The morning call., 1892-03-09
THE FORTS AT ESOUIMALT.

The debate ia the House of Commons on
Mon day sheds light on the present con-
ditlon of affairs at Esquimalt. 1t appears
from the statement of the Secretary of War
that England agreed to furnish guas,
mining stores for blasting, engineers and
plans for the new works, while Canada
agreed to furnish the sites, build the works
nd maintain them. England has kept her
bargain. She furnished the guns and sent
trained force to teach the Canadian gun
ners how to use them. But, beyond fur
nishng site, Canada has done nothing.
The works are not constructed, nor are
there parapets or embrasures in which the
guns could be mounted. The Government
announced in Parliament an intention of
urging Canada to fulfill her bargain.
On the lace of it this is matter which
concerns Canada and not the United States.
If the Dominion has money to spend on
works of Notifications it has the same right
to build them that the United States have
to erect forts for the protection of San Fran
cisco. But there is this difference between
the cases of the two nations. Works built
to cover the entrance OF the Golden Gate are
purely defensive works, involving no
menace 10 any foreign power; whereas a
Notification at ESquimalt is nothing but an
offensive work intended to menace the pos
sessions of a neighb0ring nation. There is
nothing on Vancouver Island, or at VAN
coGyer City-the terminus of the Canadian
Pacific-which could be protected by works
at EsQulmalt. III the event of war all the
guns in the world at Esquimalt, if they
were not backed by fleet, could not pre-
vent the capture of Victoria or tile oceupa-
ton OF New Westminster. But the hagbor
Of Esquimalt, if properly fortified, could
give shelter to a fleet which could ravage
the whole OF Puget Sound and capture
everything afioat in that inland sea. 1t is
in order to facilitate that. and for no other
purpose. that England and Canada propose
10 erect the new forts. The latter are sim
ply and wholly a menace TO the United
States; if they were not that they would
have no excuse for existence.
The question is thus raised whether the
construction OF such works is compatible
with the cordial understanding which ought
to exist between the United States and their
northern neighbor. In the times in which
we live war begins long before shot is fred
Preparations for hostilities against neigh
boris territory are really war. No nation
wants to be actually b0mbarded before it
prepares for defense. Acts are construed
It
moves TO the frontier it is assumed that it
means to cross it; when a place of refuge
is built for eOmmerce-destroyers il is taken
for granted that the builder mean to de-
strOv commerce. The interval which divides
the completion Of fortified harbor at
Esqumalt and the departure Of fleet to
rayage Puget Sound is so short that no pru-
dent statesman will allow it to delay him in
taking measures to delay the ravage.
In former days the construction of such
works as our good friends, the English aud
the Canadians contem plate at Esquimalt
would have been met by the building Of cor
responding works at Port Townsend. Each
nation would have com peied with the other
in making preparations for raids upon its
neighboT. The steamer sailing up the straits
would have been confronted on tie enc side
with rows of grinning guns intended to de-
moiish American craft. and on the other
with other rows Of grinuing guns designed
to sink British craft. Would either nation
Lave gained much by such warlike prepa-
rations?
AT the close of the War OF 1872 it was
agreed that the naval force of the United
States and that of Great Britain on the
Great Lakes should be restricted to one gun
boat each. The idea OF the statesmen on
o0th SIDES was that II was wiser to provide
for peace than for war. A less enlightened
view now seems to prevail in the British
Parliament. Tie notion in that body is
that it is better TO arm than TO disarm. 1t
is not for US to undertake the education of
the English, but it is proper for British
C0lum6iaDs = who are the people most
directly interested-to understand that the
UDited States would view Notifications at
Esquimalt as an indication of hostile pur-
pose, which could not be overlooked. Con-
gresS would not be likely TO Offset such
works with works Of equal menace at the
mouth of Puget Sound, because it Is unwise
to follow bad example. But the British
COlumbians are unobservant Indeed if they
do not perceive that every year increases
American dissatisfaction with the working
of the Oregon treaty. and that if ever an
opportunity occurs 10 reeede from that i'll
advised agreement and to transfer to the
American flag that small stretch OF coast
which separates Washington from Alaska.
the people would demand that the opper-
tunity should be turned TO account with q
yehemeney of pressure which it would strain
the most pacific administration at Washing
ton TO withstand.