Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-05
POLITICAL COMMENT.
yyhat VIII Congress Dol


IL is sometimes expedient to let an uurea-
sonable president have his own way. The Re-
taliatlon Act OF 1857 provides efficient means
for the protection OF American CONNIE rcial
rights, aud there IL, as Mr. Blaine has shown
In his admirable speech, no necessity for In
terruptinig the transit OF imported merchan-
disc from Portland. Boston aud New York to
Canada The president is not Justified I'm
asking for larger powers unil he has ex-
bsusted those already conferred upon him;
nor is 1t at all probable that he Is In earnest
In advocating retaliation, nor that his beiat-
ed expressions OF a determination TO protect
American citizens In their rights mean any
thing more than his canttng phrases about
civil service reform. When these aud other
concessions have been made. the IA ct remains
that the Belmont bill passed by the house
Ia 1887 contained provisions which the presi-
dent now considers essential. The senate
BILL which Was eventually adopted as a sub.
stitute for H. WAS for the immediate pur pose
safer and wiser measure. But since the
president has required to the principles OF
the other scheme, the senate may find II ex.
pedient to enlarge his powers In the manner
suggested. IL this be done. he will have no
possible excuse for evading his responsible.
ties hereafter. He has abandoned his
diplomatic policy and surren dered to cong ress
on the main question OF retaliation. IN a
mater OF detail he prefers the original
house scheme to the senate bill which became
law. IL the republicans In each house OBJ
struct the amendments to the original meas
ure, they will furnish him with pretext for
inaction. They will naturally hesitate be-
fore rejecting his recommendation, espe ci.
ally when he has humbled himself before
them.
The bin introduced by Mr.. Wheeler In the
house and by Mr.. Morgan IN the Sena te con-
tains two sections One relates to the dis-
elimination against American vessels In tolls
In the Welland, St Lawrence and Chambly
canals, ana provides for retaliation IN kind.
This subject has been brought up In the
house by republican representatives on sew
eral occasions. Legislation OF this kind is
urgently needed and will not be opposed by
the Senate. The other section authorize the
president TO suspend trans portation I'm bond
across American territory OF merchandise i'm
ported from any foreign country. This IL the
power which the president insists that he
must have before he can undertake to protect
the rights of American cit Z:ns on the Domin.
ion seaboard. The senate's objections to the
Belmont bill will apply with equal force to
this seccon; but we are inclined to believe
that the republican leaders will be ready to
waive their preferences for their own measure
and to allow the amendment 20 be grated
upon It. Oae great argument In favor OF
this course is that both parties In congress
can be practically united IN the passage OF
the new bill imm' diate1y after the rejection
OF the disgrnceful Chamberlain Bay ard treaty.
This will have an excellent effect both In
Canada and England.
Grave objections can be raised. OF course,
10 the pass age OF tn administration bill. The
pres dent having ins sted upon the transit
clause, would naturally feel compelled to use
1t n be had recourse TO retaliation at all.
This would be unnecessary since the other
retalatory powers are inadequate Much con-
fusion, mischief and annoyance would be
caused by the interrupt on OF the transit
trade and on this account the senate com
mittee's exhaustive investigat Oh OF the
whole subject OF commercial relations with
Canada ought properl To precede the passage
of the measure. These aud other reasons may
be given for delay in arining the president
with the powers for which he is clamoring
without cause, and without, We suspect a
sincere desire to Wind cate American rights.
The advantage, however, OF uniting both par
I es In the enactment Of vigorous legislation
so soon after the defeat Of the treaty may
outweigh, in the judgement OF the senate,
every other consideration. The country has
been diegraced by pusillanimous and sen seless
d plomscy. united front on the subject OF
re tsiistou wou d do much to retriye the ma
tional reputation.
One thing, however, must be steadily
borne In mind. The transit trade cannot be
touched on the coast without counter iegisla-
ton on the part OF the Dominion, which will
affect American interests all along the north
ern frontier. 1t Is not course 70 be entered
upon without fore thought and careful calcu.
lstion OF the consequences 1t will inevitably
lead TO revision OF all existing arrangements
for transit trade between the two countries
and the ultimate negotiation-nOt OF a fish
cries conventon-but of a comprehensive
commercial treaty between the United States
and Great Britain. This, we trust, will he
the work Of a republican administr alton -
Nu York Tribune.