Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-02-13
Democrats and Bs nag sea.

are now Immediately bound because
they have all federal power.
But there are Democrats who should
speak to the country before il i too late
Ex-Presideut Cleveland and ex-Seereta
ny Bayard are among them, and 50 are
the Democratic members Of the Foreign
Affairs committees IN Congress.
Why were tho Caroliua, Thornton
and Oawnrd released in February, 1887,
and why were seizures made again 10
August, 1887, but none in all of 1888?
What influences had the ears Of our rev.
cnne cutter captains in August of 1887
aud not in 1888? Will - Cleveland
and Bayard take tie country into their
confidence and explain? They both are
in the way of making speeches on public
affairs. To be sure, both are private
citizens, but ex- President Cleveland
seems never to weary Of saying that pri-
vate citizens have public duties And
then, too, there are Morgan, Brown,
Payne and Eustis, who are Democratic
members Of the Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee. They should have examin-
ed critically the Russian cession to US of
1867. and the statutes Of 1868, 1870
and 1890, and have formed very decided
opinions thereon. Senator Morgan pre-
scented to the Senate the other day, after
the application to the Supreme Court for
the writ If prohibition" a resolution
Of shrek. What idea, purpose and
plan were behind it? What territory
and dominion do those four Senators
think were ceded to US by the Russian
treaty of 1867? Was it anything more
than territory and dominion on the con-
tinent and in the islands? II there
were "appurtenances" what were they?
Did the treaty demarcation Of limits en-
large the territory and dominion on the
continent aud on the islands, or the
"appurtenances," so as to transfer to US
jurisdiction over waters outside Of ter
ritorial jurisdiction given by the law OF
nations? The columns Of the Hcroti
are wide open to either or all Of those
four Democratic Senators If they will
speak coneisoly, briefly and right to the
point. Do they or either of them really
believe that, by the Russian treaty o
1867 or by public law, Congress had OIL
has now the jurisdiction 20 legisla;e fol
a British merchantmen in the plsce the
Carolina, or Thornton. or Onward, OF
Sayward was when seized, or that the
municipal laws Of the United States car
lawfully authorize the seizure of Brit
ish schooner for their killing fur seals
or that Congress can give to a fedora
district court jurisdiction to confscate !
British vessel for.killing fur seals in am
III ruuSe pIurrs:
The Hcruld has not denied aud doe
not now deny TIE. Congressional power
ut what do the four Democratic mem
hers Of tho Foreign Affairs Committe,
think? Nothing is to be gained by fiat
terry. or sycophancy, or wheedling, o
pompous genoralties in this business. -
If Democrats who say they are lawyer
and publcis;s and who aspire to be lea
dcrs of opinion have meditated on those
questions and have formed an opinion
what is it? 1t won't do for the country
to run the risk Of performances like those
by Blaiue in Chile and Peru, for extri
eating the country from the consequence
Of which we are all indebted to Assistan
Secretary of State Bancroft Davis
When the people have been told by those
whose opinions they regard with conf
dence what their real rights are in Ben
ring Sea the people can be relied on tC
vindicate those rights, even if the vindi-
cation shall take away the last COW in the
barn. But they dou't wish the sun fired
till they are ready, or to 60 off at hall
cock.
You Democratic leaders are quite rea-
dy % preach to US about the tlrif aud
the abomniable Mckinley law, bu. nov
is the time to speak to your countrymen
of their rights in Behring Sea,
Cleveland, Bayard, Morgan, and all
tie Democratic swels in Congress! You
have now sight to the floor! There
/ vii be no closure. ~"~.-~'
There is the more need for an author
Iative and immediate explanation of what
was done by the Cleveland Administra-
ton now that Mr.. D. 0. Mills, the pres
ldent of the company holding the lease
of the Pribylotf Islands, has made this
declaration in the Hcrall:
1t must be remembered that Mr..
Blaine's position in this whole contro-
versy has been one of great difficulty
The discussion between England and
this country was left to him as a sort Of
legacy from the preceding administration
/ scitistr AFFr; IiaNard had htouytt these he.
gotiations to such pass that the use Of
force in compelling au observance of the
rights ofthe United States to their claim
ed jurisdiction seemed the only possible
gu come.
1t is also now the more needful that
our Suprcme Court or Congress- tell the