nations, "for the better protection of the fur seal fisheries in
Bering Sea."

A solution had been almost reached, when Canada interposed. Lord
Morley has remarked, in his "Recollections," how the voice of
Canada fetters Great Britain in her negotiations with the United
States. While Bayard was negotiating an agreement concerning
Bering Sea which was on the whole to the advantage of the United
States, he completed a similar convention on the more complicated
question of the northeastern or Atlantic fisheries which was
more important to Canada. This latter convention was unfavorably
reported by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, which
foreshadowed rejection. Thereupon, in May, 1888, Lord Salisbury,
the British Foreign Minister, withdrew from the Bering Sea
negotiation.

At this critical moment Cleveland gave place to Harrison, and
Bayard was succeeded by James G. Blaine, the most interesting
figure in our diplomatic activities of the eighties. These years
marked the lowest point in the whole history of our relations
with other countries, both in the character of our agents and in
the nature of the public opinion to which they appealed. Blaine
was undoubtedly the most ill-informed of our great diplomats; yet
a trace of greatness lingers about him. The exact reverse of John
Quincy Adams, he knew neither law nor history, and he did not
always inspire others with confidence in his integrity. On the
other hand, the magnetic charm of his personality won many to a
devotion such as none of our great men except Clay has received.
Blaine saw, moreover, though through a glass darkly, farther
along the path which the United States was to take than did any