Year: 1878

The Fisheries Squabble.


Our sense of international fairness con-
strains us to approve Of the tone in which
the most influential part of the Canadian
press is discussing the recently published
letter of Secretary Evarts on the controversy
which has arisen respecting the Newfound-
land fisheries. ''Our country, right or
wrong" is no more the motto of our
Canadian contemporaries than it is of the
HERALD. They seem to agree with us that
justice is the surest guarantee of the peace
of nations, and that o sharp, attorney-like
spirit is out of place in international con-
troversies The Montreal Herald, which is
one Of the most intelligent and liberal
organs Of Canadian opinion, after quoting
from one Of our articles, subjoins this
declaration of acquiescence:-


That is very much the expression Of our own senti-
mcnts and indicates the course which we have always
believed the American government would take-of
honestly carrying out the award. We are not OF
course. absolutely convinced as our contemporary
that the Newpundlanders have been wrong but there
can be doubt il they have been that proper meas
ures will be taken to secure to the Americans that
fair freedom of fishing which the treaty coners upon
them 1t can be no more for their interest than for
that Of the people Of British America that the wealth
Of the coasts should be destroyed by over or i'm
proper fishing. But there may be fair reason for
thinking rs the American fishermen have now some
copartnership rights with own, that the regula
tions we speak Of must not be made without some
previous notice at all events and respect to
sonabe objections. The HERALD takes the fair
ground which becomes great nation.


We are glad to find that the press of Can
ada is 50 moderate and liberal in discussing
q question which, if treated in captious.
cavilling spirit, might endanger the mutual
good feeling. if not the peace of two neigh
boring peoples, who ought to be. bound to-
gether by ties of honest friendship. The
HEaALD withstands every attempt on the
part of our government to evade the pay
ment Of the Halifax award, and also every
attempt to mix up that question with the
dispute respecting the treatment of our
fishermen by local authorities Of Newfound-
land. Congress has made the necessary
appropriation for paying the award and
placed it at the disposal of the Pres
ident But although discretion is
given him to withhold it there has
been no expectation that he will
do so. Indeed, there is a distinct
understanding that he will cause it to be
punctually paid, unless the British govern
ment should waive or withdraw it's claim.
1t was entirely proper for Secretary Evarts
to communicate the reasons for regarding
the award as unjust andiexcessive but can
did minds have regarded this merely as
illustrating our good faith in standing to O
bad bargain. 1t is puerile to expect that
the British government will 60 behind the
award and inquire into its justice. The two
governments referred the question to arbi-
tration because of the difficulty Of
reaching a settlement by direct nego-
tiation, and as they incurred equal
risks of disappointment it would be as un-
manly and undignified for rs to whine over
the award as it would have been for the
British government to have raised cavils re-
specting the result Of the Geneva arbitrn-
ton. 1t concerns the national honor that
the Halifax award be paid punctually at the
appointed day and that question be then
dropped forever


The treatment of our fishermen at For
tune Bay is o separate question which
ought to be treated quite apart from the
other. Perhaps it is not surprising that
portion of the Canadian press are indulg-
ing in o fancy that the Fortune Bay
outrage is protruded at this time as an ex-
cuse for not paying the award. The al-
legged outrages upon our fishermen were
committed nearly year ago, and it is diff
cult to assign any reason why the remon-
STRANGE was not made at once, unless that
grievance has been nursed -. purposes not
connected with its merits. As separate
question we agree with our Canadian con-
temporaries in believing that there can be no
difficulty in settling it, and we deprecnte
even the appearance of mixing it mp with
the question Of paying the award.