The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-12
The BehrIng Sea Question.

The best way OF adjusting a disput-
ed matter says the Chicago Inter.
Ocean. is by insisting upon the full
measure of your rights in it. After
you have obtained them you may, if
it Please you, bestow part OF them
upon your sometime opponent as q
free gift, but il you weakly surrender
a part OF them by way OF compromise
you only encourage him to renew his
demand for a cession OF all OF them.
Thus in the Behring Sea matter the
the United States should not abate
one jot of her claims to maritime
jurisdiction or to full possession OF
the seal fisheries. A firm front will
preserve peace with honor; q waver-
ing line will invite attack. Let it be
understood that il Canadian poach-
ers invade the American fisheries they
will be arrested as poachers, and let
there be sufficient guardships to make
good their arrest. Great Britain has
acquired a habit OF believing that
whatever can be hauled into the hold
OF ship belongs to her; 1t was not so
in 1912, nor until De- ocratic misman-
agernent had weaker ID our navy,
nor was it so until Secretaries OF the
Bayard type had "ventured to sug-
segt" in response to the respectfully
demands" of British diplomats. In q
matter of dispute the nation which
respectfully demands" is likely to
gain more than the one which even
lures to suggest" Mr.. Bayard was
the incarnation OF very mild sugges,
tion,
We have acquired by honest and
open purchase all the rights which
| Russia once held in and over the
| Aleutian Isles and the waters OF the
/ Behring Sea. Our cbief objects in
that purchase we're the seal fisheries.
IL they are to be poached upon and
DESTROYED by British subjects the
amount paid by us is so much lost
money. We hold the title to Behripe
Sea and the Aleutian Isles upon the
same terms by which we hold the
mouths OF the Mississippi and the goil
| OF Louisiana. We paid cash for all oil
them. The claim Of Great Britain OF
any other nation to take fish or seals
out OF our possessions in Behring Sea
has no more basis in law than would
attach to claim OF right to take tim
ber out OF our Louisiana forests. The
firm attitude of Secretary Blaine
should be strengthened by the mora
support OF the country.
The rumor OF assurance oil Russian
aid in support OF our just demands
would seem to be we'll grounded. Nc
European nation would care TO max,
war upon the allied navies OF tin,
greatest empire and the greatest re
public OF the world. IL is not likely
that the question at issue between
the British and Amer can government,
will be settled otherwise than peace
ably, but the possibilities Of appeal tC
the arbitration OF war will grow NOR,
remote with every line OF battle shiI
added to our navy and with every In
dication OF O friendly understanding
with Russia. We are demanding NJ
more than our rights; we should sur
render none OF them. III, after havin
obtained them, we feel like relinquish
ing any OF them IL might be well I,
barter such as We do not need in re
turn Tor privileges now refused b.
Great Britain to our sailors and fish
ermen on the Atlantic coasts OF North
ern America. But In view OF the yer,
uncourteous treatment accorded Z,
us in the Atlantic possessions OF Brit
ain IL would be foolish and dishonor
able TO abate q jot OF our just dc
mands in Behring Sea.