The evening times., 1900-09-29
Circulation Statement.
The AInska Outrage.

The Alaska Outrage.
1t will be remembered that as soon as
the American miners in the American
Porcupine district of Alaska heard that
the two thousand square miles of the ma
ttonal domain which their hardships and
enterprise had made valuable. had been
surrendered to Great Britain. they sent a
formal protest to Washington which was
answered a little later by the Secretary of
State In his reply, Mr.. Hay assured tbs
miners that there had been no cession Of
the territory, but that the British had been
permitted to occupy it temporarily. under
the terms of the Hay-Tower modus viven-
di. the object of which was to prevent bor-
der disturbances pending a final settle
ment of the boundary question. He de-
cIared to them that they would lose none
OF their personal or property rights as
American citizens. A despatch from the
British Commissioners Camp" near Por-
cupine City, British Columbia dated
September Il, reads as follows:
'.The Hon. Archer Martin, head of the British
Commission, raised the British flag today over
that portion Of the Porcupine district recently
declared in British territory by the international
Boundary Commissioners. He then formally de
clared that al who had staked claims III the dis
t-ict temporarily placed under British jurisdic-
ton should apply without delay to have their
titles confirmed By the commission The COM
mission is being held in a big tent guarded by
ant to register their claims under British laws as
it is hard TO get used To the feeling OF having
their possessions removed bodily into British ter
ritory without their leave OF consent
This, we VIII venture 10 remark. is
strong and pertinent answer to the asser-
tions of Mr. Mckinley aad his British
Minister of State that the American flag
has not been hauled down in AIaska!''
Readers viii note that the despatch printed
above, is dated from near Poreupine City,
British Columbia Po:cupine City is 10
calfty well within the American boundary
line recognized as such by Great Britain
until 1898, and, before our purchase of
Alaska, as the Russian boundary line
since 1926. Porcupine City. legally, is as
much in the American territory of Alaska
as Chicago is within the State Of Illinois.
Yet the British Government calls it Brit
ish Columbia" hoists the sanguinary grid
iron over II, and orders American inhabi-
tants of American soil to submit to alien
rule and pay tribute
We shall be told again that British pos
session is only temporary; but that Gs-
surance will not delude anybody familiar
with the phenomena Of the secret deal
made between Mr. Mckinley and Lord
Salisbury at the time the Hay-Pauncefote
treaty scheme was sprung on the country.
Our Commissioners on the Joint High
Commission to settle differences between
the United States and Great Britain, dis
tinctly refused to consider British claims
to territory which was ours by -ecogni-
tion and seventy-three years OF prescrip-
ton. They insisted that the matter was
res adiudicata. and the Commission went
in pieces consequently. But the obiec-
tions of the Hon John W Foster ard his
associates. to making a free gift of
American territory to the British Gov
ernment. apparently were not shared eth
er by President Mckinley or Secretary
Hay.
The Canadian police had invaded and
seized the Porcupine district. without
rhyme or reason. II is a pleasant habit
of our British cousins to acquire real es-
tate in that way Any President preced-
ing Mr.. Mckinley would have ordered
them out at the point of the bayonet. But
that is not in accordance with the inter
national policy or splendid diplomacy of
the present Administration It decided
promptly to let the Canadians stay. and
raise the British flag over our territory.
and proceed to govern and oppress our
miners, annexing them and their claims
to British Columbia
What do the American people think Of
this outrage? Does it leave any sort of
doubt in the minds of sane citizens OF
the existence of an alliance between the
Mckinley Administration and the Sails
bury Government?