would make
this article OF food dearer to every poor
mans tabls in the United States.
There is no doubt that the Republican
politicians hoped to goad the President
into declaring a warfare Of trade re-
prisals against Canada. and they would
then have beer the first to cry out
against so wanton and destructive an
assault upon peaceful commerce. But
President Cleveland proved too wary as
well as too patriotic to fall into their
trap, ard his Senatorial enemies may
now reflect at leisure upon the parable
of him that diggeth pit.
Senator Edmunds insists that Article
NIX Of the Washington Treaty aul
thoriziDg the Executive to suspend by
proclamation the operation OF all laws
and regulations for che transit of goods
In bond to and from the United States
and Canada is still in force The Pres
ident, on the other hand, maintains that
this article has fallen with the rest of
that treaty, and with his accustomed
Difference to the legislative department
OF the Government he appeals to Con-
gress for authority 20 mete out to the
Canadians the same measure OF discrim-
lnation which they give to this country.
1t is possible that Senator Edmunds
may induce a caucus OF his Republican
associates to resolve that this XXIXth
article is still in force, and that no
legislation OF Congress is needed by the
fresluenl 10 execute the purpose indi-
Gated In his message. In such case
there would be an end of the policy OF
reprisals. unless the Canadians should
by future outrages upon American nsh-
ermen, provoke the exercise of the G.
taliation Act OF 1887. Resort to this
extreme measure would hardly be ne.
cessary, since the arrangement OF the
modus vivendi will remain in operation
for Two years, and may never be disturb
ed.
at all events the President has showr
that he yields to none of his Senatorial
mallgneIs in the determination to de
| feni the rights OF American citizen.
against Canadian outrages. He ha.
shown, too, that while negotiating &
treaty he did not yield one inch in hi
position toward Canada, and that b,
knows great deal more about the poll
cy and effects OF wsrfare OF CONNER.
clal reprisals than do his enemies il
Congiess.-Phila. Record.