224 ANDREW FISH
to the home-seeker as the American. The outcome of the dispute made a real economic difference to some few indi- viduals, llroadly. however, the matter was not of vast im- portance. The civilized white stranger was crowding the native barbarian off the soil, and the dispute over San Juan was between two groups of about equal culture. The stand- ards of life would have been broadly the same whatever the issue. As things are and have been in the world, the Amer- ican and British peoples may indulge themselves in legitimate pride and thankfulness that the Oregon Question in its various phases was settled without recourse to the stern arbitrament of war. The contest was at times acrimonious, but never, we may be thankful, bloody. In spite of dangerous lapses of judgment on the part of individuals of both nations, the affair of San Juan did not mar the record. The over-zeal of em- ployes was counter-balanced by the calmer judgment of more responsible officials. If to our sorrow we have often to reflect that men are not equally wise, at least we may take comfort from the fact that they are not equally foolish.
