The record-union., 1897-11-17


from that which their action plainly
stigmatizes as reckless, destructive and
in violation of good fellowship between
peoples. The effect of the treaty, III
other words, is to keep the United
States. Russia and Japan out of the
sealing fields beyond the thirty-rnile
limit. That is right, but it is bitter
cup for those who thus do right. They
must now stand aside and see the Eng
lish and Canadian fishers exterminate
the seals that breed on the shores OF
Russia, Japan and the United States.
These seals pass with their younS
across open waters to feeding grounds,
and en- route the Englishmen and the
Kanuck seize upon them, and thus by
claim of right work the extinction of
the animal.
1t is rough, and cruel, and wrong,
but since we are civilized and human
we must stand by and suffer it. If Rus
sia, the United States and Japan had
given free license, duly signed ana
sealed to Canadians to take seal wher-
ever they find them, the eXterminatinS
effect would not be worse than it Will
be presently under the new treaty
1t is the more aggravating from the
fact that England and Canada refused
to enter the treaty convention, claim
ing that it was in proof that the three
Powers had agreed in advance, ana
were simply seeking to trap the British
into surrender of a profitable industry
But that is fatty untrue We had no
pre-compact or understanding with
Russia or Japan. We have the Word
of all the representatives of the three
Governments that there was no secret
understanding, or any pre-arrange-
ment
Of course, it is admitted that Russia,
the United States and Japan each own
island lands on which there are seal
rookeries, and where the three coun-
tries can take seals at will, while Eng
land has no such lands on the Behring
Sea borders Therefore, England and
Canada will be at a decided disad-
vantage when they agree, if ever they
do. that open sea sealing shall cease.
But is it the fault of any one under
the shining sun that the British nave
no such lands? Is it to be charged TO
our account because England has slip
ped a cog in planting her flag on about
all the islands and shores of earth
Does the doing of justice demand that'
therefore, we shall divide Our natural
advantage with Canada and England
If so. why not with France, Sweden,
Germany, Spain, Portugal, China and
the other nations of the earth? When
where and how did England gain a
right to take our seals? What color
Of right is there in her claim that be-
cause she has no buttered bread, we
should divide our bread and butter
with her? True the Paris conference
and arbitration went against us, and
we must continue to abide by It. But
there is nothing in the award that pre-
vents us from pointing the finger al
England and crying ''for shame!'
The teIegrams from Washington init
mate that the United States Govern
ment may remain quiescent in regard TO
Cllba. because of the belief that Spain
will presently have plenty Of trouble
at home which will result in Cuba Sc
curing her freedom without any in
volyement on the part of the United
States. There certainly is reason to
believe that the Carlists are making
preparations for rising. The time is
propitious. the conditions are favorable
and the internal discomfort of the ma
ton will tend to further Carl1st
schemes. That fear of this rising is
entertained, may be inferred from the
fact that the Pope, evidently at the re-
quest of Spain, has Withdrawn his quasi
approval of the Carlists and given his
support to the Government. Not that
the Pope has heretofore openly espoused
the Carlist cause, but the Vatican has
refrained from denying Don Carlos its
blessing, thus occupying something of
a neutral position. Spain is a Catho-
lie country and now that the head of
the State church has openly expressed
it's friendliness for the throne as op-
posed to the Carlist cause, such action
cuts large figure in the case.
The good road the ideal road is the