Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-08-31
THE MESSAGE AND THE SITUA-
TTON


a Republican speech.
THE MESSAGE AND THE SITUA-
7ION.
The masterstroke of public policy achieved
| by the President last week has most i'm
portant party effect, butts not, on the Presi-
dents side, of partisan origin.
Secretary Manning, as well as President
Cleveland, early in the present admins
tration wrote vigorous state papers on the
fisheries dispute, and united in predicting
that unless diplomacy was successfully in
voked to terminate the difference between
the United States and England's North
American Dominion, more radical meas
ures would necessarily be resorted to.
The fisheries treaty was rejected by the
Senate for no other conceivable reason than
to prevent the advantage that Democrats
would derive from the settlement of so i'm
portant question by President Cleveland.
1t is true that FAULT was found with some of
the provisions of the treaty as agreed upon,
but it was within the power of the Senate
to pass amendments securing the removal
Of any Objectionable features
The Senate exercised such power in the
case of the Chinese treaty when "it was
politics" to do so, and the amendments thus
made were the occasion of the postpone
ment Of the actual operation of that very
| happy solution OF dangerous question.
But the Senate, which amended for partisan
motives in one case, refused for similar rea-
sons to even take amendments under con-
sideration in the other case, thus making
contradictory records on similar matters
with the sole purpose of putting Cleveland
in hole"
But the President was not made the VIC
tim Of the Republican plot to fasten upon
him the blame for the continuance of British
annoyance to our commerce and fisheries
In his message he completely turned the
tables by the courageous discharge of a
manifest duty. He asked an extension Of
the power of retaliation conferred upon the
impose upon our citizens, punishment upon
the unneighborly Dominion may be in
ilicted without injury to Americans.
Any suspension Of intercourse regard
ing the fisheries or of direct commerce be-
tween Canada and the United States, would
necessarily inconvenience American bust
ness. But Canada has long enjoyed, through
our good nature, the privilege of transport
ing in bond across our territory goods taken
for through shipment by Canadian trans
portation lines. In this way the British
have nearly absorbed the trade, via America,
between China and japan and Europe; and
there is reason to suppose that the English
lines would soon monopolize that important
commerce, because their routes are shorter
than ours the distance over any of them be-
ing nearly 1900 miles less than that of any
United States line.
Senator German, of Maryland, explained
this matter very fully in the debate which
occurred in the first week of this month
Few ioresaw that the heated discussion Of
that day would be but prelude to an ex
citing agitation in which all the people OF
the United States would be engaged.
In the field of party politics the force of
the Presidents position is simply this: The
Republican campaign on The cry of Demo-
cratic subserviency to British interests is
slenced. There can be no more Haunting
of the Union Jack in the face OF American
voters to induce their suffrages in favor of
the Republican party. The American flag
is now, in the sight of all, as it ever should
be, the symbol of Democracy. 1t is the
Democratic President who stands for Amer
lean rights against all corners, be the conse-
quences what they may. 1t is the Repub-
lican party that exercises the Senatorial
veto power to prevent the vindication of
American equality with Great Britain and
to cripple the authority of our Government
to compel justice to its citizens living abroad
or engaged in pursuits that take them be-
yond our borders.
The question is complicated as well us
interesting, and must furnish food for much
discussion during the campaign, The issue
OF tariff and taxation will not be dropped,
but the people will realize that Democratic
administration is running upon its record,
and that everything President Cleveland
and his advisers have done in matters of
importance is to be taken into account in
determining how votes shall be cast on
election day.-N. Y. Star
The Cecil county (Md) Nesos, which has
heretofore been an independent paper of