Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-09-12
More British Land Robbery.

More British Land Robbery.
England is at its old game again.
Whenever Great Britain is not lighting
for territory, it is always making pre-
parations to steal land in some quarter
of the globe. Its record as land rob
ber is unique. Stealing land is fixed
English policy. BY theft Britain be
came great; by the same simple pro
cess Britain proposes to become great
err
This time its operations are directed
against the United States, which here
| tofore has proved an easy victim to the
bluffing tactics of the notion across the
water. England seems never to have
forgotten that the United States once
belonged entirely to it, and has never
neglected an opportunity to sneak out
from under Uncle Sans nose every
choice bit of territory that could be OBJ
tanned.
The next question will probably in
volve the boundary line between Brit
leh Columbia and Alaska. 1t is re-
ported that English surveyors are run
ming new line to suit themselves.
Unless the United States stands pat
upon the treaty by which Russia sold
Alaska to the United States, an i'm
mense slice of Southeastern Alaska
may be lost.
To 1889, fifty-nine years after Alas
ka came under the control of Russia,
and seventeen years after it was pur-
chased by the United States, England
accepted the Alaskan boundary lines
as they were on the maps without ques-
ton. In British official matters the
maps and charts were the same as the
American maps and charts. No shad-
ow of an excuse for a change of bound
ary line was ever dreamed of.
The Dominion of Canada changed on
its own maps the Alaskan boundary in
1884 to suit its own purposes, and the
British government backed up the
claim of the Dominion. Four years
later a joint commissioner between the
United States and Great Britain took
up the matter, and its report will be
made December 81. 1895. Great Brit
ain suggested the commission. Why
the question of dispute shoald have
been allowed nobody knows. Britain's
claim that strip of lani about 600
miles long aud of varying widths up to
$50 miles, including 100 miles of sea-
cost, with the harbors and islands, be-
long to her. 10 show the value of this
property, it is only necessary to say
that the most of Alaska's canning in
dustry of $4,000, 900 per annum is done
in this strip; the forests are greater
than any in the United States; the rich
est mining properties in the world, viz,
the Treadwell, HaywardLane and Sill
yer Bow properties. ahd vast coal fields.
which will control the supply of the
Pacific eventually.
Isn't it about time that this nonsense
with Great Britain is stopped? There
are too many boards of arbitration for
the good of the nation. Instead Of Civ
ing England the earth, it would be bet
ter for the United States to take a little
for itself. Every time Great Britain
wants to get possession of slice of
territory, first comes proposition for
a commission or for board of arbitra-
ton. If in place of giving Great Brit |
aims case standing in court, as it
were, by the appointment of arbitra
tors or commissioners, it would be far
wiser to say: There is nothing to ar
bitrate; the land is ours, and we pro-
pose to keep it. What are you going
to do about it?"
1t is remarkable fact that in all |
.hese boundary disputes with Great |
Britain the United States has never |
claimed anything. has always been on
he defensive and usually has been
Horsted.
Secretary Olney has great oppor-
unity in this boundary dispute. To
stop the controversy sharply with an
ncisive ultimatum might not be diplo-
natc, but it would be Democratic.-l