Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-27
rnE nERINa sEA ouEsrIoN.

settled the matter is in sad mess just
at present. England has some justice
on her side and the United States have
much. Lord SALISBURY points out that
injustice would be done the British
sealing interests in the loss of a whole
seasons profit should the court decide
in England's favor. The President
makes out an equally good case in
showing the injustice TO the United
states that would be done should this
pelagic sealing be allowed to continue
in case the court decided in favor Of the
United States.
SALISBURY offered to meet the objec-
tions OF the President by proposing that
these British sealers should give bond
to indemnify the United States for
losses should the decision go against
England. This offer the President
properly rejected, on the ground, to
use the words Of Secretary WHAE-
Ton in his reply to PAUNCEFOTE:
The President finds it difficult 10 believe
that Lord Salisbury is serious in proposing
that this Government shall take separate
bonds from the owners Of about 100 Cana
dian sealing vessels to indemnify 1t for the
injury they may severaly infiict upon our
Jurisdiction or property, and must decline
10 discuss a suggestion which only his re-
spect for Lord Salisbury and his oellet
that His Lordship has a due appreciation
OF the gravity Of this discussion, enable
him to treat with seriousness. We should
doubtless have 70 pursue and capture upon
the sea many of the owners of those yes
sells, 10 secure the bonds suggested, and as
the condition is 70 be that the obligors shall
pay ANY damages which the arbitrators
may adiudge," while the treaty gives the
arbitrators no power 70 adludge any dam
ages, the transaction would be without risk
10 the obhgors and Of no value TO US.
There the controversy stancs-pre-
cisely where it stood before.
But there is still another way out of
the difficulty, which neither side APP
pears to have thought of, and which
would work injustice to neither, name
~, let the United States government
agree TO indemnify the British sealers
for losses sustained during the season
OF prohibition, should the court Of ar
bitration decide that these British yes
sells have the right to catch the seals
freely. This would be an easy way out
OF the difficulty and neither side would
lose anything, no matter how the case
might be decided. If decided in favor
OF the United States, our government
would pay nothing aud would have lost
nothing; il in favor of England, we
would pay no more than what justice
would require to indemnify England for
the loss Of a seasons profit to which she
was entitled.
Mr.. GLADSTONE takes the view that
the President is altogether right in re-
fusing SAIIsBURY's offer. and that if
pelagic sealing we're to 60 on for year
or two longer, until the case is settled,
the seal might be las extinct as the
dodo."
Mr.. GLADSTONE may be right. Atany
rate this Is the most important feature
OF the controversy, namely, the preser
walton Of the seals. The poachers must
be kept out and the seals preserved at
all hazard. n England will not join
r-itb tba Tinted States in stunning the
slaughter in a renewal of the modus,
our government can afford to make the
terms proposed above, which would be
fair and just.
At any rate the matter should be ami
cably settled on soma basis. A
continuation Of the present state Of af-
fairs will only stir up bad blood AID
result in open rupture and pos
sibly war, before wa know il.