St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-04-26
The Neac National Ice House.

1t would seem that the secretary of
state and the United States senate might
have consulted the people of the country
in the usual way before charging the
national domain by an arctic territory
and the population by some scores of
thousands of Esquimaux and monde
scripts. 1t is surely a subject in which
the people are all interested, and upon
which they have right to be heard, and
the manner in which this Russian treaty
has been hurried through the senate be-
fore there was fair opportunity for its in
telligent discussion by the country is
simply discreditable. The project was
first revealed TO the country on Sunday,
March 81, and on Tuesday, April 9, the
treaty was ratified. 1t can not be said
to have been heartily approved anywhere
except, as is reported, in California.
There was no conceivable reason for Sc
crecy, but the whole matter was as care
fully hushed up as if nothing but the i'm
mediate possession of Russian America
could save US from imminent peril, and
the ratification is received in entire igno-
rance and bewilderment, and without
spark of sincere enthusiasm or pleasure.
1t is vain to attempt 10 compare the
Russian treaty with the Louisiana pur-
chase. A glance at the map settles the
essential difference between the two. 1t
was impossible to allow the mouth of
our greatest river to he controlled by
foreign power. But Russian America is
not contiguous TO our territory. Under
the auspices Of Mr.. Seward the United
States are about to enter upon cOloni-
al system. At 4 time when we are heav-
lily loaded with debt we are TO pay more
than seven millions OF dollars in gold for
a remote and barbarous region, which,
under ordinary human conditions, viii
never be largely peopled except by saw
ages, and for the annual government OF
which the expenses will be enormous
The advantages are evidently So few
that only two reasons can be suggested
for the project. 1t is either huge job
or it is 4 political device.
Senator Sumner is reported to have
spoken for three hours and a half in IA
vOr OF the ratification Of the treaty Why
is his speech not allowed to be publish
ed Why are we not permitted to know
anything whatever Of this transaction ?
The general opinion of the country is,
that it is ali effort of Mr. Stewards to re-
gam some OF that public consideration
which he has go recklessly squandered.
No man ever so wantonly threw away
50 fair a fame as the secretary of state :;
and it Is hot Incredible that the engineer
of the last summers swinging around the
circle to the tomb of Douglas relies for
renewed reputation upon an appeal to
the love OF territorial expansion, which is
supposed TO be inextinguishable in the
American people.
DR.. Bushnell, of Hartford, whose
word Is always entitled TO respect, favors
the project because OF the whale fishery.
and OF the shortest passage to Asia, and
OF the coal in British America. But the
whale fishery can be fully protected by
treaty the coal in the Saskatchewan
valley does not belong to the Russian
territory and the value of the shortest
actual passage 10 Asia is not apparent in
view OF the climate, and of the character
OF the country, and of the fact that
foreign territory interviews.
In the present situation of this coun-
try, with IN unbrokcn line upon both
oceans and across the continent, terrific
rial expansion is wholly undesirable 1t
Is 4 source Of weakness and not of
strength, and whoever advocates it must
show the advantage with irresistible force.
There may he immense advantages in
the acquisition Of this Russian desert {;
but they arc not suspected by the coun-
try. and they are thus far carefully con-
cealed by the government. -Hayptr'S
Uoky.