New-York tribune., 1892-03-26
THE SEAL SHOULD BE SAVED.
POSSESSION OF THEIR ISLAND HUME DE'
FINES THE DUTY OF The UNITED -lArL>.
QUESTIONS OF RIGHTS AND INJURIES 'AN DE
ARBITRATED-BUT ARBITRATION WILL DE
USELESS IF DUTY is NOT DONE AND
THE SEALS ARE DESTROYED
ARGUMENTS OF LEW


ARGUMENTS OF LEW
WALLACE. JR.
TO the Editor Of The TrlDu ne s..,
Sir: Dne fact involved in the Bclring sea co"uo
vcrsv Of present importance Is taken Ior uue w Wv
napers in this country with fewer exceptions t"u o.,
usual In such contentious and was pracucais
bv Lord Salisbury in the very act OF approving ',e
oa,, ,iverdi ~ last wear II l. this: Poachlng VIII
eoor rpsult i'm the determination Of the seal Ho'io
expert, are found 10 deny this ana their tesui'o"'
made TO support a dispute begun ana eonu'o'eu u" ~
,,inrost. NJ thc poachers: bht the impossiblNV o
rep,raon puts cut OF question all such uouo,S "'''.
operations agalns; the seal are In notion ihat SUN
operations must be met with Instant acoo'' - nr
parent and wish TO suggest some things as 10 '''c
r,o,ivo which shoIld artuate us and the action we
should take. ,,,
Possession Of the home OF an animal SO Vaiuap'c
70 humanity ms the seal not merely gives neh'' o"'
even imposes n duty upon the United states " p''
serve s existence. The excuse OF infancy auNa'eu
for the destruction OF buffalo Will not avail us II
our seal becomes extinct. We nave poNso''o"' w
have knowledge Of the danger and we have power u
,or, i, pnr crime would be without exenuatlon
Therefore within the ultimate purpose OF any arpi
traton Their. should be IN view this. that II our nehlS
are shared by others they must join witl Us III ''c
discharge OF the corresponding obligations
Hut We cannot escape our duty by waiting lor
decision upon our title. TO permit serious injury III
tbe meantime 10 seal life would Justly subject "' "
tle ridiouIc Jf contemporaries and tlle cehsnFc o
postery The work Of destruction Is gong on "o'''
OF poachers have sailed and are about 10 san pass
ing vessels already report than LOO seals taken
In the latter part of February. How many ha'c
actually been killed how many males ho" ha"'
females how many unborn how many VIII De hineu
before the season Is over, arc and VIII be UNKNOWN anu
unbnowable rhc very impOssibity oil cnl'uauon
condemns this slaughter. and to permit II To continue
could ensue from the enforcement OF effective meas
uros 10 stop H. however harsh. Lord Salisbury hesi
ates II lie does not actually refuse, TO place uPo
the citizens Of his country the slight rsfaih's VI
last years agreement and from indlcatlohs IL i rs
homeless TO try 10 persuade him as 10 convince douOt
ers among ourselves or to reconcllc the es"non' u.
adverse experts. Consequently. While the ha'uIc VI
ts nossession IS being determined this country must
ful0 The trust springing from that possession ana 90
what NAV lc required in the present eNigency to
preservc this animal for whoever may be ndJndged
It's owner or for the world at large. Our abSuac'
rights can survive the slow processes Of arbitration
the seal cannot
Furthermore, in this Of emergency, the Vnted
States must decide for itself what is 1ght 10 bc oohe'
and do IL regardless Of the opinions or pre'chsoh7 VI
other. The claims Of Great Britain give IL no
authority In the council, Of our people coh-locrhs
such a matter while that Empire not only refuses
assistance but actively participates In doing harm 10
orr charge And even were rherc time To do so' We
ought not TO submit 10 others what so nearly CON
oerns our National honor. our rights can often be
arbltatcd; duty never.
Viewed from this standpoint the situation Is sim
plcity Itself Certain men are engaged ana are about
to engage In destroying something We are Donhu W
project What Is to be done Is plain IA III" noon
day stun We must prevent this Outrage; We must
stnp these men, and must do IT. now. How There
is but one way; and that Is 10 arrest the wrong
docrs. give them fair trial. and II they be i2unn
guilty. condscac thcir boats, fine them and pu' theh
In prison.
II Is said that such a cOurse would involve a breach
Of international law that We have no such hStS III
Behrng SEA a, 80 eivc legal warrant for iniecrpung
British vc,-ols and that do not have possession
of the seal which Is Wild by nature. Bnt ~
physical c do have posse.sIon OF The & s'@i Of y ".
breeding place. It, dOmciie. It's home niiu "o ui.S
the power, and 1t 10 our dGty 10 pr,tc't ~
I'm thee water. The extent OF the nights going with
ihis power ard tbi. duty lie determined later on
At the present tine We zee grnt wrong Z" humanity
about 10 be wi,9k w,m W. ,nI,I,lT
snic,ions IN, wrong docs chang" III nature. and. u
II supplies patty able 20 rr.ppnd III damne~ get ihc
AMI cent, nor could wc honorable II We ~"nIi' ~'m
questions Of law. We must act. and II Is NOR IN
po,tant that we aot promptly ilAn mat VIC a't tsAI)
but there should Ac doubt 10 the effect produced
Assuming this position nov T. not nn a'@ndonment
Drr,,Ivc I1cccIry 81 Immediate action II We commit
an error. any injury resulting can be submitted 10
proper tribunal anh smelly shall % before such
CONT with better gncc and stronger claims II wc show
proper regard for the subject matter OF the conirO
veI-y II lns been more thnn suggested however. thht
effective action part will SrriOus trouble
This is Unworthy OF consideration. further Than 10 say
that We should not arhinte al All win Nht0n whsh
encourages such a crime and refuse nu amlcnh" settle
OF any injury done IN our efforts 10 prevent snch
cOnsummniiOn.
The President and his adviscrS ran be trusted 10 do
what right and assured Of the earnest and stead
fast support Of the people. SIN II is we'll 10 give
hearty voice % snch support, for II Lord salisbury
r., JOnse the proposition for closed season Is not
prompt favorable and uncquvOcal technical arguments
about legal rights viii EC 1t In with The cmer
grncy The time Ia, come 20 .IIs pend diplomatic de
late We must now leave of weak and futile indrcc
iiOn and peak and net dOwnuguy.
We mu,t stop pOachng now. W. NAV arhltmte
aiterwad. LEW WALLACE, JR.
Ncw-lOr March 10. loO2