The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14
rHE SUN, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY "A, 1897

provision for the certain and nnai adjustment
Of the limits In dispute. 10 now before the Brit
ish Government for lie confederation. A Just
regard to the delicate state Of this question
and q proper respect for the natural impa-
thence Of the State OF Maine. not less
than . conviction that the negotiation has
been already protrscted longer than Is prudent
on the part OF either Government, have led
me to believe that the present favorable mo-
ment should on no account be suffered to pass
without putting the question forever at rest. I
feel confident that the Government Of her Bril-
tsnnio Majesty will take the same view Of this
subject, "a I am persuaded It 10 governed by de-
sires equally strong and sincere for the amicabls
termination Of tho controversy. To the intrin-
sic difficulties Of questions Of boundary lines,
especially those described IN regions unocou-
pied and but partially known. 10 TO be added In
our country the embarrassment necessarily
arising out Of our Constitution by which the
general Government is made the organ of ne
g~otiatinR and deciding upon the particular
interests Of tho States on whose frontiers these
lines arc TO be traced. To avoid another
controversy In which . State Government
might rightfully claim TO have her wishes con-
suited previously to the conclusion Of convcn-
tionAi arrangements concerning Der right Of
Jurisdiction or territory, I have thought It neces-
sary to call the attention Of the Government of
Great Britain to another portion OF our CO.
terminous dominion Of which tho division
still rcmains to be adjusted. refer to
the line from the entrance of Lake Su-
pcrior to tho most northwestern point OF the
Lake OF the Woods. stipulations for tho settle
p,ent of which are to be found In the seventh
article Of tho treaty of Ghent. The Com
missioncrs appointed under that article br
tho two Governments. having differed In
their opinions, made separate reports. accord
ing to is stipulations. upon the points OF dis
agreement. and these differences arc now to be
submitted to the arbitration OF some friendly
sovereign or State. The disputed points should
be settled and the line designated before the
Territorial Government OF which II Is one OF
tho boundaries takos Its place In the Union as q
State. and I rely upon tho cordial cooperation OF
tho British Government 70 oneot that object"
The rebellion In Canada had by this time sub
sided. A greatde cal Of bitterness, how ever, against
tho United States still fingered there, and. for
that matter, fingers still. so far as the so-calied
Conservatives arc concerned. Tho President
alluded to this matter In his third annual mcs-
sage: "Thero 10 every reason to believe that
disturbances like those which lately agitated
tho neighboring British provinces will not again
provo tho sources Of border contentious or In
torpose obstacles TO the continuance OF that
good understanding which IL 10 the mutual
interest OF Great Britain and the United
States to preserve and maintain. Within
tho provinces themselves tranquility 10
restored, and on our frontier. that mis-
guided sympathy In favor Of what was
presumed to be q general effort in behalf OF
popular rights. ard which in some instances
misled . few OF our moro ineI experienced citi-
zens. has subsidized into q rational conviction
strongly opposed to all intcrmeddling With tho
internal Affairs Of our noighbors. The poopleo of
tho United States feel. rs It IL hoped they al
ways will. q warm sollcitude for the success OF
all who are sincerely eudeavoring to improve
tho political condition OF mankind. This
generous feeling they cherish toward the
most distant nations, and It was natural,
therefore. that II should DO awakened
with moro than common warmth In behalf
of their immediate noighbors; but It does
not belong to their character rs q community
to seek the qualification OF those feel
ings In acts which violate their duty rs
citizens. endanger tho peace of their country,
and tend TO bring upon IL the stain of u violated
faith toward foreign nations. II, Jealous to
confer henents upon others. they appear for =
moment to lose sight of the permanent obliga-
tlons imposed upon them rs citizens. they arc
seldom long misled. From all the Information
/ receive, confirmed to some extent by personal
observation. l am satisfied that no one can now
hope to engage In such enterprises without en-
countering public indignation. In addition to the
severest penalties OF the law. Recent informa-
tion also leads me to hope that the emigrants
from her Majesty's provinces who have sought
refuge within our boundaries are disposed