New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-07-25
TRTFLTNG UTTH AMERICAN RIGHTS.

No matter what SERVICES MI bIdllc may
render the American Nation, no matter how
firmly he may uphold its rights, nor how aplE
he nav contend against those who invade
them. il is impossible of course, that he should
escape the hostile criticisms OF those who nave
made If their mission in life to abuse him.
These people. with notable exception or two,
are now buSy engaged in proving that his
NEGOTIATIONS with England about the seal Ill
pobr;nc Sea have carried lis further than ever
from a settlement Of the question. Some OF
tbom venture to say that Mr.. Bayard had the
matter practicallv adjusted. and that Mr. Blaine
has undoue the excellent work of his prcde-
oossor. If is patent 10 everybody who has read
the correspondence that this Is wiliul false
hood. and that in disseminating 1t all con-
siGcrationS of patriotism and public duty arc
sunk in the mOraSs of prejudice. his nov"
ever. is of small account to the professional
Blalnc-hatcr. From Lis point of view he was
horn into the world for the high and noble
purpose of living about Mr.. Blaine, and lie he
will and must, no matter at what cost TO the
public interest.
Mr. Blaine has taken occasion in his letters
70 Lord Salisbury to show that Mr.. BayardS
conduct of the negotiations in 1887 and 1883
phcpS Of whose ability Mr. Blaine does not
conceal his admiration, the Cleveland Admin
i>tration came within a measurable distance
of 4 satisfactory treaty with England, some
Of the most valuable features OF which were
proposed by Lord Salisbury himself. Mr..
pbclpS convinced the British Premier OF the
necessity for preventing pclagic sealing, and
the Arrangement, a. il was Formulated and
agrocd upon secured this necessary end, and
secured il all the better by reason OF Lord
Sali,hury'S own suggestions. But at this point
Canada stepped in and Great britain allowed
herself 10 be ovcrulcd by her dependency The
conferences with Mr.. Phelps wore broken of.
and the Cleveland Administration left the dis
Dutc lust where il was in the beginning.
Nothing whatever had been accomplished. ana
the reason was that Sir John Macdonald had
vetoed the acts Of Lord Salisbury
The present Administration found England
in a much less complainant humor than that
in which she had been while Mr.. Phelps was
negotiating Lord Salisbury was charged 70
the muzzla with protests and quibblc> and
he al once launched these in yollcyS AT Mr.
Blaine He endcayorcd to make 1t ont That
John Quincy Adams, when he questioned the
competency of the Russian Gar 10 close the
ports Of the North Pacific Ocean, had been
claiming that BchrnG sea was an open sea.
and he pressed this rs a charge oil lHcoi>iN-
tcncy against the American Government.
Nothing could have been more lacking IN per
Thence than this contention. for The argument
that Mr.. Blaine had advanced and that Lord
Salisbury was called upon to answer he'd been
presented in support Of o,u night - protect
the seal whether b hiring Sca Wa closed or
open Mr. Blaine, however, responded 10 the
British statesman with historical paper OF
wonderful brilliancy and power. he showed
that NJ, Adams had been finding fault with
Russia for attempting t. extend her DOMINION
southward along our American coast from the
55th degree of latitude TO the Dist where the
" distance from shore 70 shore" Is Mr.. Adams
himself said dis not less than 1000 miles
II is most extraordinary that any British Prime
Minister should mISc0usIrue Mr.. Adams words
or purposes. since he was leading a cause
against Russia in which Englnnd'S intc'e>t>
were common with ours. Bchrng sea was
not thought Of in the negotiations OF $50.
Russia was claiming the right to exclude us
and England from commercial privileges among
! the islands and along the coast OF North Ameri-
|
| clinng TO be excluded
Even had Lord -aliShmy'S facts been ac-
curatc they would have had no Application =
! the case Mr. Blaine he'd presented. u Is a
| sufficient confession OF the UtJcr weakness o.
! the British position that Lord Salisbury, hay
/ ing acknowledged the jIStness Of tha; case,
when it was originally stated by Minister
! Phelps. now eyadcs il when il is rcSlatcd by
! Mr. Blaine. In 1855 he admits our rights and
offer, t. make Il treaty which guarantees Us
against their iniraction. In 1880 he avoids
4 discussion Of those rights and seeks 10 draw
! Mr. B.lnc into another controversial arena.
This is especially annoying when lis motive
is 50 palprbly unfair 1t is an effort On Eng
| lands part 80 establish demand Of her colony
in which she ha, already confessed her want
Of faith. The letter with which Nh Blame
opened his correspondence with Sir Julian
Pauncciotc remains unanswered No attempt
is made TO explain a departure III interfering
with our fisheries which for ninety years had
been held in exclusive jurisdiction No attempt
is made to deny or to justify the effects OF
what Mr. Elaine Justly describes as ga viola
ton of natural law and neighbours rights
No attomp; is made TO harmonic Englands
position in 1883 with that She now holds. No
answer is offered TO Mr. Blainc'S comparison
Of the situation in Bchring sea with that i'll
the Gulf of Alanar. But these points must he
met and met to the satisfaction OF American
public opinion before this country will bulge
an inch from its just and fair position.
TIE NEXT ENGLTSH SESSION.