New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-07
TrppER'S BorvDARr PHILOSOPHY


The latest significant contribution to the
Alaska boundary dispute comes from the leader
Of the Canadian Opposition. who in this mat
ter seems to be in entire accord with the
Canadian Government. Sir Charles Upper has
discovered that the Canadian side of tho pues-
ton Is not understood in England. wherefore.
with the aid of n reporter. ne has undertaken
10 enghtcn the English public thereon His
clncidation is 10 the effect that II is the nlt"d
States that by refusing arbitration on the
Venezuelan basis j. delaying settlement. and
that this country is doing SO because such
course is 10 the financial advantage OF IFS
miners and coast traders. And his recommended
tion 10 bring the United states to terms is that
an all British railroad shall he built from the
Canadian Pacific line ny TO the Klondke. and
that mining law shall be adopted which shall
exclude al but British subjects from the Klon-
dixie region
Sir Charless explanation Of the attitude of
the United States is scarcely 70 bc reckoncd
complete Perhaps that was the reporters
fault. or that Of the copy editor crampcd for
space The Canadian statesman surely could
not have failed 10 make ID clear that the United
States objects not TO arbitration on the Nenez-
uelan basis so much no 10 arbitration on that
basis minus ono OF the most important foundn-
tion stones In the case Of Venezuela il was
agreed If We mistake not. at Great Britain
reouest-that fifty years undiSputed occupancy
or possession Of territory should he deemed
10 establish inalcnablc title. and that all
territory thus possessed should he excluded
from arbitration But such an agreement m
loss we are mslnformcd is precisely what
Canada declines to make in the Alaska bounda-
rv case Certainly Il was an essential part or
The Venezuelan treaty. being the first Of
the rules Of procedure under that instrument
Would SIR Charles Upper like to submit the
Alaska boundary to arbitration under set
or rulos beginning thus Rule A-Advcrse
"hold,nq or prescription during period Of nifty
"vears shall make good title? If So he would
find there was little 70 arbtrate, unless
II were the question whether the United States
shoud not get moro than il has ever claimed,
Sir Charese suggested solution Of the prob
lem is an entirely logical one. Let Gambia
build railroad mp from Krmata to Dawson
Why not? She has the land and the money
Engineers say It IS feasible. Fnanclers say
# would be profitable There Is some fine
country up in Caseiar thus 10 be opened 10
settlement and civilization. T. might be for
~ the Klondke In competition with that by
way Of Lynn Canal And SO, too. as 70 the
proposal 10 exclude all but British subjects
from the Klondlke gold fields. or from that part
/ of them lying east Of the Hist meridian. why
not Canada has the right To do H. Just aS the
United States would have a right 10 enact that
only It's own citizens and corporations should on
gage I'm the railroad carrying trade within ia
territory The United States would no moro
dislike 10 sec ite citizens shut ont of Canadian
gold mines than Sir Charles would dislike
70 SEQ the abrogatlon Of Canadian railroad priv.
lcgcs In the United States. There Is nothing
like being logical and consistent and neigh
horly all around
All the same. with one of Canada'S crack
regiments Quartcrcd in tho State Armory At
Albany and "troopng the colorS' amid the
hospltabe enthusiasm Of New-York mutitudcs.
we doubt II relations between Dominion AMI
Republic. 50 far rs public feeling goes. are
quite rs strained as politicians make them seem