The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-01

New York, July 31.-A special to the
Herald from Washington says: The
attitude of the Canadian government
on the Alaskan boundary question has
| convinced officials here that back of ii
/ lies the vital issue of Canadian politics
as to how intimate relations should be
maintained with the United States. In
! cidentally the relations between Can
/ ada and Great Britain are involved, as
| there have been many acute differences
/ between London and ottawa during the
! last two years negotiations over Beh-
ring sea and the Alaska boundary.
| These have developed extreme sensi-
! tiveneSS on the part of Canada as to
/ the authority exercised over her by the
| home government.
| The question of Canada's proper po-
sition with regard to the United States
/ has been an absorbing issue for the
! last ten years in the Dominion and
was the main factor in bringing Sir
| Wilfrid Laurier, the present premier,
/ into power. Laurier was the first to
make prominent the issue of charging
relations with the United States. Prior
TO that policy of isolation had been
pursued by Sir John Macdonald. lead
er of the conservatives, who sought to
make Canada a rival of this country,
and approached every dispute with the
United States in a spirit of enrnity.
I This brought on troubles over the At
lantic fisheries, the lake fisheries,
Benring sea and other matters
Laurier who had become the leader
of the liberals, attacked the govern
/ ment leaders for their constant warning
with the United States instead of eul-
tivating friendly relations. Canada was
agitated from end TO end over the ques-
/ ton of commercial union. as Laurier
called ii and the policy of friendship
became immensely popular
Secretary Blaine's Rebuff.
In self defense the conservative lead
ers sent a delegation to Washington
who conferred with Secretary Blaine as
to reciprocity. They received a dis
tinct rebuff from Mr.. Blaine, but it is
not so generally known that the reason
for his action was because he knew
Laurier was the coming force in Cana
dian affairs and was likely to succeed
to the premiership and adopt a policy
of genuine friendship toward this coun-
try.
As soon as Laurier came into power
he took steps to redeem his pledge to
the people TO seek to promote cordial
relations with this country. This ex-
plains the origin of the Angle-Ameri-
can commission with its many long
SNdlul4lS controversies 10 settle
The British authorities are said to
have observed this rise of Laurier with
some apprehension as the defeated to-
ries stood for the old Zip loyalty to
England, while Laurier stood for Can
ada's progress along natural lines of
development, particularly with this
country. 1t has been even suggested
that the knighting of Sir Wilfrid was
to overcome this spirit of independence.
However this may be, Laurier set about.
negotiating with this government. and
it is hardly too much to say that his
immediate personal future. as we'll as
the future of his party, is bound up in
the execution Of his plans Of wiping out
the old scores with the United States
and establishing better relations.
Anxious to Settle Dispute.
He is sincerely anxious to settle the
Alaskan boundary question, as fail
ure on this means q failure on his en-
tire programme of settlements. The log
ical result of such a failure will be the
retirement of Laurier and the liberals
reins of government to Sir Charles Tup-
per and the conservatives.
1t is pointed out that Sir Wilfrid was
not quick to accept Sir Charles recent
proposition for retaliatory measures
against the United States, for once such
a war begins, Sir Charles and the to-
ries, not Sir Wilfrid and the liberals,
are the ones to conduct it. Neverthe-
less, il is likely that he will find a way
sooner or later of healing the breach
over the Alaska boundary and clearing
the way for the measurement of vexing
questions.