The Alaskan Mines 263 



there was no discrimination. If a British subject, 

 a poor man, discover a good claim he is robbed of 

 it as unscrupulously as if he were an alien; but the 

 Canadian victim is at a disadvantage as compared 

 with the American. He can have no hope of 

 justice from the courts, even if he have the means 

 to prosecute, while the American has only to file his 

 evidence with the state department in Washington. 



Now how could such a band of men obtain 

 power in a British colony? How did Boss Tweed 

 obtain power in New York city? The situation is 

 entirely favorable. The very sparse population of 

 British subjects is widely scattered, with small 

 opportunity to vote, and it would do them no good 

 if they did. The returns are in the hands of the 

 conspirators. There will be no cessation of these 

 proceedings, unless the imperial government should 

 interfere, until the syndicate, in which there may 

 be some Americans, have seized upon all the valu- 

 able claims. 



British and Canadian journals should not give 

 their approval to these proceedings. As just men 

 they should inform themselves of the fact. They 

 should not foster prejudice in favor of wrong-doing. 

 All the facts and the evidences will be spread before 

 the people of both nations in the international nego- 

 tiations which must ensue. I hear that Sir Wilfred 

 Laurier threatens war. I heard the same from an 

 Englishman at Skagway. Sir Wilfred cannot im- 

 agine the delight which his words give to the Ameri- 



