The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-04

we see nineteenth century men not
only making but accepting Aaron's
proposition, IT lends credence to the
rhyme that generations of children
have learned
Attentive readers Of the G l b e's
news and editorial columns need not
have retold the story Of the negotia-
tons made to preserve the existence Of
the seals that we bought with Alaska
for the welfare Of those who are able
to apparel themselves in the delicate
fur of that singular creature and, in
cidentally, for that of the North Amerf-
can Commercial company, to whom our
government has granted a close mo-
nopoly Of their catch. The latest oc-
casion we had to note and comment
upon these negotiations was the visit
to Washington Of the prime minister
Of the Dominion, on the invitation Of
our state department, to see If Canada
could not be induced to join this and
other countries IL stopping the slaugh-
ter Of seals. The Canadian premier
was willing, provided he could get
something equivalent in the way Of
trade concessions. a lowering Of our
bars against Canadian products. Be-
ing CURLY Informed by our authorities
that they had no trading stock and
that Canada was asked on purely hui
manitarian grounds TO cease catching
seals, Mr.. Laurier packed his grip and
returned home.
We have now the next move, and
here is where the similarity to the
proposition that Aaron made to Moses
comes in. The senate originated and
the house has passed and the president
will sign a bill absolutely and under
severe penalties prohibiting any citizen
of the United States from sealing in
the waters Of Boring sea, those being
within an imaginary line drawn from
the Western Aleutian islands to the
southernmost point Of Alaska Not
content with that, a section, apparent
ly Slipped in," as was the famous Sec
ton %. prohibits the importation Of
the fur Of seals caught in those waters
whether the same be raw, dressed or
manufactured. The effect of this will
furnish another illustration Of that we'll
established effect Of all regulative
measures; it will not accomplish the
intended, and no man can accurately
predict what it's effect will be.
It may be surmised, however. In the
ordinary course of the business the furs
Of the slaughtered seals go to England,
where furriers, skilled in the secret of
dressing them, prepare them for man
ufacture. In that shape we import
large quantities and our furriers make
them into various garments. OF furs
we imported in 1897 81, 93S, 929 worth, and
Of manufactured furs, $3,O76,125 worth,
some 100000 worth in all, a portion,
not classified, being seal furs. Under
the award Of the Paris tribunal this act
of our congress will be operative only
on our own sealers, leaving the sea
open to pelagic sealing by the Cana
dams or others who care to engage in
it, The curt rejection of the Dominion's
offer Of reciprocal trade will not have
the effect to diminish the seal fishing
Of Canadians, and 1t will probably
have a stimulative effect. The prohibit
ton of admission Of the furs to this
country will deprive them Of a valu-
able market, while increasing the value
of skins in this country and conse-
quently enhancing the price Of seal
skin garments. The lessened demand,
unless compensated by an increase else
where, will have the effect to lessen
the cost Of those garments elsewhere.
Should these effects follow, as seems
probable, the fable, if it were a fable,
of Aaron and Moses will have had a
practical naturalization. To spite our
faces we will have cut off our noses.