The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-20
SEATTLE. TUESDAY,. DEC. 9
A NEEDLESS ALARM.

Under the treaty OF 1917 the afHieu uAsea
forces of the United States and Great
Britain on the Great Lake. are limited %
the few vessels necessary TO enforce tne
revenue laws and to keep the inland COM
mercial peace on these waters. 1t Is ~
ported that Canada, under the guise Of
naval revenue cutters, has constrneted
number of powerfully armed gunooats m
the lakes. IT Canada has done this sne
has been guilty of a clear evasion OF the
treaty, but in event of war this evasl3u
would be of small practical consequence.
Gen. Grant long ago pointed out that -
land frontier of the United States gave -
military forces an enormous advantages On
land at the opening of campaign with
Canada.
It is now possible at three points for the
forces of the United States by prompt
movement to cut the Canadian lines Of
communication. One Of these movements
would operate on the Weiland canal,
which is unfortified and open to attack
and destruction, severing communication
between the lakes and the ocean. Another
movement could be made from the United
States military post recently establishes
at Swanton, VT, upon the Canadian canals
and lines of communication. The truth i
that while there is not the slightest prob
ability Of war between England and Amer
lea, In event of war England could not de
fend Canada. Richard Golden, on his
return from visit to America, said at I
time when the confederation of Canadian
provinces was under discussion:
1t is all very well for our Cockney newspaper.
TO talk of defending Canada at all hazards. u
would be just as possible for the United ststAa
to sustain Yorkshire in war with England -
for US to enable Canada TO contend against thu
United States. Nor must forget that To
only serious danger of quarrel between thoie
two neighbuEs arises from the connection Of
Canada with this country.
Any man of sound military intelligence
knows that given q nation of IS. coo 90
confronting Canada with but 5000 90
wouid be certain to smash the Canadian
lines of railway and canal communicates
within twenty days after war was declared.
Given long line of communicates
through a vast, thickiy-settled country
and it could not possibly be protected IN
its critical points against the onslaught of
a rich. populous and powerful foe. EVER
intelIigen. Canadian knows that Mr.. Cob
den was right when he said that England
could not defend Canada against the
United States. Mr.. Goodwin Smith, an
intensely loyal Englishman, advocates the
merging of Canada in the United States
Canada and England puts both in false
and dangerous position on this continent
England today fairly says TO Canada that
III we must protect you. you ought to ex.
pect that We should control YOU Lord
John Russell and Earl Grey long ago said
In substance that if England is 10 defend
Can ada she must be allowed to prevent
Canada from provoking attack by insists
ing upon claims or even rights which are
insignificant compared with England1
enormous interests. England cannot de-
fend Canada against the United States 4
she would; the line Of defense is too lon.
and too weak compared with the lire q!
the American attack. Nevertheless il
England became involved in war with
some great power upon some question in
which the Canadians had hut remote in.
terest. like the integrity Of her Indian EN-.
pire threatened by Russia, Canada would
be in danger and on the other hand i,
Canada should force a quarrel with the
United States because of some local cau,s
OF difference England would be obliged Il
take un her stupid fight. just as a sensibs,
man Is sometimes obliged to stand by hi,
wife when he has every reason to suspec
that she forced her own trouble bv he,
reckless, foolish tongue and uniustlhabI,
behavior.
There is no occasion. however. to worr,
about Canadian naval forces on the Gre.
Lakes, \ whole deet Of heavily arms
cunboats on the Great Lakes could M
save Canada from occupation In even
of war.