New-York tribune., 1888-08-26
TIE PkESIDENTS accord.


The Presidents desperate attempt to retrieve
the diplomatic reputation Of his Administrator
renders review of its Canadian policy timely.
When he entered upon Office transition stage
in the relations of the United States and the
Dominion was approaching. The hshenes
clauses of the Treaty of Washington had
proved an unsatisfactory and ineqmtable ar
rangement so far as American interests were
concerned. An exorbitant price for inshore
fishing rights had been exacted by the halliaA
arbitrators The award of $4,000 was
paid under protest, and when the period whlch
it embraced had passed there was no dispose
tion on the part of the United States to reopen
negotiations for a renewal Of the contract tA-
perience had demonstrated that the Canadian
inshore fisheries were not worth as much 'o
American fishermen as the privilege Oh 1ree
entry to the New England market was TO inc
Dominion fishing feet. Accordingly, notice
was given to the British Government Oh the
abrogation of the fisheries articles 10y acp Oh
Congress and President Arthur's proclamation
these articles were to lapse on July l. 1901
The American fishing feet had known Tor TWO
years what would happen, and were not only
fully prepared for the change. but very eager
to have their home market protected against
their Canadian rivals.
This was the situation when the President
was inaugurated Congress had abrogated the
fisheries articles President Arthur had pro-
claimed the change of policy, and American
fishermen were delighted with the prospect OF
securing relief from the burdens Of an lnequi-
table treaty. What was the first diplomatic
act of the new Administration in these circum-
stances? Secretary Bayard having been ap-
preached by the astute British Minister a1ecu-
ed alarm on account of the reversion to the
Treaty of 1918 in the middle of fishing sea-
son. He gratefully accepted an offer from
Canada for temporary extension of the lnshore
fishing privileges, provided the Fresideh' Ill
his first message would recommend a settle
ment of the fisheries dispute by arbltrauon'
The British Minister was thus allowed III lhe
first instance to dictate passage OF the mes
SAGE relating to the fisheries. The abroga,ed
clauses were continued in force for SIX months
without authority of Congress. policy IN the
interest of American fishermen. which had re-
ceived the approval of Senate and House. ana
had been officially proclaimed by Preslueh'
Arthur, was reversed before the new ADMIN
istration had been in power for three months
The President carried out Secretary Bayard
comnact with the British Minister, but the Sen
ate rejected by decisive vote his recon-
mendation for arbitration. The season Oh
1886 opened with the Treaty of 1918 IN opera
ton. and the first series Of outrages on Aneri-
can commerce occurred On the Dominion sea-
hoard. Congress passed Retaliation measure
without division on party lines. The President
m.da no attempt to enforce this legislation
during that season, nor in the following year,
although as many as four hundred American
vessels were boarded, seized. harassed ana SUD-
iected to expense or annoyance on the Donillilon
seaboard He met Congress with complaint
that the retaliatory powers were inadequate
and the declaration that diplomacy was the
only remedy. The Senate promptly enlarged
those mowers in 1887, Democrats and Repuo-
licans voting as one man. Then was witnessed
strange spectacle. The Administration eA-
erted all its influence for months to prevent lhe
massage of any Retaliation measure. Ihe BEL
mont and Manning projects were brought 1or-
ward apparently for the express purpose OF
blocking legislation altogether on this supJeco
This manoeuvre was defeated by the passage
of the Senate bill in the House largely by Re
publican votes.
The Administration having been twice armed
with authority from Congress, evaded It's re-
sponsibility, neglected to enforce the Retalla
tion acts, and pursued its diplomatic advent,
ures. After hundreds of American vessels hao
been harassed aud denied their commercia
rights it made humiliating treaty Of surrender
without securing reparation for wrongs SUI
fered by American citizens or for insults ohereC
to the American flag. At the same time 1t haC
loaded Canadian corporations with gratmtie'
worth millions of dollars to them in their war
fare upon American commerce and railways
This is the Administration that suddenly
bounces upon the scene like circus clown II
the stripes and spangles of the American flag
shrieking that it will retaliate and tight harC
if Congress will only furnish it with large
pair of boxing-gloves.