Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-06

marvellous century of progress 1 heartily
recommend its acceptance, together with such
legislation as will adequately provide for
due representation Of this government and its
people ON the occasion.
Relations with Germany.
Our relations with the states Of the German
empire are, in some aspects, typical Of a con.
uition Of things elsewhere found in countries
whose productions and trade are similar to our
own. The close rivalry of competing indus
tries; the influence of the delusive doctrine
that the internal development of nation is
promoted and its wealth increased by policy
which, in undertaking to reserve its home
markets for the exclusive use Of its own pro
ducers, necessarily obstructs their sales in
foreign markets and prevents free access to
the products of the world: the desire to retain
trade in time-worn ruts, regardless Of the
inexorable laws of new needs and changed
conditions of demand and supply, and our own
hating hardness in inviting freer exchange
of commodities and by this means imperiling
our footing in the external markets naturally
open to us, have created situation somewhat
injurious to American export interests, not
only in Germany, where they are perhaps
most noticeable, but in adjacent countries.
1t is not to be forgotten that international
trade cannot be one-sided. Its currents are
alternating and its movements should be hon
estly reciprocal. Without this it almost nee
essarily degenerates into device to gain adj
vantage or a COntrlVdnce 10 secure dement's
with only the semblance Of return. In our
dealings with other nations we ought to be
open -handed and scrupulously fair This
should be our policy as producing nation,
and it plainly becomes US as a people who
love generosity and the moral aspects Of ma
tional good faith and reciprocal forbearance.
These considerations should not, however,
constrain to submit to unfair discrimina-
ton nor to silently acquiesce in vexatious him
ORANGES TO the enjoyment OF our share of the
legtimates advantages Of proper trade rela.
tons. If an examination of the situation sug-
gests such measures on our part as would in.
vOlve restrictions similar to those from which
we suffer, the way to such a course is easy. 1t
should, however, by no means be lightly
entered upon, since the necessity for the in
auguration of such a policy would be re-
GREETED by the best sentiment Of our people,
and because it naturally and logically might
lead to consequences Of the gravest character.
The Seal Question.
Our relations with Great Britain, always in.
innate and important have demanded during
the past year even a greater share of consider
alton than is usual. Several vexatious ques
tons We're left undetermined by the decision
of the Behring sea arbitration tribunal. The
application Of the principles laid down by that
august body has not been followed by the re
suits they were intended TO accomplish, either
because the principles themselves lacked in
breadth and definiteness or because their exc
cution had been more or less imperfect. Much
| correspondence has been exchanged between
| the two governments on the subject of pre-
venting the DISCRIMINATING slaughter of seals.
| The need of more effective enforcement Of
existing regulations, as well as the adoption Of
| such additional regulations as experience has
| shown to be absolutely necessary to carry out
| the intent of the award, have been earnestly
urged upon the British government, but thus
| far without effective results. In the mean
f1sa1 49,
| of pelagic hunting has 50 alarmirgly pro-
crossed that unless their slaughter is at once
| effectively checked their extinction within a
| few years seems to be matter of absolute
certainty.
The understanding by which the United
| States was to pay, and Great Britain TO re-
ceive, a lump sum Of ti25 600 in full settlement
| Of all British claims for damages arising from
our seizure Of British sealing vessels unauthor-
| lied under the award of the Paris tribunal of
| arbitration was not confirmed by the last CON
| gress, which declined to make the necessary
| appropriation. am still of the opinion that
this arrangement was a judicious and advan-
| tageous one for the government, and l earn
| estly recommend that it be again considered
| and sanctioned. II, however, this does not
| meet with the favor of congress, il certainly
| will hardly dissent from the proposition that
| the government is bound by every considera-
| ton of honor and good faith to provide for the
| speedy adjustment of these claims by arbitra-
ton the only other alternative.
| Notwithstanding that Great Britain origin.
| ated the proposal to enforce international
| rules for the prevention of collisions at sea
| her majesty's government, having encoun.
| tered opposition on the part of British shipping
interests, the entire matter is still in allegiance
without prospect of a better condition in the
near future.
The commissioners appointed to mark the
international boundary in Passamaquoldy bay
| IN he ~ tl,s %
Client, have not yet fully agreed.
Alaska Boundary Dispute.
The completion of the preliminary survey OF
] that Alaskan boundary which follows the con
tour of the coast from the southernmost point
of Prince of Wales Island until it strikes the
meridian at or near the summit of Mount st
Elias awaits further necessary appropriation
which is urgently recommended
As to the remaining section Of the Alaskan
boundary, which follows the l4lst meridian
northwardly from Mount st. Eliasto the frozer
ocean, the settlement of which involve.
the physical location Of the meridian men
toned, no conventional agreement has YET
been made
In the meantime the valley of the Yukon i.
becoming highway through the hitherto un
explored wilds of Alaska and abundant min
eral wealth has been discovered in that re
gon. In these circumstances it is imperatiy,
that the jurisdiction limits of the respectiv,
|
determined. Her Britannia majesty's govern
ment has proposed joint delimitation Of tn,
| l4lst meridian by an international commission
of experts, which, if congress will authoriz.
it and make due provision therefor, can be &C
complshed with no unreasonable delay 1t il
impossible to overlook the vital importance O
continuing the work already entered upoI
and experimenting it by further effectiv,
measures looking to the exact location Of thi
entire boundary line.
Great Lake boundaries.
call attention to the unsatisfactory delimi
tation of the respective jurisdictions of TIN
United States and the Dominion of Canada il
the great lakes at the approaches to the marrow
waters that connect them. The waters il
| question are frequented by fishermen of boil
nationalities and their nets are there used
Owing to the uncertainty and ignorance as L
the true boundary, vexatious disputes and in
| furious seizures OF boats and nets by Canadian
cruisers often oo cur, while any positive settle
ment thereof by an accepted standard is no
, easily to be reached.
A joint commission to determine the line il
those quarters, on a practical basis b,
measured courses following range marks OF
shore, is a necessity for which immediat
, | provision should be made.
The Venezuelan Dispute.
1t being apparent that the boundary disput
between Great Britain and the republic O
Venezuela, concerning the limits Of Births
Guiana, was approaching acute stage,
definite statement of the interest and polio
Of the United States, as regards the contrc
versy, seemed to be required both on its owl
account and in view of its relations with tn
, friendly powers directly concerned.
! In July last, therefore, dispatch was ad
l dressed to our ambassador at London for CON
, munication to the British government, il