The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-07
THE ALASKA BOUNDARY.

The desire OF Great Britain 20 take
from the United Gates the soufhernmost
portion OF ALASKA, including portion OF
the mainland and certain islands ada
cent thereto that have q coast line
OF hundreds OF miles. Ii In har-
moay with the policy OF the Brit
tsh government. That same gov
eminent is now trying TO steal land from
Nicaragua and Venezuela by q new in
depreciation Of old treaties. In India and
Africa the British frontier moves forward
every few Yeas, being unhampered by
treaties
The British Columbia government Is
urgent In It's efforts to induce the imperial
government to indorse Its claims upon
Alaska England has no wish to become
involved In a quarrel with the United
States. and vigorous action by the Amer
lean state department would forever ST.
ience the demand of England. The prompt
allowance by Secretary Gresham OF the
exo-bitant damage claims Of the Victoria
sealers and the pusilianimous foreign pol
icy of the present national administra-
ton. however, have encouraged British
Columbia to press her outrageous claim.
A return 10 the American policy Of Dan
Eel Webster and James G. Blaine would
forbid such an insult as the suggestion
that the United States would be willing
TO surrender territory that she had occu-
pied for nearly thirty years and to which
she acquired good title from Russia.
in ISIS Russia and Great Britain by
treaty defined the boundary of Alaska as
follows:
's,rhe line OF demarcation between the
yxf,G Of ha hte1. a~&{
ties upon the coast of the continent and
the islands OF America to the northwest
shall be drawn In the manner following:
Commencing at the southernmost point
of the island called Prince of Wales ISL
and. which point lies In the parallel OF 81
degrees 40 minutes north latitude. and be-
tween the isist and is3d degrees of west
longitude. meridian Of Greenwich, the
said HE shall extend to the north along
the channel as far as the point OF the
continent where IL strikes the 5sth degree
OF north latitude: from the last mentioned
point the line Of demarkation shall fellow
the summit OF the mountains parallel to
the coast"
The channel mentioned In the treaty
was I'm lS25 and has ever since been con-
sIGered 10 be Portland canal British Co
tuitbta bdS Recently set UP the tlaItU tnnt
Benin channel was the one referred to.
Fer seventy years England has permitted
Russia and the United States TO occupy
the territory between Portland canal and
Benin channel. For seventy years the
maps OF the whole world have made Port
land canal the boundary between Alaska
aud Canada, and have located the Cana
dian frontier ten leagues from salt
water.
The treaty provides that the eastern,
boundary OF Southern Alaska shall be
ten marine leagues from the coast. where
there liz. no mountain chain whose sum-
nit can be followed. The United States
frontier takes into account the indenta
tons of the coast. while the British Co
lumhians would follow the general coast
lsne and cut across the inlets. thus steal
ing the best harhors In Alaska.
Canada did not venture TO advance
her preposterons claim until the for
eign department OF the United States
feil into feeble hands. The new congress.
| which Is not Democratic in either branch.
Will make short work of the unjust at
! tempt 60 further enlarge British posses
sionS at the expense OF the United States.