Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-03
A BULLYING Policy.
Editor Of The DiTaich :

To he Editor Of The Dpdicb:
Who can fail to see a settled dctermina-
ton on the part of the ADMINISTRATION 70
make as much political capital as possible
out Of the seizure and searching OF British
or rather Canadian vessels III the open IA
cifc Ocean, the free highway OF all nations.
No one is verdant enough TO believe that
the partv in power will allow it TO 60 80 far
AS 10 cause war between the two great
Notwithstanding peoples. The United
States of North America and Great Britain,
with their enormous cOmmerclal interests
so intimately connected and cOmmngled,
rs such would only result IN the complete
destruction of both, but this action OF
Government cruiser shows reckless de-
termination TO sacrifice the real interests
and good name of the people TO base party
proGt. What right has any American YES
sci TO overhaul with shotted guns and
search for goods another vessel flying the
colors of a friendly Power. Canadian or
any other, upon the high seas 1t Is pre-
ciselv the same argument the bold high
wavman uses, Might makes right" 1t Is
too late in the history of mankind for a
great and free people TO deal thus with
their brothers.
The facts living behind this movement,
not generally remembered, are that Alaska
was purchased by this country under a
pure Republican administration, and the
exclusive privilege of seal-tishlng: &c.,
was farmed out to a ring of truly loyal y
gentlemen. incorporated az the Alaska
Seal Fishing Company, or kindred name,
who took possession of the whole territory
at once. it was acquired doubtless for
this very purpOse-that Is, TO fill the COT
fers of those very patriotic citizens, TOR no
one has ever yet seen what beneht IL mas
been to any other good citizen of these
United States. Grown fat, and grasplng
as this set of men have become, they now
proclaim through this Government that not
only do the waters adjacent 10 Alaska 5
shores belong to them (the United
States). but the whole of Behring
Straitsn from shore to shore, including
that part of the North Pacific Ocean
known on the map as Behring's sea,
living north of the chain of Islets-Alentian
MISUNDERSTANDING across nearlyfrom
continent to continent, and reaching to the
Arctic Ocean on the north, an ocean IN
itself. This preposterous claim IS based
ONLY upon pretence of sale OF same 10y
Russia TO the United States. AZ well 10
claim that one Power call sell TO another
any portion of any other ocean, or can law
fully convey by bargain and sale property
they do not possess. And now, grown stu
more audacious, have forced our Govern,
ment to cause its vessel TO capture one and
stop and forcibly search another belonging
to Canada out upon the high road OF ma
lions. seventy miles beyond the legal juris-
diction of these States. Thus the reputation
of Americans for honor and fair dealing
is to be smirched through the intiu-
ence exerted over our Government by asset
of political freebooters (John Sherman IS
said TO be one Of them in order that their
pockets may continue to be filled from the
enormous exclusive profits derived from
probably the most tyrannical monopoly IN
the wole country. Talk about trusts and
combnesl Here is one before which all
others pale into paltry insignifcance; here
is one that drags a great people, by means
of its corrupt power over their very repre-
sentatives at Washington, into disgrace
ful position before the whole world. What
a fall was there, my countrymen, when
true Democracy, personited by Cleveland
and Cabinet. fell before the political dag
gers of fraud, corruption, and mendacity
welded by the Republicans in the last
campaign. Cleveland and his advisers
were honest American gentlemen who loved
the fair fame of their country and who
treated with scorn the corrupt approaches
of those who doubtless then tried the same
game they are now carrying out.
QUIEN SABE.