Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-08
House.

Nutting, speaking on the retaliation bill,
said the Canadian authorities had discrm-
mated against American commerce passing
through the Welland and other Canadian
canals and the effect of this unfair treatment
was that the commerce on Lake Ontario was
confined almost entirely to Canadian and
English vessels. The President had power
to stop this discrimination inasmuch as
Great Britain had violated the obligations of
article 27. In addition to this Congress had
Il year and half ago given him express au
thorlty to retalate. The President had made
no attempt to stop infraction of the rights of
the American people. If the Mills bill
should become law England would have
accomplished by her diplomacy and influence
in this country what she had been unable to
accomplish by the sword.
Hooker of Mississippi explained that the
President had not exercised the power CON
ferred upon him by the act of 1887 because
prior to that date and at the very time of the
passage of the act the United States hal
been endeavoring to enter into negotiations
with Great Britain to settle the question of
Nv That are the rights of American citizens?
Also, because under the act of 1887 the
power of retaliation was limited 10 he ex
clusion of Canadian vessels from the United
States ports, and didn't extend to restraining
the shipment of goods in bond across AmerI-
can territory Ii would have been in bad
taste for the President when he was negoti
atng for the treaty to enforce the act of
1887. The gentleman from Massachusetts
(Da,is) hal cried for lone day of jackson
or of Grant" The country now had Pres
hent who, in his message, had exhibited Il
stern determination, the hariy, iron courage
of Jackson. and the logged perseverance of
Grant. in maintaining the honor and dignity
of the American name and the rights of Am
erican citizens. lie believed the Presidents
message like all his other utterances, would
meet the approval of his country. He be-
lieved the voice of approval would come from
all over the land, and from nowhere in loud
er or more resonant tones than from the
coast of New England.
Cannon, of Illinois. said American fisher
men wanted the privilege of entering Cana
dian ports and shipping fish through Canada
TO American markets. That was what they
wouli>ba1 if article 90 of the treaty of 1871,
was still IN force, as he coutended it was. If
there was a man in the Presidential chair
who would issue proclamation 10 morrow,
s'oppiug the shipment of Canadian fish into
the UuIed States. in forty eight hours the
whole question would he solved.
Cannon read an order signed by the Presi-
dent on 18th of March. 1887, designating
San Francisco as the port OF entry for all
goods in bond, TO show that at that time,
(aftcr passage of the retaliation bill, the
President did not think the Goth article
abrugated Now TIE President said it had
been dead since 1855 and turnel a double
sommer,ault and with amathema against
Canadian government cried out: Gore,
gore. gore, Laughter. But nobody woull
be deceived Gentlemen, you might as we'll
undertake to dip the Atlantic dry with table
spoon, as to Try to fool the loyal masses of
this country by any such claptrap. APP
plause on the republican side.
Nelson of Minnesota, while contending
that the President already had ample power
10 reialiate, said he would vote for the
proposed bill because at this juncture it
might be thought uupatriotic not 10 do SO,
and because it didn't contain such a thunder
bolt of Jove as some gentlemen at first sup
posed.
| Seymour of Michigan, favored some meth
cd of retaliation which would not jeopardize
the interests of the northwest.
| Adams of Illinois thought the act of retail
alton should first apply against the eastern or
maritime provinces of Canada, as they were
most TO blame.
Kerr of Iowa said he would vote for the
b II though he doubted the wisdom of con-
feIring additional power upon the executive
who declined 10 exercise that which he al
rea J p issesse's :
fvst of Illinois criticised the President
because with both hands full of weapons he
asked for more. 1t was agreed that vote
on the bill be taken at o'clock tomorrow