Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-07
SOME IFS" IN PEACE MOVE
A Discussion of What Might
Have Been.
II the United states Hnd Not bought
Alaska japan Might Ask for IT.
This Could Have Resulted in
Various Unpleasant Compile
cntiOns-HOw Typhoid Few.
or in Washington IL
Advertised.

Upon a series of ifs an interesting
situation relative to tho pending peace
ncotiations may be constructed, SAYS tho
Washington correspondent of the Boston
Transcript. "If' Russia had not sold
Alaska to the United States, or If the
opponents in the Senate Of paying 81, 2ro.J0
for "iccborgs and white bcars'' had con-
tr"llcd. what would llavc been more nat
ural than that this piece of territory
should he proposed for cossion to Japan.
III lieu of an indemnity? What would thu
United States have said to having an
Asiatic power acquire soil on the west
crn hemisphere, for Russian America by
this time, it would have been clear, would
be of great value?
The Monroe doctrine might perhaps have
been invoked. although technically speak
ing. it would he inapplicahlc to anything
that Japan could do. sinco-such are the
changes of tinc-it was European colon
i~zatiun that MIR. Monroe talked of in his
celebrated paper of December >. 1872.
with the existing colonies or Dependent
cios of any European power we have not
intcrfcrod AMI shall not interfere" he
wrote. And again, I'VE could not view
any irtcrposition for the purpose of OPP
pressing them tthc American rcpuhlics),
or controlling in any other manner their
destiny. by any European power in any
other light than as "A manifestation of an
infriondly disposition towards the United
States.' If this manifesto were con-
strucd strictly, Japan might do things
that Germany and Great Britain could
not, because she is not a European pow
er. 1t is interesting as a commentary on
the size Of the world that IN 1873 it never
occurred to the scholarly JOIN Quincy
Adams secretary of state. that there could
be powers anywhere having colonial aspi-
rations except in the little continent of
Europe. He did not realize that before
a century should pass the threat that an
Asiatic power was looking longingly on
the Hawaiian islands would he the great
argument assigned for our getting them.
or that the chairman of our military af-
fairs committee of the House of Rcprcsen-
ta'ivcs would speak fcelingly Of the dam
ger to our vassal States in the far East
from the territorial aspirations of this
Asiatic power. Perhaps. by another cen
fury, Abyssinia'S ambitions for conquest
may be giving John 4. II. lIulls grand
sons alarm, as they behold our mines in
Cchu and the pearls of Guam.
suppose. again. if we had not bought
Alaska. that Japan, in making the terms
of peace, should propose to take that strip
of territory from Russia and give it to
Great Britain, in recognition OF tho adj
vantage to her in the struggle of the Brit.
iSh alliance, Great Britain would have
liked it. One of the most difficult tasks
of boundary marking of the century, upon
which our coast survey will be at work
for many years. would have been avoided
by this consolidation of british possess
ions at the north. Tut what would the
United States have said TO such "A transfer
OF sovereignty" Fortunate it is. when
these possibilities rise to view, that Sec
rotary Seward had his way in the acquisi-
tion of Alaska, so that this piece of soil
will not excite The cupidity of Russia's
enemies. The Cossacll never goes where
he cannot march dry shod, is a Russian
maxim. The Bcring strait was evidently
not a suitable passage FOR Russian arms