Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-03-18
A Fight or a Pack Down.

WASHINGTON, March 1O.-The United
States senate wants a fight or a British
back down. At least that was the sem
timent that was developed in the execu-
tive session. The senate did not have
before it the latest rather insulting
communication of Lord Salisbury, but
it did have the proposed treaty of arbi-
tration which the president had trans
mitted to it. Some of the remarks that
were made showed a disposition on the
part of some senators, particularly
among those from the Pacific coast, to
wage earnest opposition to its approval,
if not to its consideration. Several
senators 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
STA by the Alaska treatment of 1867, and
commended that the submission of this
right to the decision Of foreign arbitra.
tors was
A Cowardly Surrender
on tho part of this country. Ratifca-
ton under these circumstances they re-
sented bitterly. Another argument
against the ratification of the treaty
was that 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 W. the omission from the treaty
of a clause renewing the modus vivendi
and some senators 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 s~ealers, without regard to
nationality, found violating the present
law for the protection of seals.
Wants to Twist the Lions Tail.
Senator Teller, of Colorado, was n
of the most earnest men in favor of
twisting the lions tail a turn or two.
He asserted that if he had been presi-
dent he would never have sent the
treaty to congress until it was accom-
panied by an answer to the British gov
eminent which would have meant a
change of front by that aggressive ma
ton, or a breaking off Of diplomatic
relations. The nan who would take
the bull by the horns in this emergency
and enforce the rights of the American
republic, he said, could make himself
the next president. Senator Teller also
thought it would be a 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 of
the most pacific takers of the executive
session, and seemed to think all matters
might be adjusted automatically. The
impression was strong, however, that
unless the committee would make a
most convincing pacific report the SEN
ate would reject the treaty, advise the
president to assert the rights of this
government in Alaska and its seal fish
cries, and inform Great Britain that
those rights would be protected.
The discussion lasted more than an
hour and ended with the reference of
the treaty to the committee on foreign
relations. This discussion is only the
beginning of the opposition which will
probably arise when the treaty is
brought before the senate for consider
stioD.