The Irish standard., 1900-03-24
A MENACE TO OUR FRONTIERS.

a N6NACE ~ OUN fNUN llENS.
Some time ago Congressman Sulzer
OF New York asked for information
from the war department respecting the
progress being made by England in
fortifying her northwestern coast He
was led to do so from the exposure
made by the New York Journal of the
work being done by our European ally
at the straits OF San Juan de Fuca and
Puget Sound. A representative of the
New York paper was out there and
called at the British military headquar-
tiers at Esquimault, but the command
ing officer got him elected from the
place without much ceremony. He dis
covered, however, that the most pow
erful guns were being mounted for de-
tense, and that operations had COM
menced when the Alaska boundary dis
pute was bone OF contention between
the two countries.
Last Tuesday, in the house of repre-
sentatives, Mr.. Sulzer received report
in answer to his inquiry from Adjutant
General Corbin saying that the infor-
nation asked for was secret, but that
Great Britain was erecting no fortihca-
tons which threatened American rights.
The report made by Corbin was as fol-
lows: "The information the depart
ment possesses on this and like cases
has always been held to be confidential,
and for good and sufficient reasons has
not been made public. 1t is remarked,
however, that Great Britain, so far as
the department is informed, is in no in
stance erecting Notifications trespass-
ing on our rights" Then Mr.. Sulzer
arose and by unanimous consent occu-
pied the floor for five minutes and said:
while Great Britain is pretending
to be our friend she is sedulously and
studiously erecting great Notifications
on our northern frontier which menaces
the integrity OF the republic and which
on notice of twenty-four hours could
destroy our cities, our towns and lay
waste the property of our people. 1t
seems to me that to-day the admins
tration is being fumbugged by the adj
ministration OF Great Britain. I think
this resolution should pass. There is a
feeling all over this country that the ad-
ministration has absolutely and abjectly
surrendered American rights to British
interests. 1t has done so in Alaska; it
has done so in regard to the Nicaragua
canal; it is doing SO now in the Orient
in the Philippines; in China. 1t has
been done by Great Britain in this war
in South Africa The administration
here is more English than the admins
tration in London; and it is time for
some one to stand up here and talk for
American rights against British inter-
ests."
At the conclusion OF Mr. Suffers ad-
dress, which was loudly applauded by
the Democrats, the resolution referring
to the war department was laid on the
table by vote of ITO to 81 out OF
friendship for Great Britain. But the
time will surely come when this friend
ship shall cease if America insists on
her rights. England is preparing for
any trouble that may arise over the
boundary dispute and the Mckinley adj
ministration looks calmly on. The idea
Of Mr.. Sulzer was to have this country
build strong fort in the vicinity Of
Esquimault and fortify the Washington
coast By doing so this country would
be able to hold it's own with its willy and
unprincipled friend in the Pacific wa
tiers. When the South African war is
over and her soldiers return, Canada
will demand assistance from England in
her false claims against the United
States, and she will assuredly get it
from the Tory ministry which has
been bamboozling the Mckinley admin
istration for the past two years. Oi
course, the United States can thrash
England and her loyal cubs in quick
time, but it is folly to allow England
to proceed with her Notifications along
the Alaskan coast without being asked
to explain her activity in constructing
them in such stealthy manner.