Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-02
War is a Bad Thing, But Great Many
Things are Worse.

War is a Bad Thing, But Great Many
Things are Worse.
VICTORIA (B. CO, September 1st.-The
public meeting held last night was largely
attended and very enthusiastic. The
prominent men of the city and the mem
bers of the local government and House of
Commons were present. Mayor Grant oc-
cupied the chair. Baker, member of
Parliament, in lengthy speech, said 1.-The
matter affected not only the pockets and
our chosen home but touches the hearts, as
the flag which we have been taught to re-
spect from our earliest infancy has been
grievously trampled upon" He reviewed
the negotiations between Russia, England
and the United States, in which Russia
claimed sovereignty, but relinquished the
claim. It is very mortifying TO think that
three years have past and no settlement
has come.
Behring Sea is seven hundred miles long
and nine hundred wide, and it was out
rageous pretensions on the part of any
power arrogating exclusive jurisdiction to
such an extent of water.
The desire of the present meeting is to
get the assurance that these seizures will
be stopped and that as Britons we will be
able to know the old aag will give US pro-
lection, and that our losses will be settled
without delay. We must have some guar
antee that our vessels will be able to go to
Behring or any other sea to develop the
deep sea and surface fisheries.
Prior, another member OF Parliament.
followed. He considered the seizures
the most outrageous ever taken place
on the high seas. The best papers
in the United States were adverse to
the policy of the Government. He
thought if the Imperial Government
wished it could put q stop to the seizures
When he received the news of the seizure
of the Black Disnond, he sent telegram
to Ottawa urging the Imperial Government
to instruct Admiral Heneage to retake the
vessel. He was positive of the fact that
her Majesty's steamship Caroline had or
ders to proceed north and retake the vessels
taken in 1888. Why should they not take
the same course now The American Gov
ernment is trying to bolster up monopoly
known as the Alaska Commercial Com
pany. They make a large revenue from
this company, and do not wish to lose it.
There were great many gentlemen in the
House of Commons who thought the same
as himself regarding sending war vessel
to Behring Sea to protect the sealers.
do you consider" said the speaker,
THAT il a vessel was seized by France
it would take three years to gain redress :?
No; or it would have been a hot three
years for somebody. Do you consider if
Baconstield was alive it would have taken
this time to settle the matter. Cloud cheers
and cries of mo" ""No"D
Beaver, member of Parliament, and
other prominent men, addressed the meet
ing. Some were rather warIike.
Higgins, member of Parliament, said
he thoEght war bad thing, but great
many things were worse. The sacrifice of
national honor is one of them.
Several resolutions to the point in ques-
ton were carried unanimously, and the
meeting broke up amidst confusion.
The following resolution, passed by the
meeting, is to be sent to Ottawa and Eng
land:
ReSolued That the citizens of Victoria protest
against the usurption of Jurisdiction by the Gov
ernment of the United States over the waters of
Behring Sea outside of the universally acknowl-
edged three-mile limit, and express their indig-
nation at the repeated outrages to the persons
and property of their fellow citizens, who were
lawfully exercising their rights on the high