New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-19

Holland Likewise held supremacy in the Baltic
until the reason for her power died away. There
is a dominion over waters but partially inclosed
which is recognized in the law Of nations, and
which must he respected when it proceeds from a
title long unchallenged. continuously claimed and
exercised compctcntly defended, and plainly neces-
sary to national safety or for some lawful end.
Our rights, whatever they are, were obtained
from Russia. We bought what she sold, or had
70 sell. What she thought she had TO sell were
Alaska and the waters thereof, and these,
defined in the treaty, are shown in the accom-
panying map. Russia still claims that she had
the right to sell them, that Bchring Sea belongs
to-day her and us, that it is closed sea, at least
so far as she is concerned that whatever we may
cOnccde to that part east of the mid-sea bound
airy, she comedies nothing to the part west OF
it. Ours may be open, if we choose TO have 1t so,
but hers is shut; and any one who hunts seal
in her territory does il al his peril This position
She enforces with uncompromising frmness.
The title which Russia transferred to us was
based upon the highest rights that obtain in
Il new country. These were fixed by the nations
Of Europe during the two centuries that sue
ccedcd tie discovery OF America. Chief Justice
Marshall has stated the rule concerning them in
ment by whose subjects or by whose authority
it was made. which title might be consummated
by possession This, he declared, was right
which all (the European Governments asserted
for themselves and to the assertion of which by
others all assented.
Captain Vitus Bchringa Danish navigator in the
service Of Peter the Great. was the first European
who sailed in the waters of Behring Sea. lie was
sent ththcr by Russia in 725 TO ascertain whether
Siberia was connected with the American MAIN
land He sacl along the kamschatkan and
Siberian coast, rounded East Cape, discovered
numerous islands. bags and promontorles ana re-
turned convinced that ASA and America were
separate continents He made n later expe-
dition in 1910, intending 10 descend the Amen-
can coast. Starting from Avatcha Bay, he sailed
south and east and north until he sighted Mount
ST. Elias He landed upon Kayak Island and on
the coast Of Alaska. His lieutenant, IN second
ship landed on the American mainland in latitude
"A degrees As minutes, creating The right by
which Russia held the strip of coast southwark
from ST Elias. ON his return voyage Bchrins
touched AT several of the Alcutian Islands, and
landing. sick and broken down, on that island
in the Kormandorski group which hears his name,
he died there.
During the next century four other expeditions
in 1888. in 1903. in 1873 and in 1926. confirmed
Russia's title to the whole of Alaska, the Aleutlan
chain. 10 all the islands in HShrns Sea ana OIL
the main coast and to the sea itself, II any cN-
elusive title can exist IN the sea. mat winch
was acquired by discovery was confirmed Dy oc-
cupation. In 1854 n grant was made 10 Russian
companv. giving it exclusive trading privileges in
the Acutian Islands. Other grants were made
from time to time and in 1899 the Emperor Paul
rollf hc
can coast down to the jjh degree of latitude, and
invested in single corporation the right OF trad
in, in his American dominions. Many settle
mcnrs were effected along the coast from the
Alaskan Peninsula to the 55th degree and in
tho course of time British and American ships
in,odcd the rights guaranteed by Paul 10 his Rus
sian company In 1921 the Emperor Alexander
issueJ his famous ubase intended 10 break up this
olleccd illicit commerce. He declared his SOW.
,recntv over the Asiatic coast from 45 degrees
20 minutes northward, and over the American
coast from the 5lst parallel northward. thus eX-
t,nlinr thc claims of Paul on our continent by
, dcgrccs and he warned all vessels sailing un-
dcr any other than Russian commission not
., onnrooch within 100 miles Of the shores thua
bounded.
= is not denied that up TO this time Russia's
,hsolutc authority in BchIing Sea had never been
llcd into question. Ii that fact he pointed out,
England may probably reply that nobody had
questioned it because it was not deemed worth
while to question it. This is true. whatever IL
NAV imply but IN our present controversy Win
Canada the contentious then advanced by our Sec
rotary of State in opposition To the Czars ukaSe
have been strangely misconstrued. John quincy
Adams WAS at thi, time in charge Of our foreign
affairs. and with characteristic boldness, sagacty
and promptncss he led an American and English
assault upon Russa's claims. Scores OF writer's
in the English and Canadian press. and some
indeed in our own. have .cckessly asserted that
his declarations were denial OF Russlas claims
in Bchring Sea. and were therefore precisely simi-
lar to the present Canadian claim The Lon
don Times" in recent ISSUE gravely
sct ND this prctension. and after
quoting the argumcntative question by
which Mr. Adams confused the Russian Govern
mcnt. i, observed The Canadians now address
10 the present owners of Alaska the question put
by Mr.. Quincy Adams TO Russia The Canadian
Minister of Marin declared on September Is.
1887 that the course taken TO punish and shut
ont the Victoria scalcrs has been pursued by the
United States officers in opposition to the con.
tention in the past Of their Government In regard
TO the waters III which the seizures have taken
place." statement in which there is no element
of fact whatever. The ukase OF 1921 was not
an assertion of jurisdiction in Bchrng Sea at
all. 1t was an order prohibiting foreign ships
10 come within 100 miles of any land claimed
by Russia For anything that was in that ukase
n foreign ship might have taken seal in Behring
Sea all it pleased if it could once have got there,
So long as it kept 100 miles away from land.
Sealing, legal or illegal was not the offence al
which Russia aimed. Her protest was against
commerce. She didn't want our ships to inter