Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-08-15

WILMINGTON, THURSDAY, AUG. ~.
Alaskan Claims i'm Ibehring Sen.
A London special to the Montreal
Gasstte says:
The imperial authorities have decided that |
British rights in Behrlng Sen must be projected |
from outrage. The belief here IL that when |
the United States sees the determined attitude !
of Great Britain il will no longer obstruct u
speedy and peaceful settlement of tho queS-
ton. Pauncefote, Salisbury and knntstord
have been in constant communication regard
ing the matter during the last few days
Regarding what natter A matter OF very
grave import to the American people;
matter whish may leopardize
peaceful relations between two great
nations; matter upon which we cannot
afford to occupy an untenable and indefen-
sible position Ia which we have been placed
by an act having the apparent sanction OF
the present sdministratlon-the visitation
and forcihle search and unlawful seizure Of
British vessels upon the high seas. No
preposterous assertion OF exclusive jurls-
diction over the waters Of Behring Sea can,
under the universally accepted code OF
civilized nations, avail TO disguise the fact
that the capture OF the Black Diamond,
with Its attending circumstances, was In
effect Just such an assumption OF search
and seizure on tho high seas as the Ameri-
can people In 1912 preferred the perils OF
war rather than concede TO Great Britain.
And what do we find ccncnrrently with
the reception OF this note Of warning from
an aroused nation which stands upon the
ground that 1t has been given Just cause
for offence? a capital without an admins
istration the President AMI every member
OF his cabinet away from Washington and
only subordinates In charge Of the nations
business; business which under this admin
istration has been suffered to degenerate
from the consideration OF Important mat
tiers affecting the welfare OF the whole peo-
! pie down to a deplorahle and bellttling
scramble for spells, with a touch OF bonn
bastic jingolsm thrown In for purely partl-
san effect.
! 1t Is indeed sorry, humillating condl-
ton under which we find ourselves; into
which the nation has been allowed to drift
through the oulpable indifference and
spells hunting tactics OF those Into whose
hands the management Of our poblic at.
fairs has been entrusted aud their sub
servlency to the mercenary and selfish In
terests that have been so largely instru-
mental in placing them In power.
Let US briefly review the causes which
have led up to this controversy. When
Mr.. Blaine was asked, few days ago, by
what authority he asserted the claim Of the
United States to exclusive Jurisdiction over
the eastern half OF Behring Sea, he replied,
In effect: "You cannot lay finger on any
word Of mind assertive OF such jurisdiction.
All that have done has been TO direct the
enforcement Of an act Of Congress APP
proved by President Cleveland on the clos
ing day OF his administration"
Mr.. Blaine is verbally correct In this
statement. Bat he was none the less con.
sciously and wilfully deceptive In the i'm
preston he soughtto convey. The language
OF the act to which he refers, "ail the do
minions OF the United States In the waters
OF Behring Sea" will not warrant the Inter
probation he seeks to put upon 1t.
In tracing back this Behring Sea business
to Its primal root, we find the same cause
az work that led century ago to the con
dition OF affairs under the rule Of the Eas
India Company eliminating In the esei
memorable Impeachment OF Warren Hast
the proceedings Of the Berlin convention
on Samoan autonomy and its relation t
foreign interests In those distant Pacii
islands-and that is, suecinctly stated, tn
exercise OF governmental functions at lon
range by selfish agencies. In the Samoa
case, when Prince Bismarck came to loo
into the merits Of the controversy, like tn
statesman that he Is, he saw ut once tht
Germany could not, with any sense OF Jul
ice and right, back up the usurpat!on an
mIsrule committed under the cover
German authority by the Hamburg Com
pany and its creatures who mad arrogate
to themselves and to the furtnerancs
their own ends the actual rulership OF II
islands, and he at once acknowledged thi
Germany was IN the wrong and It was th
duty of that government to recede from Ii
false position into which It had been draw
by Its agents and 90 make PREPARATION 4
wrongs committed In its name.
Just so with Alaska, 1t was % years az
that the United States acquired this ter
.ory, with Its adjacent long chain OF Ae
tian Islands, by purchase, from Russia,
our people generally 1t was an unknoy
region popularity supposed to be engeiop
In ice and snow, surrounded by togs a
inhabited by sparse population
savages, lifted but Itttle ont Of their priu
tive ignorance anu worthessDess by
slight yarnish, here and there, OF Rassi
civilization. Few Americans kaeW Il.
thing about the natural resources Of I
new acquisition; few cared to know a.
thing about them but among thess {
were the founders 81 the ABs'.s Comm
cial Company, They found that toe va
able ur-bearing seal, driven By indlscEiI
nate slaughter from tho southern Pac
Islands to other parts Of the wol
had found shelter IN the waters )
rounding the AIeutiaR Islands and W
accustomed to resort thttueE Ia great ma
beers during tbs n-0etlug season open
with April anl closing win N0vemL
Whence the seals come with the opening
the season ami whittier they go vita
close no 0n5 has ever tound 0ut, but III
they were IL countless numbers dur
these months Of eacn year. The found
of the Alaska conf any saw their oppot
nifty, aud they Improved It by securing I.
Congress, IL 1870, a grant Of the exGius
right 10 take seat for 20 years On
Pribylov group Of islands and the wa
adjacent there.o, This wtl5 the excsu
the grant; but tromthls toothold the Ais
company went on by step u would I
too much space here to reheHrse. unit
became supreme 10 everything re
tho ,p,nypl