Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
MEANING OF THE
ALASKAN DECISION

ALASKAN DECISION
Hale.
1t Is possible that the year 1908 may mark
an epoch. 1t is certain that the successful
trial OF the Alaska boundary, which has
taken place in London, is an event of the
first Importance in the history of the civli-
cation Of the world. 1t may be that some
other year will be chosen by the historians
for celebration. On the other hand, it may
be that the peaceful decision as to a very
difficult question: decision made by the
two most advanced nations of the world
Will be recognized as we recognize the
Fourth of July 1t is very simple thing to
say, 1t is a very great thing to say, that
almost unconSciously the decision repre-
sents the golden rule as applied to the af-
fairs Of nations-"Do unto others as you
would have others do unto you" We have
given to the Canadians what they wanted:
England has given to us what we wanted.
That is simple statement of the decision.
We had in our own history very pleas
ing Illustration of g. similar decision 1t
was, unfortunately, on a scale so small that
1t did not attract, as this decision does, the
attention Of the civilized world. In some
prehistoric time the red men, who found
themselves at a point generally called Pu-
eblO in Colorado, made irrigating bitches
which fortified the charming valley where
our city Of Pueblo now stands. 1t happen
ed, as we irreverently say, that in the lat
ter half of the last century some white men
appeared there, who took up the sections
assigned to them by the government of
the United States. 1t was very clear that
those sections were worthless unless they
had the water which flowed through the
Indian bitches. The leaders of the whites
conferred with the leaders of the redskins
And, under the high law which has won for
itself the golden name the Indians said to
the white men: There is water enough for
both. We will draw the water on Monday,
Wednesday and Friday Of your week; you
shall draw the water on the other days"
Here was the golden rule establishing in a
difficult decision as to irrigation the second
law, like unto the first, Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as myself"
Both Sides Benefited.
1t would be absurd to claim that the de-
cision made in London with regard to these
intricate questions as to what lisiere means.
or what is the crest of a range of noun
tains which never existed-it would be alb
surd to say that the golden rule was in
form applied by the tribunal to which the
question was referred; but, In any study of
ethics or International law, a great interest
certainly attaches to the fact that the de-
cision, when arrived at, is substantially an
advantage to both the contending parties.
Probably the persons who have become
much excited on the subject think 1t is a
greater advantage than 1t is. Such mistakes
as that often happen in human affairs; but
If these people who are on the advance line
are satisfied. all the more ought the people
be satisfied who are comparatively indiffer-
ent as to the points at issue.
In this case 1t would be hard to saw why
the government of the United States should
wish particularly to incur the expense of
policing frontier district, inhabited by
men who come today and go tomorrow as
they seek for gold. The one thing certain
in the whole affair is that the gold would
come to the ports of the United States,
whether the territory were called Canadian,
or by some other name. Gold finds its own
level as water does. But the United States
wanted this strip of territory. Maps and
charts and treaties seem to give it to them,
so we argue for it, and perhaps some neople
thought we would fight for it. But, really,
the pear was on our side Of the fence the
pear fell in our orchard, and it is ours.
What Canada Wanted.
On the other hand the Canadians wanted
access to the Pacific. Lower down the coast
they had It, Mr.. Polk and his southern
friends chose to give it to them a genera
ton ago, with motives none too creditable
to themselves. But the Canadians were not
satisfied with an advance to the latitude of
40. They wanted harbor nearer to the
north pole. 1t is as hard TO say why as to
say why the United States cared much for
gold mines which were virtually theirs But
the Canadians wanted their port, and they
have 1t. And we have peace instead of
war, good temper instead of bad temper
and, whether all parties meant to or not
each party has done to his neghbor what
his neighbor was glad to have done.
A Place in History.
Here are some of the reasons for saying
that the decision in London forms what
John Adams called IAN epoch" when he
wrote of the Declaration of Independence:
The new century has certainly made for
itself already some good auguries. We be-
gan with the organization of a common
tribunal-on paper. The newspaper world
Sneered at the statement, and asked why
The Hague tribunal did not settle the Boer
war, why it did not appease the contestants
in the Philippines; and the newspaper world
did not much care for the answer 1t was
that The Hague tribunal was made for us
by twenty-four powers who chose to rely
upon it so far as their concerns with each
other required. Time passed on, and the
sixteen American states fell into this great
agreement Those critics who are satisfied
with nothing thought this advance I'M
worthy of notice; but, as four years have
ground by that great tribunal has already
settled cases of Importance; it has COM
PEELED, one may say, the settlement of
many, many more where the parties in con-
troversy did not care to refer their cues
lions to its decision. The court, If we may
call it by that name, at London, in the dig
nifty of its conduct, in the publicity of its
proceedings, and in its great result, has
won for itself distinguished place in his