New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-26
BEHRING SEA And THE DOIf Of DEA'

REHRING SEA md THE DUTY or DEM
OCRATS
THE TRIBUNE, not as partisan journal NOT
in the interest of any man or OF any poh"cai
organization but as an American newspaper
and in the performance of National duty, DC
sires 10 warn its esteemed Democratic coh-
tnmnorarics that this is no time for psrtisan
attacks upon the Administration in connection
with its Behrine Sea policy. The correspond
ence which has just been printed has revealed
a dcplorabe situation, not one that Is beyond
repair, but one that may have unfortunate re-
suits unless the American people act the part
of Americans and not of selfish, unpatrlcuc
partiSans It has been the glory Of our country
that in its foreign policies the people have been
1T the RIGHT time unit Whatever differences
of opinion they may have entertained as to the
wisdom of certain policies, when Their duly
constituted authorities have definitely chosen
all differences among the people have dlSap-
pearcd
This ought to be the case now, especially
in view of the fact that the policy asserted by
Mr. Blaine is in all respects that which his
Democratic predecessor defined. President
Harrison Is to-day willing TO confirm i'll treaty
the arrangement proposed by Mr.. Bayard in
1888 and definitely accepted by Lord Sails
bury This fact should not be forgotten by
our Democratic friends. They must remcm-
Der that Mr.. Bayard spent two years in ne
gOtiations with England. and had practically
concluded them, having received the most dl-
rect and positive assurances from LORD SAILS
bury of his approval OF the scheme for an
efficient closed season. when suddenly Eng
land turned her back upon all these agreements
and said that she must hear from Canada.
The work Of two years was gone Tor holhiiG'
Since then our position has not changed, but
EnglandS clearly has. The correspondence
opened with letter from our state Depart
mcnt recitng all the reasons why the prac-
tees which Lord Salisbury had himself de-
scribcd in 1888 az the wantOn destruction OF
a valuable industry" could not be permitted
to continue 1t was urged that our rights,
however they might be defined, we're III no
way less than those Of Russia, from which we
bought them. The right she exercised wax
that OF dominion-abSohte and exclusive do
minion-ovcr the seal, and this right came down
70 us all unchallcngcd and never invaded. FOR
seventeen years we exercised the same night
without challenge or invasion, and Nh blame
pertinenty claimed that all friendly nations
should oOncede to the United States the same
rights and privileges an the land and i'll the
waters of Alaska which the same friendly ma
tons always conceded to the Empire OF Russia.
This stated the American case as extremely
as the Government wished 10 put it, but care
was taken immediately TO offer 70 renew the
negotiations of 1888 NJ the point where Lord
Salisbury had broken them of.
This offer was accepted, and the British
Government renewed its assurances Of an in
tenton to meet Us in practicable and effective
scheme for the protection of the seal We
stood just where we stood two years before
when Lord Salisbury commended our proposals
and gave them the advantage OF his own sym
pathetic amendments. But instead OF return
ing TO this scheme, the British Premier cSsaycd
to prove that John Quincy Adams III so had
urged that Bchring Sea was an open sea. Us
matter Of fact, Mr.. Adams had done nothing
of the sort but what if he had 2 The ncgo,ia-
ton was now drawing around another question
bow the seals might be protected wherever
abstract rights lay. 1t is difficult 10 under
stand Lord oalisburys dispatch Of May 30 in
which he makes his astonishing misconNtruc-
ton OF John Quincy AdamS's position, except
as a distinct barrier in the way of an agree
! mcnt. No one can carefully read Mr. Adams 5
DISPATCHES and the treaties which he succeeded
in obtaining as the result OF them without
knowing that his language and aims were as
remote from Bchring Sea and the seal as from
a situation in the moon.
The British Government has not appeared
| to want to settle this dispute What then, can
| it want? It manilcStS no inclination TO create
a closed season which can be of real avail II
| saving the seal, and we are left to enforce Oul
rights or to lower our moderate claims. The
! situation is not one to be trIlcd with. Par
tsan appeals and partisan blows are alike III
opportunc in American journals or anon
American statesmen. The Administration
hands should be strengthened. not weakened
| We are asking nothing novel; nothing inc0n
sistent with cur former positions, and nothing
not absolutely necessary 10 the safety ant
permancnce of the seal industry. Unless the
| Democrats wish President Harrison to nyitt
the county's humiliation and loss, they SHOULD
speak earnestly aud heartily in commentator
of the Government and in appeal that Mr.
Blaine shall stand fairly on the ground frs
occupied by Mr.. Bayard