Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-27
The laundering Inoapacity OF Cleve-
land and Bayard

There is no doubt that the Canadian
statesmen fully appreciate how much
Cleveland aud Bayard have done to
strengthen the Canadian claims on the
fishery issue with the United States. Sir
Charles Topper, the Dominion diplomat
associated with Joseph Chamberlain in
negotiating the treaty with Bayard and
his Commissioners, has repeatedly pointed
out to the Canadian public what advan-
tages the recent negotiations had secured
to the Dominion. In his speech at the ban
quet OF the Cutters Company, in London,
Sir Charles was at the pains to point out
how much President Cleveland and Secre-
tary Bayard had done to improve the pos
ition occupied by Canada on this subject
When the Washington Conference opened
after the two years in which Secretary
Bayard and Minister Phelps had been urg-
ing the American Interpretation of the
Treaty of 1918, Canada was in danger of
having to coneede the American case.
Says Sir Charles of the position occupied
by himself and Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain:
When we were charged with that mission we
stood face to face with the fact that the Presi
dent of the United States, the Administration
of the United States. the House of Repre-
sentatives, the Senate, with the entire press
and entire people of the great Republic. occu-
pied the position of declaring that Canada, by
enforcing u harsh and unjust aud unfair inter
probation of the treaty OF 1918 was worthy of
all the hostility that could be extended to
her by the United States. We were face to
face with the fact that with entire unaninity,
1 believe, n non-iutercourse bill was passed
clothing the President with power to repel
the alleged unjust action of Canada by cut
ting of all commercial intercourse between
the two countries. That was the position.
In other words, Canada was "face to
face" with the American rights enforced
by American legislation, and the prospect
was most disquieting. Secretary Bay
ards surrender in the fisheries question
changed all that, and Sir Charles Upper
Is fully aware of it, as he continues:
What is the position to-day7 The position
IL this, that although the Senate of the Unit
ed States by bare majority of three and
that strictly party vote of the opponents of
the President and the Government, whom
they were determined should not have the
kRdos of settling this great international
question on the eve of Presidential election
although they have not accepted that
treaty, the fact remains that the President
and Administration of the United States have
sent down that treaty-a treaty made BY
England, ratified by Canada. ratified by the
province of Observation-Disclosures sent it
down TO the Senate of the United States
with declaration that it was a fair and lon-
orable and equitable adjustment of all the
vexed questions that had agitated the two
countries. That is the vantage ground we
occupy to-day.
1t is very obvious that while the action
of the Senate has prevented the consum-
nation of the Ubiquitous Bayard and
Chamberlain bargain, the damaging con
sequences which the American Commits
sioners assented to will be source of
embarrassment In future negotiations.
Those who have shown such a want of
capacity and patriotism as have Clev Gland
and Bayard in dealing with the fishery
question, should be allowed to retire to
private life just as soon as the American
people can constitutionally send them
there.