Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-01

States, the ports of New York, Boston and
Portland were designated in the act. leaving
TO the Secretary of the Treasury to desig-
nate such others as he might choose well.
| You do not need to be told by me that
under that clause a very large trade has
grown up between Cauada and Portland as
the main seaport of our state, a trade that
has been of such consequence and value to
Portland, If it il were struck down,you might
as we'll knock five millions out of her valua-
ton. You know in this county of Piscata-
quis that you are soon to be traversed by the
Megantic road. which, in connection with
the Maine Central, will make another transit
route for bonded goods, and the President
says that this trade shall not continue, if
Congress will authorize him to stop it, and
he asked us to a Law enabling him TO suspend
or destroy the whole of il.
Among the motives for this extraordinary
conrse is one TO placste the railroad interest,
which his Secretary of the Treasury has
embarrassed by a gratuitous order in favor
of the Canadian Pacific road and has given
that company the right 10 carry freight a
rival to our own Pacific roads which owe
large debt to the government. Certainly if
a man owed me debt and had chance TO
throw sopething in his way that would ena-
BILE him TO make money to pay il, | would
not throw the privilege away to an alien and
stranger in Canada, but the Secretary of
The Treasury has given that power to the
Canadian Pacific at its extreme west end.
He might easily have withheld it, if he had
chosen. Out of il there has grown jealousy
with American trunk lines, which, | think,
and very justly, that being restrained by
the interstate commerce act, they are deeply
injured by the Secretaey's course. Would
1t be an ungenerous suspicion ii | suggest
that il is the Presidents mind that he might
make an important point there. But instead
of asking for power to proclaim a suspension
of all transit on Maine roads. Why does his
Secretary Of Treasury not recall the privilege
that he gave to the Canadian Pacific, aud let
US alone here in our trade over the Megantic
and Grand Trunk lines. Upon whom does
that trade intlict an injury. To whom in the
State of Maine is there wrong done by the
fact that imports from Europe OF the West
Indies, are landed at Portland, destined for
Canada, and can go straight through, with
out being detained under our custom house
laws. Would it not be, in your judgment, a
very mean and very unreiS Shborly act, if,
when t! e ST. Lawrence river is frozen up so
that no ship can enter il, and the President |
calls attention to that fact as an advantage |
cial privileges through Portland, especially |
when it throws large and constant and !
profitable ira lie into the hands of thousands |
of American citizens Would you alvise |
that the trade be stopped and the |
Americans engaged lit, all punished because |
the PresidcE, ,tubbornly refused TO rse the |
means of proper retaliation in his power for |
the last year and half III regard to the fish |
cries. | think it would be wiser TO have the |
policy of retaliation that hits the right man |
and not resort to one that strikes your honor |
able and deserving men and all this in order |
that Mr.. Clevelanis administration shall be |
relieved from the odiun of the grata.t Gus
blunder of the secretary of the treasury.
The only intelligent way to treat the ques-
tion now is to give no more power 10 Presi-
dent Cleveland i'll regard to it, and l am sure
YOU will agree with me rs to the cxpediency
of postponing the whole subject till the next
fishirg season ard remaining it to the de-
cison of a wise and firm President in the
person of Benjamin Harrison, Prolonged
applause.
Hon John A. Kasso1 of Iowa, General
John l.. Swift of Boston and Mr.. Lewis
Barker of Bangor also addressed the meeting
and with Mr.. Blaine left Dover by special
train soon after F. NJ. Mr. Blaine went
directly to Ellsworth where he will be the
guest of Senator Hale and where he will |
address public meeting tomorrow after
noon.