Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-12
THE BOUNDARY QUESTION
The Comment of London Paper on the
Subject.
Stated That the Mother Country Is
Placed in Very Difficult
Position.

fev York O2c-; 81 tribune Buldnlg.


The special position of the mother coun-
trv in the present negotiations is an ex-
tremeIv difficult one. She is almost exact
" in the position of parents who have to
settle a dispute which has arisen between
a married daughter who has gone out into
the world and has a house of her own, and
a daughter who still remains in the old
home. Unless great patience and forbear-
auce. are exercised on all sides, there is al
ways the likelihood of very ugly quarrel
What chance of a peaceful arrangement
can there be if the married daughter taxes
the line of saying that she can get on per-
fectIy Well with the old people. but that
Mary's ways are simply intOierable, and
that she wants everything and everybody
sacrificed To her? Things are not improved
if the home-staying daughter retorts BY
sueers and by declarations that she SUP
poses she who lives at home and does 50
much To- help her parents will be- sacrificed
a. usual Just because Kate puts on SUCH
grand airs. and is UVcrbedrinS and arbitrary,
and now turns the Old people round her
little finger, though she used 10 abuse them,
and even threatened to take them into
court" This is exactly the case with Can
ada and America. All that this country
wants is to obtain settlement far to
both parties No doubt we cannot claim To
BE- entirely impartial in the matter. We
dian point Of view. and ought To do So The
Canadians are part Of our OWE household, and
necessarily We must in the last resort stand
by those who are not only our own flesh
and blood. but members Of our own home.
If We should ever be forced to choose be
tween Canada and the United States
(v hich God Forbid. We must choose Can
ada. But though this is so, and though l.
is no good tC pretend otherwise Canada
must not presume upon the knowledge and
press things too far
We shall be absolutely loyal to her. but
she must also be loyal, we will not say to
US. but TO the empire a whole She
must not think merely Of her northwestern
boundary, bur Of Australia, of New Zea
land Of South Africa. 81 India and Of all
our interests in China and in the far east,
and what is more. Of all these mighty in
Terests welded into a conscious whole. Now,
il is for the welfare of the empire As q
whole that the people Of the United States
should REGARD us not as foreigners, but as
their own kin. and as willing to do things
for them which Will not do for foreign
erS- The Americans found the advantage
OF this feeling when they We're threatened
with the couStraint of a European Cgali-
ton, and when the continent was made to
understand that they mus, not forget the
existence of the British fleet. The British
empire may some day wish for a similar
exhibition of feeling We are perfectly
well aware. and perfectly willing to admit
that there We have no need 10 curry favor
with America. and that We are quite ing
enough to stand by ourselves: but ti.c i
not the question Even the strongest
power may be the better for a certain
amount Of outside sympathy. If We can be
sure of that sympathy in America. we need
not trouble To cultivate ii elsewhere. There
fore We would most earnestly beg Canada
10 remember that the Alaskan boundary
must not be treated if it were the last
transaction with America.
We have ourselves special and peculiar
reason for hoping that the Americans will
act generously and without heat over the
Alaskan boundary. AS our readers know
We have always advocated. and shall con-
tinue to advocate, the abrogation by this
country of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, and
the giving up Of our undoubted rights I'M
der that treaty in order to allow the max
frg OF the Nicaragua canal by the United
States. But We fully realize that in order
70 get the people Of this country To aba ndol
their rights under the treaty. we and those
who agree with US will have a difficult
task. II may be made impossible if the
Americans have treated. or have apueare,l
to treat. Canada with harShneSS or with
lack Of generosity. People may say that
in saying this we are threatening. or that
we mean to try to strike q bargain be
tween Alaska and NiCaracua That how
ever. is rot our intention. We arr. cutie
a. anxious in the interests cf this country
Of America aboU: the prospects Il III.
Nicaragua canal being compromised by thu
Alaska controversy. Personally We are we
believe. though. as we have said, the task
might not b. easy, but everything will be
spout II the notion prevails that America
IS mercileSs haryaiuer- Once. however,
settle the Alaskan boundary ON fair and
reasonable Zines. and we believe that the
people OF this country can be made to see
that America must be accorded the right
to deal with the Nicaragua canal as she
chooses. and that they will agree To the
abrogation Of the Clayton Rulwer treaty.
even though ignOrantIy believing that such
RbrOgation VIII be n no tional loss. Amer
Tea may not realize it. but IL Is neverthe-
less true. that where she is concerned our
people have a warm heart and would BE-
ready in the interests of kinship and good
feeling to find any excuse for what they
believe would be considerable sacrifice
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