Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-24


The action of the administration in response to
the rejection OF the fisheries treaty Is prompt and
decided The senate, giving the American con-
struction 10 the treaty OF 1918, has expressed
Itself as satisfied with the present treaty relations
OF the United states and Canada, and attributing
the grievances OF our fishermen solely 10 the
harsh unneighborly and unjustinabe conduct of
Canada, mas pointedly intimated TO the President
That retaliation and not negotiation Is what Is
neeoed- The President quickly takes the hint; and
10 defend himself against the suspicion OF suojec-
ton 10 English influences which his opponents
have developed from his failure to his retalia
tory powers against Canada and his resort TO ne
tiation and an alleged surrender OF American
rights. he places himself upon record as sympa-
thetcally appreciativeo OF the wrongs OF the Amer
lean fishermen at the hands OF "the inexcusably
harsh and oppressive" Canadian officials, and as
retalationist whose only desire Is for greater
and more effective powers TO retaliate than
have been given him. He not only intimates
that be will keep In mind the right to shut out
Canadian vessels and Canadian goods from the
United States. already bestowed by Congress, but
asks the power TO suspend by proclamation the
laws and regulations by which freight is carried
In bond to or from Canada over American terri
tory, and suggests that unjust canadian discrmi-
nation against Americans In the use OF the Wei
land and other canals should also be vigorously
met II is yet too early 10 note the fun effects Of
the message. But the Indications are that
the democrats will be pleased wiLni as political
stroke. placing the administration on the popular
side CT the fisheries question. and elienng the
party somewhat from the suggestion OF pro-Eng-
hsh tendencies; and that the republicans will pro-
nounce IL palpable and tricky change OF front, a
Dlun 20 cover the exposure OF surrender by treaty
10 England, and a sham demand by the President
OF powers which he does not need TO conceal and
70 excuse his failure to use the ample powers Of
ar rfva him h.
gress. IL may be expected that the
misoehaving Canadians will shake In their shoes
10 ind all Americans joining the party OF retalia-
ton- describing partisan considerations and the
coloring given 70 acts by opposing politicians
there seems to be reason why the message
should not be well received by the American peo-
pie The words OF the President, In conjunction
with the previous words and acts OF Congress,
cannot fail TO give our fishermen the
benefit OF whatever improvement In Cana
dian behavior may result from the knowledge
that the whole nation Is In earnest in its demand
1ordec"Rt treatment OF its citizens The additional
measures OF retaliation suggested seem TO be en-
trely proper in themselves and il is not OF special
consequence whether they are necessary 10 the
settlement OF the fisheries controversy unless the
request for them. If not granted at once is
decay the application OF the other powers OF re-
taliat.on previously given.
Mr.. Blaines savings bank argument, In his
speech at Bangor yesterday, would have peen
stronger II he had had Official figures for his esti-
mates OF the proportion OF working people who
ngure among the depOsitors in the banks OF this
country and Great Britain. In all the larger cities
OF America, and presumptlyeiy In the smaller
towns and viii ,ges as we'll very large fraction
OF the depositors In savings banks persons and
estates FAR removed IRON what Is know as the
working" class The courts often order moneys
In controversy 70 oe deposited In savings banks,
pending the decision OF a suit; and widows
and orphans who never did a days work
OF any sort In their lives resort 70 these
institutions as a means OF getting their heritage
invested safely without being obliged TO transact
the business OF planting it here and there them
selves Indeed, In New York, Massachusetts, and
several other states, the savings banks wandered
at one time 50 far from the purpose for which they
were originally designed that they had to be sud-
denly brought back by the legislature with sharp
turn, and not only have a limit placed on the
amount which might stand TO the credit OF a single
depositor In any circumstances, but a prohibition
OF the payment OF interest deposits In excess OF
a sum even smaller. IL Is hard TO believe, there
fore, that the ratio OF working peoples savings to
the savings OF the community at large
Is 50 widely diverse In the Two countries
as Mt. Blaine assumed IL 20 be. But admit
ting even this, he should, In seeking for the
causes OF the disparity. have touched upon one
highly fatterng 10 the good sense OF our people,
namely, the use the wOrkingmen on opposite
sides OF the ocean make OF their wages. Intem-
perance Is a vice with strong enough grip on our
people, unhappily; but the share OF his earnings
which the average British workngman spends In
the tap-rOom would make the average Massachu-
sets workingman open his eyes IN amazement
The habits OF a nation often have as much to do
with It's statistics OF prosperity as Its economic
policy.