The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-11

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. s
o. submat 10 srhltrafion ths baFtAxaeht
q Anszscsn citizens Who nov inhahas
tAe c4t1ee on Lynn canal Three years
ago ] heard the lord chlef justice cf Eng
tan4 Lord Russell a Kiilowen. In m add
dress before the AmeS3cAn 6af .Aasccia-
ton on the subject Of international Law
ana arbitration. speak the following
words: '.Ff1end a / am Of peace. I
wouid yet affirm that there may Be even
honor Of Z nation. the triumph OF an un-
righteous cause. the perpetuattcn Of
hopeless and debasing tyranny.
war II honcrable
In thoee who DO their native rights main
a shOss' whose swords an iron barrier
Between the iawiss spoiler and the
But E, "a those who draw tn offensive
For sadsd po.sr or gain. sordid and
'sNen do not arbitrats where character
10 II stake. nor will any seif-respecting
nation readily submit to arbitration on
questions. touching its national independ-
snce or affecting its honor"
And less than . year ago I heard our
n. Choafe, IN an address before the same
association, lend the power OF his eso-
auence in Approval OF the same senti-
ment. Said he: 'sYou Will remember that
only. two years ago in this very presence
the lord chief justice Of England, in his
admirable discourse before you on arbt-
trAtion, declared, with your unanimous ap-
proyai Chat there may BE- even greater
calamities than war, and that national
dishonor II ono OF them" It II neither nee
eesary nor Wise to suffer American cii-
sens who have acquired rights on Lynn
canal, in the same way that the pioneers
Of Oregon acquired the right to be pro-
tected under tho Americas nag. to be con-
tinually harassed by negotiations which
may eventuate In their being turned over
10 the cold charity Of q foreign power.
Tho American cities Of the Pacific coast.
entitled to enjoy the advantages of trade
with the goh-producing region Of the
North. are also entitled to some consider
alton.
There II no question Of peace or war
involved: the British viii carry on diplo-
matte discussion indefinitely X We permit.
! do not question their courage to fight
US II We give them just cause for doing
30. which I hope We never may. but with
no basis In right for such action. they
leans on Lynn canal b. force. The case
might have been very Inherent II the Ca
nadians had ever been permitted to oc-
cupy Skagway or Dyea or Haanes with
q military force. but in 1887 Gen. T. NJ An
derson was sent with the Fourteenth in
fantry In time to head on Q movement to
steal march upon VI in that direction.
They took possession OF ground which 10
ours between Lake Bennett and the sum-
NIT. but we hold the coast hne and we
should just keep what No have and stop
talking about giving up any Of It. 1t
would be 4 blunder on the part OF presi-
dent McKiniey's administration which
posterfty Will never forgive II. while send
ing American soldiers to tight and die In
maintaining American sovereignty over
distant islands the soil and the seapor1s
In our own possession and the commercial
advantages which their possession insures
shall be ceded to Canda, or lost through
any lack OF hrmness In maintaining our
just rights Far be II from me to utter
q word In disparagement Of the course
pursued by the administration with re-.
spect to the Philippine islanAs. believe
that events have placed our government in
a position where 1t could not, without alb
solute cowardfce. do otherwise than use
the power Of the government al Presi-
dent Mckinley has been using 1t during
the past year. am in favor OF holding
the Philippine islands. at least until there
shall be such change OF conditions a. to
indicate that we may safely leave the In
hahtants to govern themselves, and
that II will be our duty to do so, and I
am also in favor Of holding all OF Alas
ka and all OF its harborA And. more
States government. without further
delay. to provide good govern
ment for the people Of ALASKA Besides the
rights incident to the mining and fishing
industries. and the lines OF transportation
which serve them. all OF which need the
protection OF reasonable laws. the inhabi-
eants have congregated In towns and cities.
families are there, and % far they have
been left without the power of legislat-
Ing for themselves. without efficient courts
OF justice and without means to provide
revenue for maintaining a police service.
or provide protection against FIRE. or sup
ply OF wholesome water. or school facili-
ties. or the things necessary for the pres
ervation OF the health OF the people. Con-
gress provided recently for extorting taxes
from the Inhabitants OF Alaska, for the
benefit OF the national treasury, but with
out according to those people either the
right OF representation. or protection. In
aid Of commerce. lighthouses and life-sav-
Ing stations should be provided at the
expense OF the general government and the
coast survey should be extended. Such
benefits when provided are not only locally
advantageous. but tend directly TO promote
national greatness Petitions for these
necessities may not meet with favorable
reception at the hands OF members of con-
Gress representing districts which have
been long accustomed to receive an undue
snare OF appropriations from the national
treasury. We know by experience how
requests OF this nature sent In from the
frontier have been misunderstood. as II
the people who preferred them were mere
beggare. never satisfied. but always calling
for more. ! remember to have heard when
our pioneer friend, Judge Jacobs. was
delegate TO congress- that on one occasion
his representations OF the needs OF this
section were answered by congressman
In 4hiG xaanrer-~tha A. 4 xaid ..13,cxa a