New-York tribune., 1899-07-02
THAT ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
MR.. SEWARD DEPENDS UPON THE coon
SENSE OF BOTH PARTIES TO EsTAB-
LTSH HARMONY


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: So Canada blocks the way" does sh.,
Such is the announcement The Engsh-speak
ing race on both sides OF the Atlantic ana
their sons scattered In colonies and dependen.
cies throughout the world. have been rejoc,ny
for months over the prospect that henceforth
there is to be hearty good feeling. II not abso.
lutte alliance. between them. Each salutes IN.
others flag with pride. Thousands OF loyal
throats are chanting with equal heartness "Tts
Star Spangled Banner and God Save the
Queen" But Canada blocks the way" sb.
utters the first discordant note by setting I'd An
unfounded claim to land in Alaska that does
not belong TO her and never did. and that she
never dreamed OF asking for while Russia
held il,
But is It Canada that does this? Canadians
are, in the main, sensible, reasonable, practical
and loyal people They recognize as fully az
anybody the value OF the new unity Of the race.
it's priceless advantages to themselves. as well
as TO Great Britain and the United States
Is IT not rather set OF ambitious provincial
politicians seeking TO play on the we-worn
string Of getting some advantage over the
Yankees and thereby gaining popular favor?
II so. they are making the mistake Of their lives
in rising TO forbid the banns and 10 keep the
two nations asunder.
Canada has as many reasons as, and even more
than. England for desiring our friendship But,
great and prosperous as the Dominion Is, II Is
not a nation. 1t is only a province. II has no
Independent diplomatic status among nations
II can make no wars and no treaties. The Cow
ernment OF Great Britain acts for It and Is re-
sponsble for it in dealing with other Powers.
Whatever amount Of discussion or defamation
there may be at ottawa. the questions have 70
be settled at the Foreign Ofice In London.
Hence the opportunity is given to some short.
sighted statesmen to put Canada In the attitude
OF a petulant daughter Of an indulgent mother.
teasing for favors because nobody rebukes her.
Feeling herself irresponsible, she believes the
mother will protect and defend her whether
complying with her whims or not. And the
mother is naturally disposed, sometimes TO
Weld to her unreasonable demands, even at the
risk of offending the neighbors
Years ago we had a somewhat similar expe-
rience at the Northwest. The broad arm OF the
sea known as the Channel Of Haro had been
taken as the boundary between British Colum-
bia and the United States. Some provincial
politicians and statesmen thought 1t would be
fine thing 10 run the line by way OF the smaller
Rosario Strait, thus taking the island OF san
.Juan from the United States and giving II 70
Canada. The two Governments at LONDON ana
Washington. knowing little Of the merits OF the
case. and less than they now know OF us
geography and history. were each disposed 10
back up it's settlers. Thus ensue1
strained relations" over the boundary question:
The British Government sent troops 70 hold the
disputed island so did the American Govern
ment The British established a garrison al
one end of the island. The Americans estaD-
lished theirs at the other. The farmers between
expected to be crushed by the shock OF contend
ing armies Bat no shock came. AFTER d II"
months Of armed occupation IT began % dawn
upon the soldiers and the public that the sl'ua-
ton was preposterous and absurd. Inc Objects
of the two forces made friendly calls on eacn
other, and engaged in amicable racing ana row.
ing matches The sentries fraternized over
grog and tobacco. The farmers FOUND prohtapie
customers for vegetables and chickens and eggs
Of both ends of the island Finally, by negotia-
,ions begun in 1868 and ended in 1871. treaty
was made. referring the whole matter 70 arpi-
tration The arbitrator was Emperor Will
lam I Of Germany He looked at the map anu
looked over the documents. and made the only
award that seemed just or possible. lie said
the Haro Channel was the boundary. and the
island of San Juan belonged 10 the United
states 1t has been in our peaceable possession
ever since.
It may be that the mischief makers VIII bring
about another case Of strained relations over
the Alaska boundary case. But II they 90 'he
good sense of the two peoples will probably
overcome the trouble now just as 1t dld theh
Canada and the United States Will each nave
and hold their own land There is no reason
why either should take more or why eithS
should have less
FREDERICK W. SEWARD.
Montrose- on the Hudson. June 80, 1873