The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-08-31
Presidents Message.
THE FULL TEXT OF AN IMPORTANT MES
SAGE ON THE CANADIAN QUESTION.

TO the congress tnl5 aftern0on:
70 THE CONGRESS-: The rejection
by the Senate of the treaty lately nego-
tiated for the settlement and adjust.
ment of the differences existing be.
tween the United States and Great
Britain concerning the rights and pri-
vileges of the American fisherman in
the ports and waters of British North
America, seems to justify a survey of
the condition to which the pending
question is thus remitted.
The treaty upon this subject, con-
cluded in 1918, through disagree
ments as to the meaning of its terms,
has been fruitful source of irritation
and trouble. Our citizens engaged in
fishing enterprises 10 waters adjacent
to Canada have been subjected to nu-
merous vexations, interferences and
annoyances, their vessels have been
seized upon pretexts which appear to
be entirely inadmissibe and they have
been otherwise treated by the Cana
dian authorities and officials In man
ner inexcusable and oppressive.
THIS CONDUCI JUSIltltD.
This conduct ha been justified by
Great Britain and Canada by the
claim that the treaty of 1915 permitted
it and upon the ground that it was
necessary to the proper protection of
Canadian interests. We deny that
treaty agreements justify these acts
and we further maintain that, aside
from any treaty restraints of disputed
Interpretation, the relative positions of
the United States and Canada as near
neighbors, the growing of our joint
commerce, the development and pros
perity of both countries, which AMIGA
BILE relations surely guarantee, and,
above all, the liberality always extend
ed by the United States TO the people
of Canada, furnished motives for kind
ness and consideration higher and bet
ter than treaty covenants.
While keenly sensitive to all that
was exasperating in the condition aud
by no means indisposed to support the
just complaints of our injured citizens,
| still deem it my duty for the preser-
vation of important American inter
ests which were directly involved in
view of all the details of the situation,
to attempt by negotiation to remedy
existing wrongs and to finally termi-
nase by fair and just treaty these
el errecurring causes of di ifficulty.
THE REJECTED TREATY WAS JUST.
fully believe that the treaty Just
rejected by the Senate was well suited
to the exigency and that its provisions
were adequate for our security in the
future from vexatious incidents and for
the promotion of friendly neighbor-
hood and intimacy, without sacrific-
ing in the least our national pride or
dignity.
am quite conscious that neither my
opinion of the value of the rejected
treaty nor the motives which prompted
its negotiation are of Importance in the
light Of judgment of the Senate there
upon. But it is of Importance to note
that this treaty has been rejected with
out any apparent disposition on the
part of the Senate to alter or amend its
provisions and with the evident inten-
ton not wanting expression that no
negotiation should at present be con-
cluded touching the matter at issue.
The cooperation necessary for the
adjustment Of the long-standing la.
tional differences with which we have
to deal, by methods of conference and
agreement, having thus been declined,
| am by no means disposed to abandon
the interests and the rights of our
people in the premises or to neglect
their grievances, and | therefore turn
to the contemplation of plan OF re-
taliation as a mode, which still re-
mains, of treating the situation.
am not unmindful of the gravity
of the responsibility assumed in adopt.
ing this line of conduct, nor do l fail
in the least to appreciate its serious
consequences. 1t will be impossible
to injlre our Canadian neighbors by
retaliatory measure. without iDtiictine
some damage upon our own citizens
This results from our proximity, oul
community of interests, and the newt
able commingling of the business en-
terprises which have been developed
by mutual activity.
THE POLICY OF RETALIATION.
Plainly stated, the policy of nationa
retaliation manifestly embraces the in
Fiction of the greatest harm upor
those who have injured us, with the
least possible damage to ourselves
There is also an evident propriety as
well as an invitation to moral support
found in visiting upon the offending
party the same measure or kind o.
treatment of which we complain, and
as fer as possible within the same lines
And above all things the plan of re
taliation, if entered upon, should be
thorough and vigorous.
These considerations led me at this
time to invoke the aid and counsel o.
the Congress and its support in such q
further grant of power as seems to mt
necessary and desirable to render effec
tive the policy l have indicated.
The Congress has already passed &
law, which received Executive assent
on the third day of March, 1887, pro
vidlng that in case American fishing
vessels being or visiting in the waters,
or at any of the ports of the British
dominions of North America, shoulc
be, or lately had been, deprived of the
rights to which they were entitled by
treaty or law, or if they were denied
certain other privileges therein speci
fed, or vexed and harrassed in the en-
joyment of the same, the Presiden
might deny 10 vessels and their mas
ters and crews of the British domin
ion of North America any entranc,
into the waters, ports or harbors of tn,
United States, and also deny entry
into any port or place of the United
States of any product of said domin
ion to the United States.
While l shall not hesitate, upol
proper occasion, to enforce this act, i
would seem to be unnecessary to sug
gest that, if such enforcement is limi
ted in such manner as shall result il
the least possible injury to our owl
people, the effect would probably b
entirely inadequate to the accomplish
ment of the purpose desired.