The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-06
a Grotesuuc Character.

II tn" report is true that Sir WILFRtn
IAuRrER, the Canadian Premier has de
cI:ncd an official invitation to be present at
eSDubic function at Chicago next October
~ be presided over by the President of the
United States on the ground that he fears
h. will he ill-trratod because OF the Alaskan
boundary controversy, he is grotesque
character who takes himself altogether too
seriously He had before exhibited himself
IN Hight which suggested something Of
that sort hy laying down n substantial ulti-
matum of peace or war in Il speech In the
provincial Parliament ON that question. but
now he has established himself as such
II this report is true.
II l. unfortunate for Great Britain that
Sc - responsible for Sir WILFRID LAr-
PiFR. whose title is one Of the very recent
Jubilee creations responsible for his pro-
Niucial manners and for the character Of
his craftsmanship. IL there was to be
any lighting done on Sir WlLFRIDS provo
cation il would have To be- done by Eng
land, for Canada itself is practically with
out an army and is n country small
in population and wealth. over against
which are States Of our Union any one OF
military force. independent Of England, Is
only about 38, 600 militia, poor reliance
In case of war, and its total population is
only about five millions. All the same, Sir
WILFRID has not hestated to talk OF war
Rs "A possible outcome of our determination
60 maintain our territorial rights in AlE>ka
and he is the frccr in talking aboI/ il be-
cause Canada would turn over to England
tine business of fighting 1t.
The English, of course, az not treat the
turbulence Of Sir WILFRD seriously, for
they have no intention Of going to war with
America and no belief IN the possibility of
ouch an encounter. The present relations
between the two countries are peculiarly
cordial and they will continue so.
Sir WILFRID LAURIER, too, Is member Of
the Joint High Commission appointed to ad-
Just the differences between the two coun-
tries, and il he was not grotesque person
age he would have been the last to make
tine suggestion Of the possibility of a warlike
collision between them because of it. The
mere mention Of the word war is avoided
by responsible public officers OF any iudg-
ment in either country under n state of
circumstances like this, for the word sug-
gests threat only to be uttered on the very
eve Of actual war. Least OF all would such a
word come from any member OF a commits
sion appointed to settle our international
differences amicably II he deserved serious
Consideration. 1t is schoolboy talk
II, then. 1t il true that Sir WILrRID LAr-
8rRR has refused an invitation to the public
function at Chicago for himself and for the
Governor-General OF Canada. on the ground
that he might he il-treatcd by the Ameri-
can public, he has established finally his alb
Burdity as public character He need not
have accepted the invitation; he could have
got out 0f coming in some dexterous dplO-
matte fashion, but to put forward such
pretext for his refusal removes him wholly
and finally from the category of public men
entitled to respectful attention either here
or in England.
AS matter OF fact, neither the presence
nor the absence Of Sir WILFRID LAURIER
would be Of any consequence to the Ameri.
can people. The impertinrnt excuse he Ia
reported to have given for not coming il
simply specimen OF bad provincial man
ners and an expression Of petty provincial
spirit, and accordingly it Is desirable that
he should keep away. II suggests, how
ever, that il might he prudent for the
British Government to curb Sir WIIFRID
L4URIERS ovcrwccning estimate of his own
Importance rs an arhitcr OF the destinios of
England and America