Wichita eagle., 1888-09-09
HIS LATEST TRICK.
PRESS OPINION OF ClEVELAND'S
RETALlATORY MESSAGE.

Two Great Republican Journals Condemn
the Bombastic Document, and . Third
Laughs at lit Is 'Bad Diplomacy
and Good Politics"
The New York Tribune says Of Presi-
dent Cleveland's message asking for
power to retaliate on Canada:
A direct answer may be made TO the
presidents message on the rejected treaty.
He asked for enlarged retaliatory powers,
on the ground that those with which he
has already been armed are inadequate.
If he had enforced either of the retalia-
ton acts he would have been in position
to decide whether they were or were lot
adequate for the protection OF American
interests. If he had awaited himself of
the legislation already enacted and had
found il insufficient, he would have been
justified in recommending more stringent
measures. As it is, ne simply begS the
question. Having persisted III negotiat-
ing treaty in opposition TO the ad-
vice given to him ct his request
by the senate in 1886, and having
Systematically neglected TO make use Of
the retaliation acts, he is not justified in
complaining that the powers conferred
upon him are insufficient. Having
abruptly decided to reverse his entire
policy il dealing with Great Britain and
Canadian corporations, il would have
been more becoming If his message to
congress had been less defiant and ag
gressive in tone He has tried to have
his own way and has made q wretched
failure OF diplomacy. In submitting TO
the viii Of congress, as expressed IN the
retaliation acts, meeknesS would have
been q graceful virtue on his part. Ac-
tua experience from the operation of
those acts ought to have preceded shril
demands for additional retaliatory powers.
The New York Press says: President
Cleveland'S message upon the rejected
fisheries treaty is by long odds the fun
NEST of the many exhibitions OF himself
which our Falstaffian chief magistrate
has ever given TO the public. For months
he has been trying TO scare the senate
into accepting his diplomatic added eggs
by referring TO The trouble he could make
under the retaliation act of the last con-
gress. That scheme having failed. he
now, without using any of those powers.
steps up jauntily and asks for more
weapons with which TO force England 10
act justly byus.
This, of course, is retaliation upon
the senate for rejecting his treaty. His
heart was set upon paying the stakes Tor
which Secretary Bayard played n game of
diplomacy with Mr. Joseph Chamberlain.
But the people and the senate discovered
that the latter used marked cards. and
would not chime in with his scheme.
Therefore, President Cleveland asks for
additional powers of retaliation which
may be so used as to bring about war.
The senate is not likely to be alarmed
by this thunder and lightning talk. The
presidential buffer already has his boots
and belt stuffed with retaliatory revolvers
and sabers, and there is a retaliatory
bowie knife down the back of his neck.
He Will not get into serious trouble if he
gets.a retaliatOry cannon cracker besides.
If he wants retaliation acts, by all
means let him have thcn-not this alone,
but as many more as he asks for Then
the country viii see how quickly law
can pass into ''innocuoUs desuetude"
under an unpatriotic president.
The Philadelphia Press, after remark
ing on the presidents peculiar policy Of
using messages as campaign documents,
says:
He is defeated on his free trade message.
Even he knows it and his party in every
doubtful state has seen it for month.
He tries new tack He starts a new
issue. He appeals to national feeling.
and he ranks himself and his admlnstra-
tion-where an American executive and
his cabinet should always stand-in de-
Tense of the rights and privileges of all
Americans. But he does this on lines and
in way to get all the politics he can CO..
Of it.
Continuing, The Press says: This IS
bad diplomacy and shrewd politics" 1t
may not be worthy Of an American presi-
dent, but it shows a keen sense Of the
needs Of the Democratic candidate IL
risks much for the nation, bat it does all
it can for the Democratic campaign. II
has been possible, as we have said over
and over again. at any time before and
still more after the retaliatory act of 1887
was passed to put pressure on Canada
which she could not resist and against
which Great Britain could make no effect
ual protest. This could be done by simply
altering the treasury regulations for the
transhipment Of Canadian goods in bond
He has taken an international pose before
all the world defying Canadian lightning.
Suppose-which is out of the question
he were able by this vigorous" attitude
10 get in q serious snarl with Great Brit
ain in the next sixty days. What stock
In trade this weuld be for a presidential
candidate beaten in August on the ground
he had chosen In December ard shifting
the issue TO new field in the last two
months Of his campaign! What chance
TO befog the economic issue between FREQ
trade and protection, on which the doubt
full states are going one way. and the
wrong way, for President Cleveland, with
this new appeal But this uill not do.
Mr.. Cleveland has taken his ground. He
viii have to make his fight On l..