Omaha daily bee., 1888-09-08
British Buster.


Tho American people are not likely
TO be seriously disturbed by British
buster, and they will not be diverted
from what they believe TO be their duty
to themselves by any reflections which
members OF the English ministry or the
English press shall make upon the
conduct or expressions of their official
representatives,. a London paper rep
rescnting the government has been dis
posed to indulge in menances to this
country in commenting upon the pro-
posed policy of retaliation, and mem
Der Of the British cabinet in a public
speech treated with measure of deris-
ion the idea of the United States adopt
ing any radical measure for protecting
the rights of its citizens against the
abuses of the Canadian authorities.
This is not the tone which English
newspapers and public men should OBJ
serve. A fair criticism of the attitude
| of this country is admissible. III Eng
| lishmen believe that the message of
| Mr.. Cleveland was a mere political
| move il is their unquestionable privi-
lege to say so. If they believe our con-
struction Of treaty rights is incorrect it
il their right to say SO and give their
! reasons. But our sense Of injustice is
| net TO be removed by telling us that
| Canada, being province Of Great Brit
ain, will be protected at every hazard
by the imperial government against
defensive policy of the United States re-
L Il H., & Al ~, Nf tl,
troversy. This is the real meaning of
the utterances of the organ OF the
British government, and they are not
calculated to increase the friendly re-
lations of the two countries, or contrib
ute to the settlement of the controversy
with Canada.
There can be no question respecting
the real sentiment Of the Amer.
lean people as to what should
be done by their government
in the event of Canada resuming it,
former policy of hostility to American
interests and rights. They believe in
policy of non-intercourse, to be ex
tended as the circumstances shall re
quire. The question that divides then
now relates wholly to the expediency o
clothing the president with extraordi
nary powers, which the exigency doe
not seem to demand. The indisposi
tion to do this must not be regarded a
indicating feeling in any direction
favorable to the abandonment or th
up by this government. The countr.
is unit in demanding that Canad
shall be required to respect every righ
belonging to American citizens unde
treaty stipulations, and if she fails t
do so there can be no doubt that al
parties will agree upon a policy tha
will most amply attest the national dis
pleasure, regardless of what the conse
quences may be.
There is reason to believe that th
real sentiment of the British govern
ment is not reflected in the Londo
press. If the communication of Lor
Salisbury to the Canadian governmen
has been correctly reported, in whic
he is said to have enjolne
great caution in every move
ment, he evidently has in view a polio
of pacifcation. On this line the go,
ernment of the United States will ur
doubtedly be prepared to meet the Brit
ish government half way. But there
nothing to be gained on either side b
+ buster, and English statesmen and ed
! tors will make great mistake if the
, imagine this country is to be frlgh
+ ened from its just position by boastin
and bravado.