Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-08-25
THE MESSAGE.

THE MESSAGE.
The message of the President on the
subject of the fishery treaty and retalia-
tion, while framed with care and replete
with protestations that the honor and
rights of the country must be maintained,
nevertheless reveals the grevious disap-
pointment Of the Executive over the re-
lection of the treaty, and discloses some
petulance Of spirit which the Executive
should i'll afford to entertain. For in
stance, after reciting the facts of the re-
lection of the treaty and that the Senate
did not manifest any disposition to amend
its provisions, the President says: ~ am
by no means disposed TO abandon the in
terests and rights of our people in the
premises or neglect their grievances, and,
therefore, turn to the contemplation of
plan Of retaliation as the only mode which
still remains of treating the situation. I
am not unmindful of the gravity of re-
sponsibility assumed in the adoption of
this line Of conduct, nor do fail to APP
preciate its seriousness"
Certainly the President would not have
anyone suppose that because Of disappoint-
ment with him by the Senate as to the
wisdom of treaty he had negotiated, he
would therefore abandon the interests
and rights of the people" He could
scarcely expect even his political enemies
to thus estimate his character and his 10y
atty to duty-eertainly we have a very
much better opinion of the President than
that.
It is singularly significant that the
President should, after commencing the
treaty so warmly, and declaring his belief
that it would have terminated our diff
culties with the Dominion Government,
add these words:
Ideem it myduty therefore to call the attention
OF Congress TO certain particulars in the action
of the authorities of the Dominion of Canada in
addition to general allegations already made
which appear to be in such marked contrast to
the friendly position of our country, as in my
opinion t. call for such legislation as will upon
principles stated, properly supplement the
power TO inaugurate retaliation already vested
IN the Executive.
He then points out that the Dominion
has Disseminated njustly, even meanly
and cowardly against American commerce
upon the great lakes, in the use of locks
and canals under Canadian control, and
advises that we apply the rule OF doing by
Canadian shipping and commerce pre-
cisely as the Dominion Government does
by ours. This charge is true, but how
could the ratification Of the treaty have
affected it? Being true, why has thea d.
ministration been so long silent before
Congress- concerning the injustice of
Canada7 Why, having statute at hand |
giving 1t ample power to act in retaliation,
has not the Administi alton long ago applied
1t to the righting of American commercial |
and border interests7
However, on the whole, the message is
timely and will, we believe, bring to !
clearly defined issue questions that have
long been fostering. There is a good deal
of politics in the message, and it will be
used to popularize the candidacy of the
President But it will not be forgotten by
the people that the situation was brought
about by the action of the Senate; thai
the injustice for which We are to punish
Canada has no direct relation whatever to
the treaty, and has existed a long time,
without having excited the indignation of
the Administration until its treaty went
by the board" Yet the message occupies
strong ground and has patriotic vigor. Its
purpose is unmistakable, and whatever
political credit it can carry to President
Cleveland's account beyond the limit of
duty incumbent upon him to discharge, he
should have. The manner in which he
has presented the questions in the message
will bring the country face to face with
Canadian shrewdness and long line of
Canadian injustice to the United States
and We believe viii result in permanent
and satisfactory adjustment of our rela-
tions with the Dominion Government.
There will be no war over the retaliatory
since the latter are acts within
our legal rights that none may question;
there will be no war over the fishery issue,
for before England will permit that she
will compel the Dominion Government to
recede from its demands, which unques-
tionably invade American rights. Let the
honor of bringing all these matters to the
point where adjustment begins be credited
where it belongs, and if thereby the
United States Senate secures the greater
share, it will be because the people know
precisely where to bestow it.