The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-04-03

In Consequence Of the Presidents Procla-
nation Declaring Behrins Sea q Closed
Seattle Talk About Annexing Canada.
What We Could Do in the Event Of
War.
WASHINGTON. March 24.-The Presi-
dents ':Behring Sea" proclamation will
probably result in some diplomatic cor
respondence with Great Britain and per-
haps other powers. Advices from Ots
taya. say that the proclamation has
created a genuine sensation in Canadian
official circles Great Britain more than
year since indicated a disposition to
unite with this government to prevent
wholesale seal destruction, but when
negotiations are commenced it would
not be surprising should that govern
ment claim an extent of jurisdiction our
government would not be prepared to
concede. The affair may give Mr.. Blaine
an opportunity thus early in the
administration to lay down his promised
vigorous foreign policy. This procla-
nation does not claim exclusive juriS-
diction over Behring's Sea, as construed
in some quarters, but leaves the question
of jurisdiction in condition for future
determination. The issue will very soon
be raised, it can be depended upon, when
an American gunboat Furnishes maraud-
ers in waters held to be common ground.
The press dispatches from Canada indi-
cate a somewhat excited public feeling
over the proclamation. The Canadians
have been the principal depredators
upon the seals, and 1t is likely will not
be disposed to give up their practices
without struggle. In this connection
it is of surprising interest to note the
feeling in various circles here.
The debate IN the Senate the other
day on the subject of our relations with
Canada was of marked significance, and
yet it has seemed to excite more notice
in Canada than in the United States.
When such Senator'S as Mr.. Sherman and
Mr.. Hoar declare openly that the an
nexation of Canada to the United States
is not only a possibility but a proba-
bility there is meaning in what they say,
1t is perfectly apparent here, forit is
common talk at the clubs, that powerful
infueLces are at work in favor of the
annexation of Canada-peaceably, II it
can be effected in that manner, forcibly
if not. When Senators of the United
States assert positively and publicly, as
they have, that the United States must
have Canada, by force, if necessary,
and the movement in that direction
must not be long delayed, it is porten-
tious. These would be glad if the Behr-
ing's Sea proclamation should lead up to-
difficulties with England, for with a
Secretary Of State so disposed hostilities
could easily be brought about.
Every statesman and every military
commander in Great Britain knows just
as well as any one in the United States
that in an incredibly short time there
after we would pour all over Canada an
invading host which would sweep every
vestige of British domination from the
soil, and Great Britain could get no
other satisfaction than the lombard
ment Of a few of our coast cities. 1t
is held in army and navy circles that
even this could be prevented by OBJ
structions and torpedoes in our har-
Dor approaches. When the rumor of
the sinking of an American by Ger
man gunboat was in circulation, 1t
was marvellous to note the express
sion of hopes on all hands here that
the news would prove true. The de-
sire here was universal for first-class
brush with.a frst-class power. though
there was not the slightest indication of
any such desire anywhere else IN the
country. The conquest of Canada would
offer prospect so inviting to this spirit,
if il were to spread over the country,
that in certain contingencies it might
almost in moment obliterate those SEN
tinlents Of fellowship and fraternity
which have been the theme atall gather
ings of the two English-speaking nations
for generations past.
A high military officer said he had not
doubt if the standard of the United
States was raised for volunteers there
would be one million men under 1t IN
thirty days, and naval officer OF equal
rank declared we would be in a condition
to cope on the sea with any power before
much damage could be inflicted upon us.
All this is only the foreshadowing OF
events which may be a long way off, but
there can be no doubt that influences,
broad and deep, are impressed with the
conviction and determination that 1t Is
time for this country to show the nations
of the earth what it can do.