Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-23
NO CAUSE TO FEAR ENGLAND
If II should Declare War secretary
| Whitney says This Country Could
| IA

/ whitney says This Country Could
WHIP II.
Secretary Whitney, says a Washington dis
patch, said recently In regard 10 the Canadian
question; There will he no conflict between
the United States and Great Britain. In all
the discussions a most tai and salient point
has been igncred Our position Is right. IL
has once been substantially admitted by the
British government In 1870 and 1871, the
reciprocity treaty having expired, our fisher
men were denied commercial privileges 10
Canadian ports Gen. Grant, In his snnua!
message OF 1870, called the attention OF con-
grcss TO n, and asked for the same grant OF
retaliatory power that Presid MT Cleveland
lately requested. and within three or four
months the foreign Office a, London notified
the Canadians that the view taken by them
of the treaty OF 1918 was an extreme VIEW
and that the point might be conceded 10 the
United States Great Britain is on record
saying that we are right, or such consider
the effect OF a statement that the Can adian
position is an extreme one that should be
given up"
''But what do you say as to the result OF an
armed conf clf
~ suppose any one will admit that We
would easily win II such nfct were car
w
while Great Britain aud her British American
colonies are only 5000 001 IL is evident
that the final result OF snv war would end In
the annexation %! Canada TO the United
aies. British naval supremacy and the geo
graphical characteristics Of the coasts OF
Great Br tain preclude any idea of INVASION
and conquest by the United states. The
transatlantic transportation OF military forces
would be limited TO British reinforc .ments OF
the gsrri, Gus In her American colonies Hos
tile operations on the offensive would be ear
riet on by the navy exclusively, and these
would be confined to attempts TO occupy har-
bors and ports, which might be compelled to
pay contr buttons, and blockade OF the coast
Attempts TO capture the United States sea
ports or to blockade her coast can not be sue
cessful, except to a lin ted extent upon the
first outbreak of hostIltics.
IF you look at any die iopary OF statistics
you will find that our stional wealth Is twice
theirs and all OF our force Is on the ground.
She would be obliged To fight al land battles
over here where her colonies are"
But wouldn't Great Briain's naval
strength be OF great use to her on the ST.
Lawrence and In the great lakes"
mo, not OF the slightest Her only access
TO the great lakes Is through canals and the
locks would be blown up by us " thin a week
after war had been declared. talked with
Gen. Sheridan on this subject year or more
ago and he made special Investigation and
got all the necessary data, and what | have
said is what he said 10 me sitter Investigating
10 be sure but most Of It Is needed elsewhere
than In Canada. Concern ny naval conflict
you understand, | suppose, that Great Britain
could make no conquest Of terri tory by her
naval lower. She could land no force. Her
aim would be 10 get into our harhors and de-
strog property. But Two can play at that
game. Our fast cruisers would 90 AZ her
commerce. There is afoat every day IN the
year English commerce to the value OF 81 o.,
600 600 Great Britan's food supply is on
the water all the time. We will sOon have a
dozea cruisers faster thrn anv Of the English
iron-cads, aud these cru scrs would a;tact
the British wealth sfiott, which would be at
the mercy Of our commerce deslroyers."
THE fate OF our nav, then, depends upon
the cruisersn
"Thc attacking cruiser has every advantage.
The English in their recent naval mdueuvers
experimental in this way: A cruiser was
sent out into the Irish seas 10 act as a COM
merce destroyer. Four other cruisers super
Tor In speed and force we're sent after her,
and the regular British squadron was notified
10 capture her. She eluied them all and In
fifty -four hours had captured ffty-seven
after about four DAYS, sue WIS still at large
and ready To operate against British com
merce. THIS illustrates the difficulty OF
suppressing fast commerce destroyers
Twelve vessels OF the Baltimore type. such as
are now being built, cru sing across the lines
OF commerce on the ocean, wou be able to
destroy more property la NINETY days than
the entire n1lish navy w1ud be- able to
reach and DESTROY on our coast We would
be unable at present TO stand up and fight
their iron-cads. / hope that tins situation
will not long exist. but IA to the rest OF II,
We should be heard from most effectively"