The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1892-03-10
SENATORS ON THEIR MeTTLe.


kisAts of the Government In Behrlng Sea
II Must BE Asserted and Protected.
u WASHINGTON, March 1O.-The United
etates senate wants fight or a British
Rck down. At least that was the SEN
Hment that was developed in the execu-
i've session. The senate did not have
hefore it the latest rather insulting
npmmunication of Lord Salisbury, but
Mdid have the proposed treaty of arbi-
tRtion which the president had trans
uRtted to it, Some of the remarks that
we're made showed disposition on the
p&rt OF some senator's, particularly
among those from the Pacific coast, to
wage earnest opposition to its approval,
4 not to its consideration. Several
sepators were uncompromising in their
attitude. They held that there was no
question as to the right of the United
States to the waters acquired from Rus
sia by the Alaska treatment of 1867, ard
contended that the submission of this
right to the decision of foreign arbitra-
tors was
A Cowardly Surrender
on tho part Of this country. Ratifca-
tion under these circumstances they re-
scented bitterly. Another argument
against the ratification Of the treaty
was tina. one of the arbitrators Italy -
had not the friendliest feeling toward
the United States on account OF the
New Orleans affair. Much feeling, al
most general in its character, was mani
Tested OVER the omission from the treaty
Of clause renewing the modus vivendi
and some senator's urged that refusal to
do this during the tendency of the arbi-
tration proceedings justified the United
States in directing its armed vessels to
seize any seaiers, without regard to
nationality, found violating the present
law for the protection of seals.
wan,s 50 Twist the Lions Tail.
Senator Teller, of Colorado, was one
OF the most earnest men in favor of
twisting the lions tail . turn or two.
He asserted that If he had been presi-
dent be would never have ssnt the
treaty to congress until it was accom-
panied by an answer to the British gov
ernment which would have meant q
change of front By that aggressive ma.
tion, or breaking of of diplomatic
relations.M The man who would take
the bull by the horns in this emergency
and enacroe the rights Of the American
republic, he said, could make himself
the ncxt president Senator Teller alst
thought 1t would be good plan to re
taliate on Canada by refusing the ship
ment of goods in bond through portions
of this country and Canada over Cana
dian roads, and thus strike down q great
traffic which, he claimed, supported the
Canadian railroads.
Senator Sherman, chairman Of the
foreign relations committee, was ONE oi
the most pacific takers of the executive
session, and seemed to think all matters
might be adjusted automatically. The
impression was strong, however, tha
unless the committee would make ;
most convincing pacific report the sen
ate would reject the treaty, advise thu
president to assert the rights of thi
government in Alaska and its seal fish
cries, and inform Great Britain tina
those rights would be protected.
The discussion lasted more than al
hour and ended with the reference o.
the treaty to the committee on foreign
relations. This discussion is only tn.
beginning of the opposition which viii
probably arise when the treaty il
brought before the senate for consider
alton.