The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-10-03
The Presidents Record.

The presidents desperate attempt to
retrieve the diplomatic reputation Of his
adr-:nisfration renders review Of its
I Caiadi4n policy timely. When he en-
tered upon office transition stage in the
relation Of the United States and the Do
minion was approaching The fisheries
clauses Of the treaty Of Washington had
proved an unsatisfactory and ineqaitable
arrangement 50 far as American interests
were concerned. An exerbitsnt price for
inshore fishing rights had been exacted
by the Halifax arbitrators. The award
( of s, 100000 vas paid under protest, and
when the period which il embraced had
passed there WAS no disposition on the
part Of the United States 10 reopen nego-
tiations for renewal Of the contract.
( Experience mas demonstrated that the
I Canadian inshOre fisheries were not
worth as much to American fishermen
rs the privilege OF free entry to the New
England market WIS 70 the Dominion
fishing feet Accordingly notice was
given to the British government Of the
abrogation Of the fisheries articles. By
act Of Congress and President Arthur's
proclamation these articles were to lapse
en- July l, 1855. The American fishing
fleet had known for two years what
would happen, and were not only fully
prepared for the change, bet very eager
to have their home market protected
against their Canadian rivals
This was the situation when the presi-
dent was iaaugurated Congress had ab-
rogated the fisheries articles President
Arthur bad proclaimed the change Of
policy, and American fishermen we're de-
lighted with the prospect Of securing
relief from the burdens Of an inequiiabie
treaty. What was the first diplomatic
act of the new administration in these
circumstances , Secretary Bayard having
been approached by the astute British
minister affected alarm on account Of the
reyersion of the treaty Of 1915 in the mid
die Of a fishing season. He gratefully ac-
cepted an offer from Canada for tenn
porary extension of the inshore fishing
privileges, provided the president in his
first message would recommend . settle
ment Of the fisheries dispate by arbita-
ton The British minister was thus
allowed in the first instance 70 dictate a
passage Of the message relating TO the
fisheries. The abTogatei clauses were
continued in force for six months without
authority Of congress. 4 policy in the
interest Of American fisherman. which
had received The approval Of senate and
house, and had been officially proclaimed
by President Arthur, was reversed before
the new administration had been in
power for three months.
The president carried out Secretary
Bayard's compact with the British minis
ter, bat the senate rejected by decisive
vote his recommendation for arbitration.
The season Of 1885 opened with the
treaty Of ISIS IN operation. and the FIRST
series OF ontrageson American commerce
occurred on the Dominion seaboand
Congress passed a retaliation measure
without division in party lines. The
president made no attempt 10 enforce
this legislation during that season, nor in
the following year. although as many az
100 American vessels we're boarded, seiz-
Ell, harassed and subjected 70 expense or
annoyance on the Dominion seaooard.
He met congress with the complaint that
the retaliatoFy powers were Inadequate,
and the declaration that diplomacy was
the only remedy. The senate promptly
enlarged those powers in lSs7, Demo
crats and Republicans voting as one man.
Then vas witnessed strange spectacle
The administration exerted all its infiu-
ence for months to prevent the passage
Of any retaliation measure. The Belmont
and Manning projects were brought for
ward apparently for the express purpose
of blocking legislation altogether on this
slbject. This naueuver was defeated by
/ TIT Pdc7ti-C VI AA4E o1AlalAE AAtt III tAAN
house largely by Republican votes.
The administration having been twice
armed with authority from congress
evaded its responsibility, neglected TO en-
force the retaliation acts and pursued its
diplomatic adventures. After hundreds
of American vessels had been harassed
and denied their commeAcial rights it
made a humiIiating treaty of surrender
without securing reparation for wrongs
suffered by American citizens or for in
suits offered to the American flag, At
the same time it had loaded Canadian
corporations with gratuities worth mil-
lions Of dollars to them in their warfare
upon American commerce and railways
his is the administration III. suddenly
bounces upon the scene Ike a circus
clown in the stripes and spaneles Of the
American lag, shrieking that it will re-
taliate and fght hard if congress viii
only furnish il with larger pair Of box
ing gloves-Nslr York Tribune.