The San Francisco call., 1897-09-10
NATIVES WERE NOT CONSULTED

Nib Chronicle highly approves Senator Morgans declara'
ton that not the policy of the United States to consult
the natives of country which desire to The
given by the Senator that we give them good gov
ernmen Both the Senator and contemporary cite Alaska
an instance which annexed regardless of the views OF
the natives. We bought that country of Russia which for
more than century had exercised jurisdiction over it.
Russas reasons for giving it up not shadowed in
any mystery Her seat of power upon continent her
efforts at expansion her European side have borne mma
tera results Her exraconnenal territory in Alaska added
nothing to her strength but its defense would resources
beyond the Importance of the stake Her expansion must De
on the plane of least resistance and therefore, followed he
easier cleavage through Asia. That policy must brng he Ill
conflict with other European powers, them England
which exploiting the same region. Her wise policy may
be poaby studied by the United States about TO
enter upon extracontnenta expansion and in the light
Senator Mogan statement of policy we may go to Alaska
study the good government which his sweeping reason
for annexation anywhere without consulting the natives
In the number of the Ooand Monthly an article
of reputable authorship Alaska. HE CALL neither denies
ams the statements of Dr. Cothran the author The
magazine which they appear recognized standard In
American periodical literature Dr. Cothran says: Since
annexation than half the natives of Alaska have per-
ished of cold and starvation, and happy
and prosperous people reduced extremity or
destituon and misery unparalleled this planet ndepend
and plenty have been exchanged for edom and quao
will have been destroyed. make plea for the helpless,
whose natural rights outraged. If President Mckinley
appoint commission to investigate in Alaska its report
would be the backes and most sorrowu record that has
been written in modern times At the end of long tale OF
unspeakable wrong and outrage would tell of the decayng
veges of hundreds of formerly villages deserted
and marked only by Greek above the graves
This picture of the 'good government" extended to
Alaska, drawn by intelligent American citizen, will hardly re-
other natives upon whom propose to confer similar
blessings without consulting them.
The contrast between Russian rule and ours but little flat
rs that kind of American pride which Senator Morgan ap
peas with fevor and frequency the appalling picture OF des
oaon that has followed the north be true we
may reconsider criticism of the extraerrltora admnisra
ton England in lnda of France in Agers, Cochin China
and Madagascar, and of the Dutch in Java
But such results exceptona Are they not common in
histoy They appeared in the Macedonian administration of
Persia that of Rome in the conquered provinces, and of
Spain her distant colonies Good government fades in
the ratio of distance from its administrative CENTER and malad
mnstraon the circumference finally reactve upon the
center
But these philosophical reflections derived from the
experience of mankind and therefore nconsequenta obsuc
tons in the path of glory in which feet set without
consulting the natives