New-York tribune., 1899-07-27
"RESORTYNG TO ARMS"
LUDICROUS THREATS OF OTTAWA
- STATESMEN OVER THE ALASKA
BOUNDARY

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: II would be amazing. IL II were not lua,
crous to hear leading statesmen at Ottaw.
threatening the United States with resort 70
arms" to enforce their views about the Alaskan
boundary. Diplomatic discussion does not
usually begin In that way though street rowdIes
and small boys sometimes open an argument BY
expressing desire to punch each others heads.
And whose arms Is IL that these Canadian
gentlemen propose to use against US? Not their
own. They haven't any. Not Canada's. She has
only militia. 1t is the arms OF the mother coun.
try that to be "resorted to- to enforce de-
mands which are not hers at all.
Great Britain and the United States are two
great. self-respecting nations. whose utterances
are made with dignity and some sense OF re-
sponsbty. They are not accustomed TO make
demands" that they cannot maintain by force.
IL the deplorable necessity should arise Hence
they discuss such topics temperately. and with
every desire to preserve peace and friendship
But this school Of Canadian statesmen seems to
proceed upon the plan OF demanding" every.
thing in sight and then threatening to hurl the
British Army and Navy at US IL we do not give
II up.
II is pleasant. however. TO know that those
gentlemen who pose as Canada do not in fact
represent either Canada or the Canadian people.
Neither the Canadian people nor the American
people have any intent or desire to do each other
any kind of injustice or harm. The two COM
munities are every year drawn more closely to-
gether Geographically they have joint inter-
ests Commercially they have many enterprises
in common. Industrially they have opin-
ions in accord. Canadians and Americans are
quite ready to join In each others enterprises.
to invest In each others securities, to read each
others publications, TO use each others rail-
ways TO labor in each others farms. mines and
factories 1t is only politically that there is any
discord and that is because Of a vicious tradl-
tIonal habit. handed down from past politicians
to present ones. OF pretending that Canadians
are thrsting for Yankee gore-when in fact no
such thirst exists
1t would be better, as Hamlet told the players
TO reform this style OF acting altogether.
threatening. nagging. teasing policy is not
craftsmanship. 1t is simply the puerile tactics
of the "enfant terrible sitting on the fence and
demanding candy and pennies from the neigh
bors by the menace of the wrath of his pa and
ma To descend to it is unworthy Of the great
Dominion and its intelligent people.
Great Britain and the United States have en-
tered upon an era Of friendship. good feeling and
mutual understanding. They are far more ready
Just now to fight for each other than against
each other. That union Of feeling is based upon
a union of interests. That union Of interests Is
a part of the progress of the world in civiliza-
ton and enlightenment. Politicians at Ottawa
or elsewhere who stand In the way, and so
glibly propose between England and the
United States, may make some mischief out
they will sooner or later fnd they have mis-
taken the temper of the times In which they
live. The world will say that Canada's claim to
a slice Of Alaska must have very slim founda-
ton II It cannot endure the test Of calm discus
sion. but must be decided by wager Of battle"
FREDERICK w. SEWARD.
Montrose on the Hudson, n. Y, July 26, 1899.