The sun., 1898-08-25
The First Commercial Victory Of the
War.


A forcible illustration of the revolution
In national and international trade which
has set in as o result OF our victorious war
with Spain, is furnished by the serious sit
uation with which the New Dominion fish
ing interests are now confronted.
AS disclosed in recent dispatches to THE
Sun from Halifax, Nova Scotia alone sells
annually to Porto Rico one million dollars
worth Of fish, and has also an extensive
market for the same commodity in Cuba.
Now that Porto Rico is ours, and while we
are for the present supreme In Cuba, the
business men of Halifax, according to our
correspondent, "are willing to give almost
anything to retain the privilege they have
hitherto enjoyed Of access to those markets
on the same terms with other countries
that compete for trade there" They are,
we are told, ready to give up the cherished
monopoly Of inshore fishing and share that
privilege with our fishermen II the tariff bar
riers In our newly acquired territory are 80
adjusted that they will not be deprived Of
the market in the West Indies where our
flag now floats. Inshore fishing Is one OF the
important questions in disputation between
Canada and ourselves to be considered by
the Joint High Commission now in session
at Quebec. The victories OF our forces in
the Spanish war have given US ground OF
vantage on this point infinitely stronger
than we have held since tho foundation OF
Che Federal Government.
The chapter Of our diplomatic his
tory which the present situation serves
to recall is exceedingly interesting. I'm
mediately after the achievement OF indie
pendence the three greatest men who ever
served the United States In the field of
diplomacy-BRNJAMN FRANKLIN, THOMAS
JEFFERSON and JOHN ADAMs-exerted
themselves Immediately to obtain admis-
sion for American fish and whale oil
Into the West India possessions OF Eng
land and France. Not pound OF American
fish was allowed to enter the English mar
kets, after the triumphant close of the
Revolutionary war, and, from a British
point OF view, the policy that dictated the
exclusion was sound. The idea of starv-
ing out the new American States was sooth-
ing to the embttered feelings Of GEORGE
III, but Independently Of that motive it
was necessary to conserve what was left
OF the empire In America by discrim-
mating In favor Of the loyal Nova
ScOtians and all others against the former
subjects of Massachusetts,, Rhode Island,
and Connecticut who had rebelled. But
there was still another and higher reason
which governed the conduct OF the British
King and his Ministers. The fisheries were
for England great nurseries of seamen, the
protection Of which was essential to power
that aimed st naval supremacy. The French
King, LOUIS XVI, our ally In the Revolution,
was swayed by similar motives OF national
policy. The French fisheries In America
were heavily subsidized with the same end
in view, or rs training schools for French
seamen.
While JEFFERSON was Secretary of State |
in the Cabinet of Washington, he sent an |
elaborate report on the subject Of the fsh- |
cries to Congress, In which he advanced his |
celebrated propositions Of Opposing coun-
ter regulations on our part to the er parts |
regulations which they [the British have
begun for mounting their navigation |
on the ruin OF ours." The protection |
Of the fisheries was earnestly advocated by |
him for the reason that It was one Of "the |
three nurseries for forming seamen," the
two others being our coasting trade" and
y our carrying trade" the latter of which,
IN spite OF JEFFERsoN's wise monitions, has
sunk beneath other complications.
At last, however, the most important ISL
lnds In the West indies are American, for
Is to do with them, now or later. what we
will In the matter Of fish and all else When
'ur soldiers stormed the blood-stained sum
nits OF tho hills Of Santiago; when the guns
4 our ships sent oEEyHRAs feet to destruo-
lon on the Cuban coast; when. in the East,
IpAnish power orumbled into ruins before
hs Assaults Of DEWEY and MABATTT. new