, 1890-07-24

I'll tho cession Of Alaska 10 tho United
States in 1857. This ubdisturbed pos
session continued 10 the United States
until 1880, the passing whaling vessels
abstaining froW seal capture. He says
that this unifoym accordance Of all et-
tempts TO take fur seals IN those wa,ers
had been constant recognition of tho
right held and exercised. first by Rus
sia. and subsequently by this govern
meat. II bad also been recognition o.
the fact now held beyond denial oI
doubt, that the taking Of seal In open
sea rapidly leads 70 their extinction.
ain BRIEF" he continues, this wal
the condition OF the Alaska fur seal
fisheries down 10 the year 1886. Prec-
edents, customs and rights had been
established and enioincd. either by Rus.
sia or the United states. For nearly q
century the two nations were the only
powers that owned foot OF land on tht
continents that bordsred on the islands
included Within the Behring water
whore the seal resort tn breed. Certain
Canadian vessels In 1886 asserted theil
right to enter and by a ruthless course
destroy the fisheries. and with them de
sfroy also the resulting valuable indus
tries Tho government Of the United
States at once proceeded to check thii
movement. which unchecked was sure x
do great and irreparable harm
II was . cause OF upfeignet
surprise to the United State.
that her majes.y's government should
Immediately interfere TO defend and en-
conrage-surely to encourage by defend
ing-the course OF the Canadians In dis
turbing an industry which had been
carefully developed for more than ninety
years under the fisgs of Russia and ths
United States, and developed in such q
manner as not to interfere with the pub
lie rights or private industries Of any
people or any other person. SO great
has been the injury 10 the fisheries
from the Irregular and destructive
slaughter of seal in the open waters
Of Behring sea by Canadian YES
sells, whereas the government had
allowed only q hundred thousand
10 be taken annually for . series oi
years. that it Is now compelled to re-
duce the number TO 10000. IL. from
years Of this violation OF natural laws
and neighbors' rights has reduced the
annual slaughter OF seal by 40 per cent,
II Is easy to see how short period will
be required TO work the total destruc-
ton OF the fisheries The ground upon
which her majcsty's govern ment justi.
fes, or at least defends, the course of the
Canadian vessels rests upon the fact
that they are committing Their acts oi de-
struction ON the high seas. IL Is doubt
fui whether her maJesty's government
would apids oy ms rule II
an attempt were made to interfere with
the pearl fisheries OF Ceyion. which ex-
tend more than twenty miles from the
shore line and have oeen enjoyed by
England without moieststion ever since
their acquisition So we'll recognized Is
the British ownership of those fisheries,
regardless, of the limits of the tbree-mile
line that her I'm iss,v,. vovernmar, S.sI.
authorizsd 70 sen the pearl hsheries
right rom year TO year 10 tho highest
bidder. Nor Is it credible that modes OF
fishing on the Grand banks. aItocether
nr.c,;c,hIa h.,, h,.hIv a..,,,,c,,v.
,-o,,,s, 49, ';n.,;sss ..,., ~,
ou'" oe Jus"neu, " even per"'''eu' oy
ureAt nritain, on the plea OF vicious acts,
committed more than three miles from
shore"
He mentions dvnamite .s a one of ,be.e
r,.,bod. a,5 .,,,ir,...
~ s
Does her mhJes'y government ser
iousiy MAINTAIN that the laws OF nations
are poweriess TO prevent such viola
tion of the common rights of man
Are m. supnor,.rz of ;,s,ice a, ali
49,, =, ,.J-o,s..d s,'. - =.
..o"' ~ - 1ee''e. .'ieou Ps''n' 70 pre.
vent wrongs or customs SO destructive
ihis government has been ready TO con-
cede much, in order to adjust all differ
epces of view. and has. In the iudpmen,
of tbs nrs.ident Arcade, rror,o.ed . 90.
,,,,<,, 30, s.,,. ..,s,. -.
~ my 5.A'' Dus sehei
ous. Inc piesiuent now awaits win
uecp interesI not unmixed with soiici-
tuoe, any pfoposihoh ior reasonable
anJustment whicn her malestys gov
sinmsnt may submit Inc forci-
pie resistance 10 when this gov
srnnent consfaiheo IN benr-
ing sea Us, IN the presidents
judgment, uemenueu' not only by the
necessary Oh deiend,ng the ttaditional
ana Iohg-eStapiisheo nghts OF the n'ted
STATES, put also the hghts OF good GOV
eminent ano goou morns the world
over. IN tn,s contention the govern
ment OF the United states has no occa'
sion ana no desire TO withdraw or mod
ny the positions which has at any
VINE maintained against tne ciaims ol
the imperial government OF Russia The
United states VIII not withhold from
any nation those privileges which IL de
msnded for ITSELF when Alaska was Q
part OF the Russian empire nor is ths
government OF the United states dis
posed 70 exercise IN tnose possessions
any less power OF authority than it wa'
Wiling 10 concede 10 the imperial gov
eminent OF Russia whsn It's sovereignty
extended ~ 20 tnem.