The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-16


AT conservative meeting in Toronto.
Ont. toward the last os last month. SIR
Charles Upper, leader Of the parliament
airy opposition, denounced as shameful the
terms offered by the United States N set
Element of the Alaskan boundary dispute
And this" Indignantly exclaimed Sir
Charles. after winning in struggle,
which, but for Great Bri;ains aid. might
have had no sach glorious end, The Unit
ed States has taken a position she should
De ashamed to assume. A more monstrous
insult was never flung in the face or the
commissioners am astcnished that men
like Lord Herscheli and SIR Wiifrid I.aar-
Ter continued the negotiations single
moment after that proposition was made
as q representative OF her majesty's loyal
opposition. enter my soaemn protest
against the proceedings The American
demand Is preposterous in the extreme
They say in effect that the treaty will be
overridden and hold the line OF commun-
ication 50 that they may plumber the Brit
ish Yukon for the next twenty or thirty
years" Generally. Sir Charles contended
that Canada should enact laws in refer
ence to alien labor. mining. etc. exactly
States; that whenever the United States
passed any statute OF this kind. Canada
should place its counterpart on her statute
books.
Since then, Lord Herschell has with
drawn from this earth, and. OF course,
from this commission-hut his successor
will. no doubt, by his conduct, excite the
same surprise and wrath in the breast Of
Sir Charles and those like him
Sir Charles does not condescend to give
US any innuendo or explanation OF what
constituted this "mo1strous insult" this
preposterous demand on our part which
stirred such indignation In his loyal breast.
but from our extensive knowledge of En-
glands extreme modesty In all such nego-
tiattons, We infer that our commissioners
probably insisted upon our rights under
the treaty alluded to. We are, we con-
fess. patriotic enough to hope that our
commissioners thoroughly understand
their country's rights In the premises, and
knowing dare maintain" them.
England's timidity in asserting her rights
or trampling upon those of others is thus
hit off by distinguished writer In the
Atlantic Monthly during the Venezuelan
boundary disputes This honest chroni-
cler," speaking Of ''these English" and
speaking their good as we'll as their Ill,
calls them, "A people who as individuals.
have developed intellectual activity. man
Illness. courage, unseihsh devotion to duty
and general nobility OF character else
where unequaled in the worlds history
but whose diplomatic policy as a nation
is. and long has been, characterized by
aggressiyeness, greed. absolute Indifference
to the rights of others and a splendid IA
cility in ignoring every principle Of JUS
tice or international law whenever COM
merciai interests are at stake"
Besides. what low, mean and mercen-
ary view Sir Charles takes Of International
obligations. Does he mean to imply that
the sympathy and good will Of his coun-
trymen in our late unpleasantnesS' with
Spain ought to be paid for by territorial
concessions? He represents his country as
expecting to be insulted by bribe for
merely doing its duty and obeying Its best
impulsea What 'lame and impotent"
as well as impudent conclusion" Our
success was we claim, due to the right.
eousness of our cause, our valiant navy
and our grand army, as well as to the
ey uIpdtkiy aIu SttQ Will VI Spou pSOptS
and nations under the sun. We appreciate
such sympathy and good will, but deny
that but for Great Britain's aid our
late war might have had no such glor-
tous end" And Sir Charles ought to be
ashamed of his suggestion. His country
ought to be ashamed of him and 1t. Such
a proposition might have sprung from
what is called politics. 1t could not have
emanated from anything like statesman
ship Even England would. We opine.
scorn TO sell her sympathy with justice,
mercy ard civilization. and we should
most certainly have rejected such help
upon such terms. We should have given
her TO understand that we wanted no such
aid, no such defenders.
AS to Sir Charles dreadful contention
that Canada should follow up our legisla-
ton with references TO alien labor. min
ing, etc, with similar legislation OF her
own. let her pay US this compliment IL
she will She'll find that we can take
care OF ourselves.