The Bottineau courant., 1909-02-12

Gay when from all directions swarms
Of armed men sailed forth, was this
information given. And as II black
ened by a scourge Of locusts, the
Canadas awakened ono morning to
find that along 5000 miles OF border
land were spread line Of soldiers, the
most singular line Of repulse ever
stretched between nations. It was one
Of accommodation.
Not even the commanding officers
as they took their stations knew the
why's or wherefores Of this most re.
markable move, although their in
structions were of the simplest. and
were that under no circumstances
were there to be acts of unfriendliness
nor, even under provocation, move
ments of aggression. They were to
stand as an insurmOuntable barrier
between the United States and the
dominion, prohibiting traffic, passage,
and communication, and nothing more.
No man might cross the border, and
wires. which in days Of peace carried
from one country to another the news
Of the day, were cut and torn from
their poles as II no further word
might ever be transmitted through
them.
Nor was this all. Wherever q cable
touched on all the outer edges of this
great land might be found soldiers in
charge. Wireless telegraph stations
were abruptly closed, prohibiting
the use even of the air itself. Procla-
nations were issued that instructions
had been given for the perforation of
any airships attempting outside com.
munication, and the penalty of instant
death was threatened any aeronaut
who disobeyed this command.
From every seaport vessels Of all
nations, friendly or unfriendly, were
summarily excluded. Protests from
captains and from companies were
ignored. The United States was sud.
denly blockading not only its own
means of communication, but sealing
its ports as we'll. No message might
be carried in or out, and, as If fearing
also for it's southern border line, the
placed there. The vessels of the navy
which were in the home waters of the
Atlantic were put on patrol duty,
steaming up and down the eastern
coast with the regularity Of police.
men on their beats. To the world at
large the United States of America
might never have been. The tabled
Atlantis of old could have disappeared
no more completely nor been cut of
more effectually from intercourse with
outside mankind than was tho great
American nation.
Whatever criticism and surprise had
been caused among other powers by
the abandonment of the Philippines
and the Hawaiian islands was out.
done by this latest move. Never be
fore in the worlds history had ma.
ton enforced complete isolation upon
itself, withdrawing within its shell
as does turtle when assailed. Hith.
erto it had been the custom of peo.
pie attacked to maintain an outward!
seeming OF uninterrupted commerce
and unimpeded communication. No
modern government had yet had the
temerity to shut it's ports to friendly
nations, scorn intercourse with them,
and trust to It's own resources for
support and maintenance. Protests
from friendly powers were unheeded
or unavailng. because after a few
days there was no possibility of con
veying such remonstrance to the Of
ficials at Washington.
III the capital itself representatives
OF foreign nations, hearing Of this EN-.
barge on the ports, stood upon their
rights and demanded either their dis
missal or the free and uninterrupted
passage of their communications
Some of the more importunate ones
were politely told that they might
take their departure at any time they
that it must be within 48 hours or
they would not be permitted to pass
the border line. These discomfiteI
diplomats either hastened to the near
est harbor, embarking upon the last
steamer leaving, or chose to remain
within the country.
The maritime nations Of Europe,
aghast at what they termed the inso-
lence of the United States, discussed
means Of bringing her to book and
compelling her to open her road
steads; but found lack of unanimity
as to method. Great Britain, jealous
Of Germany, but fearing a swift on.
slaught from the kaiser's realm, hesi
tated to take the initiative and thus
leave her own coasts exposed to at
tack. France, with the memory of an
earlier war, remained passive. Russia
smarting under the recollection of her
own defeat, refused to take any steps
which directly or indirectly might
aid Japan. And the smaller nations
awaited a leader.
England was placed in the most pe-
culiar and trying position Of all. The
last official utterance of the United
States to foreign power had been to
her in the positive assertion that.