New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-13
1npD SALJSBURY,S ETASIONS.

The Administration has been fortunate IN
having the warm support and encouragement
Of the leading Democrats in both houses OF
Congress in its Behring Sea contentious. SEN
aor Morgan. the principal Democratic member
Of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee ana
Representative McCrcary. who holds similar
nlacc in the House Committee, have been car
nest in advocating the sturdy defence OF our
rights and in approving Mr.. BlaineS rcSouc
DISPATCHES This is not only gratifying to the
country. rs furnishing an edifying example OF
notriotism the more valuable because the Dem
ocratc and NIugwump newspapers have so
generally given indirect support 10 England by
minimizing the matters at issue and by crying
out for arbitration no matter on what terms, but
if is powerful aid in the rightful solution OF
the controversy II gives the best assurance to
the President that in standing firmly Tor the
right of protection of the seal, or for an ar
filtration which shall he full as well as Inn
martial. he will not be compelled 20 make
partv question of matter involving National
rights and interests.
Both Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. McCrealy take the
same view Of Lord SaIisbuly's latest dispatch
that we expressed yesterday. Avoiding Mr.
Blaine'S Argument. he gratutously assumed that
we had abandoned the principal part OF our
case. and repeated his own earlier proposition
10 albitrate the naked question, " Does inter-
national law permit the exercise of sovereign
authority upon the high seas" with only this
addition: "Did England ever conccdc such
a right to Russia 90 And this is presented as
# we ourselves had narrowed the issue to these
points and rs if his Lordship were waiting
hot. thnrn 40 pnul1
This is discourteons, TO say the least OF IT,.
When statesmen are in controversy. Tor one
Of them 10 ignore the others argument ana
blandlv TO assume that vital questions IN dl>-
pute are abandoned. when, on the contrary,
they are being strongly urged. and having thus
,erencly disposed OF the principal issues, to
agree to arbtrate the rest rs if agreeing TO
substantially the whole of the others demand IS
10 he calplcSSly inattentlyc or deliberately
cyasIvc Senator Morgan undoubtedly put the
real fact in a nutshell when he said that Lord
salisbury was trying TO get mp an arbitration
from which the real question Is TO be elm
mated" And he will fry in vain.
There is not the slightest pretcnce OF an
sworinp Mr. Blainc'S admirable argument PROV
ing that England's Treaty of 1928 with Russia
,aS supreme authority in tho Behnng Sea.
Lord Salisbury receives Mr.. BalncS mass Of
fact. historical and documentary. with nothing
bat lame denial of their applicability and u
consent that they 90 into the arbitration. We
might be satisfied with this, aud might consent
here to limit the issue, but for the fact thaHthe
decision would have no weight aS against any
nation excepting England We would be try
ing "A narrow pont--our rights against England
on narrow ground-England> concessions 10
against the world on the broad ground that the
seal are ours that we bought them OF nation
competent to sell that they provide n valuable
industry which can be conducted only on land :;
that we own the land their breeding resort,
which they leave only for food. and that if they
are mOlested in the water the industry they
provide is fcarfully injured and sure soon TO be
destroyed International law is the doctrine Of
Righteousness in the intercourse OF nations. The
fnctS we have cited create "a reason in that law
WHY an exceptional jurisdiction over llchring
Sea TO be employed for the protection of these
seal, should be conceded to the United States.
TO say that the ends Of justice could be secured
| by international agreement, is to say what may
| he true. but Of the truth Of which there is no
assurance. since they would be left at tho mercy
| of the voIitiOns of other States. II the facts we
| can prove do not create right England has no
motive for refusing to let the arbitrator say so.