The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-31
SEATTLE is DEFENDED
ROT LOOKING FOR TROUBLE. BUT
READY If 1T COMES.
Erastus Brainerd Says the State of
Washington sustains the Presi-
dental Attitude - Don't Want
War, But Having Trouble With
Canada-Canadians Hogglsh in
the KlOndike Trade.

Erastus Brainerd, Of Seattle, who
has represented the chamber Of COM
merce, Of that city, during the past
five months in Klondike work, and is
now en- route to Washington, D. c..
was seen at the Ryan hotel last night
On being asked what the war feeling
was out on the coast, Mr.. Brainerd
said:
Uncle Sam, in looking after prepara-
tons for possible war with Spain, has
not overlooked Seattle. The establish
ment of a f1ve-company artillery post
has been ordered for Magnolia bluff, at
the entrance to Seattle harbor, and
guns are now, or will be in few days,
on their way over the Great Northern
to be mounted as coast defenses.
81 suppose you know that the only
dry dock in the United States capable
Of taking in the largest battleship is
adjacent to Seattle at Port Orchard,
and there are general coast defenses
on Puget sound at Marrowston point
and elsewhere.
"Men-of-war are no novelty in Seat
tie harbor; the oregon, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Bennington, Charleston,
Monterey are among the frequent or
occasional visitors. Seattle is also the
headquarters for the Boring sea reve-
nue. cutters. A torpedo boat, the Row
an, is building in Moran Bros. ship
yard, and is now 81 per cent completed.
1--WE ought to be in reasonably fair
shape for defense, provided the same
activity is shown by the government
there as elsewhere.
81 think the most Of our people are
hoping that there will be no war.
do not think they are less patriotic
there than elsewhere, but Gen. Sher-
mans words-'war is hell''- are pref
ty we'll understood, and few among my
acquaintance see good reason for war
vet; but the state of Washington Will
not lag or be derelict in duty, If the
president is of the opinion that war
must be.
you would say that Seattle is max
ing so much money out of the Klondike
Quitting trade that she does not want
to fight? Far from it. Seattle has
come very near declaring war on her
own account, by reason of certain acts
Of Canada. OF course 1 do not mean
to be taken literally but there have
been several occasions when conflict
between Canadians and Americans
over the disputed Alaska boundary
line and territory has been nearer than
war between this country and Spain.
IT may say that those American Cit
liens who complained of their treat
ment to the Seattle chamber of COM
merce were advised by that body to
resist. OF course we make no objec-
tons to the enforcement of Canadian
laws upon Canadian soil. When it
comes to the attempt of Canadians to
enforce their laws upon soil that is
claimed to be American, we think it
time to make objections, although we
copfsss Is & sneaking fondness for
some of our Canadian cousins many
Of whom are good citizens of Seattle,
now, and we certainly don't want to
fight those of whom 1t has so often
been said that blood Is thicker than
water
ION fair proposition Of trade, we
really have the best of the Canadians,
and it makes them irritable and leads
them to try methods of retaliation to
which they would not resort were they
Tat both angry and excited. They put
such statements as All goods bought
outside Of Canada pay 80 per cent
duty In the first place they do not
Fay so high rate. The average duty
on a mans food supply, wllch is the
bulk of an outfit, is less than 20 per
cent; hardware and clothing do have a
higher rate of duty, but considera BILE
part of the clothing outfit is exempt
from any duty, and the hardware out
fit is relatively very small.
The average duty on a total outf.