The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-07
The Alaskan OUTRAGE.

lished yesterday by the New York Sur"
which indicates very clearly the territory
ceded to Great Britain by the Mckinley
Administration. 1t will be observed that
1t is all cut OFF from the area which, from
1925 to 1857 was recognized as Russian,
and from 1867 to the meeting of the Joint
High Commission. in Quebec. in 1898. was
| acknowledged by Great Britain to be
American. The State Department and the
friends and parasites of Col. John Hay
are loud in their admiration Of the "splen-
| did diplomacy which this surrender to an
alien power of this national domain repre-
! sents They point with pride to the fact
that our British allies demanded much
more. II the Administration had conceded
all of Great Britain's demands, not only
the Chilltoot and Porcupine districts, but
the most important estuary of the Pacific
Ocean which we bought from Russia,
would have been sacrificed to our desire
to carry cut the secret designs and en-
gagements of the Mckinley Salisbury al
lance.
Perhaps we ought to be thankful that,
in the absence of Congress, the Executive
has been so moderate in its territorial
gratuities to Great Britain. They are not.
in the circumstances to be limited in any
effectual manner. 1t may be said that the
power to ALLEVIATE American territory does
not exist in the executive branch of our
Government. That, we are afraid, Is an
academic rather than a practical conten-
ton. 1t does seem to be assumed by the
Administration that it can temporarily
cede to a foreign power any area of the
national soil II may choose TO. Then, when
British boundary monuments, forts, and
custom houses have been established on
the 'modus vivendi'' line, it is helpless to
compel recession short of making war to
secure 1t.
No man living is a witness to any act
by which Great Britain ever restored a
boundary allowed to her by any color Of
title or possession. In the present in
stance the moral evidence is conclusive
that the abandonment to the British flag
of two thousand square miles of terri
tory. VIGOROUSLY as much American
as any territory in Ohio or New York,
was intended 10 be final and conclusive.
All the circumstances surrounding the do
nation Individually point to the conclusion
that it was deliberately in part settlement
Of the contract by which this country was
made a party to the Anglo-American alli-
ance in South Africa and China, and to the
scheme OF the Panama syndicate TO de-
nounce the Monroe Doctrine, to give life
TO the infamous and always imperative
Clayton Bulwer Treaty, and to prevent the
construction of the American Nicaragua
Canal.
In view Of this Alaskan outrage. which,
we are glad to see. is regarded by SO prom
inent a Republican organ as the New
York SUM- with the same indignation that
we regard it, there is no need to wonder
that the Administration is afraid to call
Congress in extraordinary session. sena-
tors and Representatives of all political
parties might be willing TO back the Presl-
dent in a war with China Indeed, from
present appearances, they will have exact
" that to do, in spite of his efforts to
keep them as factors out Of the equation.
But, when once Congress is in Washing
ton, it cannot be prevented from engaging
in as much general legislation as ii may
want to. 1t will, therefore, be readily seen
that a summer session would not be many
days old before there would be legisla-
tive riot over the surrender of the Alas
kan Porcupine district to Great Britain.
Mr.. Mckinley, Mr.. Hay, and Mr.. Root. all
three. thoroughly understand this. To sug-
gest the fact to them polntedly may seem
almost reasonable to the last named, but
he is used to the contemplation OF I'M
pleasant propositions. He had some ad-
dressed to him from the bench when he
was defending the late lamented Boss
Tweed. and he is presumed to be as i'm
pervious 10 the incidents of environment
as he always is suave and impertubable.
But the principle is the same.