The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-17
Canada's Sixteen to One.

ain are displaying toward the United
States broadminded cordiality which
is as prudent and polite as it is pleas
ant, the attitude Of Canadian official
dom continues to be shOrt-sightedly
narrow and unfair. This is shown,
among other ways, in the absurd stand
taken by the Canadian members of the
Joint high commission which is seeking
to compose in an omnibus treaty the
various differences Of long standing be-
tween the United States ana the domin-
ion. This commission, it is reputably
reported, was in a fair way to come to
a workable basis of agreement when
the Canadians interposed a demand for
the settlement of the Alaskan bound
airy dispute in a manner which Ameri-
cans must regard as utterly preposter-
Gus, and now there is likelihood that
all negotiations will be called off.
The present boundary between Alaska
ana British Columbia was established
in 1925 by convention between Russia
and England, and was reaffirmed with
out protest from Canada in the trans
fer of Alaska by Russia in 1867 to the
United States. From 1867 up to the
date Of the discovery of gold in the
Klondike region it was never ques-
toned by Canada and the territory
now claimed by Canada was entered
upon by Americans and upon it viii
lagos and towns were founded. The
area embraced in Canada's newly
fedged claim includes the present
towns Of Skaguay and Dyea, and the
Lynn canal. which control the Yukon
region, and ii the Canadian claim were
admitted the United States would lose
the gateway to the most valuable part
of the whole Alaskan region. Our COM
| missioners have offered, not as a recog-
milton of the legality of the Canadian
claim, but as an evidence of good will,
to guarantee that Canadians shah have
perpetual freedom of navigation of the
waters embraced within the disputed
territory and the same trade facilities
| as the United States, but the Canadian
| commissioners declare that theywill not
| be content with this and that if We
don't consent to an arbitration OF
claims they will pack their valises and
| go home.
Failure of the present negotiations
| would of course be regrettable mas
| much as it would mean the indefinite
| continuance of a number Of sources Of
| petty irritation ana annoyance A
| this time, when the general relations
! between the different branches of tn,
| English-speaking race are uncommonly
| harmonious ana when good will is tht
| watchwOrd of the hour it would not be
n nice spectacle to witness an abrup
| breaking of Of negotiations between
| two countries so peculiarly situa tee
! with respect to each other as are Can
ada and the United States. But ther,
| is a limit TO American patience in mat,
ters Of this kind, We have been for
| good many years exceedingly toleran
Of the Canadian prediction for tn
| role Of the spoiled child and have stood
! kicks and cuffs and hair -pullings in
! spirit of fraternai forbcarance in tn
| vague hope that some day Canadl
| would outgrow these juvenile pervors
tiles and develop into a ncighbor worth,
of our friendship and our resncct. I
We must be disappointed in this expec
tation it win be news learned in sorrow
but it will not cause Uncle Sam to tax
down his shingle and so out of bust
ness.
The great affairs Of this nation vii
not be seriously disconnected even
Canada does not succeed in getting
treaty of reciprocity with us on tn
principle OF capturing sixteen favors t
one granted in return.