New-York tribune., 1888-08-25
CLEVELAND'S SOMERSAULT.
DEMOCRATIC JOY OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL
SPECTACLE SOMEWHAT LESSENED
soBERrNG EFFECTS OF THE SENATE DEBATE
UPON THE DEMoCRATs-CLEvELAND BLUM
DEEs AND PRETENCES CLEARLY DEMON
sTRATED-THE REPUBLICAN POSI-
TON ON THE PRESIDENTS DE-
MAND FOR RETALIATION
MR. BAYARD
SNUEDLD.

Yesterday over the Presidents r'taliation mes
sage. The debate in the Senate to-day had a
decided effect in SOLDERING them and bringing them
to a realization of the fact that there Is more
than one side 10 every question. Iwenty-four
hours ago they were proclaming on the housetops
that the Presidents remarkable sOmcrsault had
disposed of the tariff issue and had snatched
victory out of the Jaws Of defeat by making
the fisheries the subject of an appeal to the patri-
otism of the country. To-day they are n
great deal more modest in their claims,
and the more conservative among them
are even disposed TO acknowledge In
corners and by-ways, with something akin to
modification that the President has made very
sorry spectacle of himself. The idea of a
"parochial statesman sitting up nights over his
beer and cheese ciphering ont the meaning of
the Treaty of 1871 and reaching the conclusion
that Article xxx, of that convention is no longer
in force and heraldng such conclusion after
ward in an official paper discovery of his
own, when men Of twenty and thirty years
experience in public life who took part IN the
discussion over the ratification of that treaty
have never entertained doubt as 10 the validity
Of the article at the present time is sufficiently
ludicrous 10 inspire contempt for the whole OF
the Presidents specious argument, were IL not
completely knocked into q cooked hat through
the production in the Senate To-Day, py Mr'
Edmunds, OF q letter addressed by Mr. Bayard
to Mr. Reagan, and written less than year ago.
in which it is distinctly admitted that the State
Department still considers Article XXX OF the
Treaty OF ls7l TO be in force.
In that letter Mr. Bayard says:
Only tho fishery OF the Treaty OF Washington
wore ahrogasd The remaining articles comprising those
which relate 70 commercial intercourse between the United
States and British North American possessions are still IN
force.
It is not a surprising thing TO see the President
disagreeing with members Of hls Caolnet anu
treating their opinions as worthless. He has done
il so often and displayed such marked contempt
for their advice that prominent men of his own
party have come TO be reconcried TO what they
discreety term his idiosyncracies 1t is novel
departure, however. TO see this snub to Mr. Bayard
advertised in the Government organs and by the
poet laureates Of the Administration as an act OF
courage and vigor characteristic of the man.
and of statesmanlilc calmness.'
Tho assertion that Article xxx OF the Treaty
Of 1871 is no longer in force is the keynote OF the
Presidents whole argument without it tho
message has no foundation to stand on For a
complete refutation of Mr.. Ceveland's reasoning
the reader is referred to tho speech made by Mr,
Edmunds to-day, which will be found in another
column Il shows conclusivcly the error into
which the President has fallen and adds another
leaf 10 that remarkable garland of blunders which
has distinguished his essentially executive Ad-
ministration.
NO OCCASION FOR ADDITIONAL POWERS
As TO the Presidents demand for an enlargement
Of powers granted to him under the Act OF
March g. 1887, there exists but single
opinion among Republicans II upon
investigation it appears necessary they
say. that such additional powers are
requisite to carry out an effective system OF
retaliation they shall be granted TO him. but not
otherwise Has such condition of affairs arisen
vet? No say Republicans; it has not 1he
President has steadily refused so far to make
use of the power conferred upon him under
the Retaliatory act of 1887. They are ample
enough to meet the exigences OF the case Let
him trv those first and show to the country an
earnest of his intentions. After that, II they
fail. II will be time enough TO consider other
and more drastic measures But 1t Is contended
bv Republcans-and this was shown IN the
course of the debate In the Senate to-day Dy
Messrs Edmunds, Sherman, iloar. and others
the President has already the powers under
existing law TO do all he asks Congress to
authorize him TO do.
In fact his own Administration has done else
in the present instance About year ago, re-
taliation was successfully employed toward Spain,
which had Disseminated against American vessels
entering ports in Cuba and other Spanish pos
sessions in the West Indies. precedent, If Sucl
were necessary TO guide Mr. Cleveland. might
have been found in proclamation issued under
General Grants Administration, affecting inter
course with Mexico. But Mr. Cleveland chose
70 make the same plea which he made when ne
wished 10 cvade the mandate of the law IN respect
to the purchase Of bonds. insufficient authority.
Then he desired 10 retain burdensome surplus
intact to give some pretcXt to his contemplated
attack upon American industries Now he wishes
to cover an ignoble retreat from an untenaDle
position, and repair as far as 1t IS IN his power
the effect OF the vacillating and pusllanmous
nolicy Of the State Department under his Admin
istration The power lodged in the Secretary oil
the Treasury to regulatc-and prohibit altogether,
if neccssary-the traffic in bond which the PrcSi-
dent wishes the authority TO stop IS plainly
stated. as was ssown by Mr. IIoar. in Sections
3. OO5 and 3.OO6 of the Revised Statutes. Those
sections read:
Section 3OO5-An merchandise arriving at the ports OF
Eew-York Boston, Portland, in Maine, or any other port
specially designated by the Secretary OF the Treasury
and destined for places in the adjacent British provinces
or arriving the port Of point Isabel BrownsYleh IN
Texas, any other port specially deslghaeeu oN Nho
Secretary OF the Treasury destined for places In the
Repubic o, Mexico nav DC entered tho Custom House.
and conveyed in transit through the territory OF the
United states without the payment OF duties under such
regulations "a the Secretary Of the Treasury NAV prescribe
Section 3 3OO6-Imported merchandise In bond or duty
pad and products OF manufactures Of the United States
NAV with the consent OF the authorities OF the
British provinces or Republic OF Mexico be transported
from one port In the United States TO another port teen
over the territory such provinces or Republic oy sch
routes and under such rules regulations and conditions
IS the Secretary OF Treasury may prescribe ana ths
merchandise SO transported shall upon arrival In hs
United States from such provinces or Republic BE esa
In recprd % She liability 20 or exemption from uu, VI
~ - ,he ,r.nsnortatlon lad taken place entirely within
the limits O. the United States.
THE GOVERNMENTS AMPLE AUTHORITY.
II further proof were wanted to show that Mr'
Cleveland's Administration never doubted the eA-
tent Of its power in the premises reference IS
only necessary TO Mr. Mannings circular No. ll6