Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-25
EErANGLING ALLIANCES.

ENTANGLING ALLIANCES.
The New York Tribune is amazed that
any American journal should object to the
Pan-American Congress, on the ground
that the policy of the United States always
has been, and should be, one of no entan-
Cling alliances with foreign countries. Yet
several leading Democratic papers have
raised the cry, and, as has been frequently
done before, the effort is on foot to make
that political party assume the role of OBJ
structionists unfortunately for it, it often
has accepted and played the part. But we
90 not agree with the Tribune that there is
any danger that it will do so in the case in
hand. True patriotism always rises supe-
rlor to party expediency, and the Ameri-
can heart is periodically loyal. There
are, unquestionably, few men, possibly a
large number of partisans, who would like
to see the Pan-American Congress fail of
Its purpose, in order to bring political RI
walls into disfavor. But we do not believe
that these men are strong enough to dom
mate the Democratic party in the present
instance, even with the prospect of putting
upon Republican Administration the
odium Of failure.
Patriotism and national blood are thicker
than water, and the people of the United
cta+aS raoardlase of ,,oI;t;ool aH,I;at;ore
have demonstrated that they are favorable
to such understanding between the States
Of the two great continents, that there
shall be, not only the removal of liability
Of war-if such an end is possible of attain
ment-but the establishment of stronger
con-fraternal relations between the Amer
icas, with the possible increase, also, Of
the commerce between the United States
and the South American and Central
DOR, Mexico. As matter of fact, while
a Republican Secretary of State originated
the scheme of the Congress, it had the
full approval of subsequent Democratic
Administration, while Congress in which
the two houses were respectively controlled
by the rival political parties passed the
bill that made the Pan-American Conven-
ton possible. 1t is therefore entirely i'm
probable that political capital can be made
out of the failure or the success of the
Convention. Moreover, the journals that
are conjuring up the boyle of entan-
Cling alliances, are shouting before they
are hurt. 1t has not been proposed that
there shall be formed any such
alliances, nor that any one of the
States of the Americas shall be
bound to line of policy toward
another incompatible with perfect indie
pendence.
The Pan-American Congress is not
called for the purpose of contracting often
siye or defensive alliances, but to bring
States of the continents of this hemi-
sphere into close fraternal communion, that
the purpose of the most exalted statesman
ship may be achieved-the firm establish
ment of peace, and the removal of the
necessity for the maintenance of those
drains upon national vigor and industrial
life, great armies. We agree with our
contemporary that any manifestation of
spirit in opposition to the consultation
about to begin, under the plea that we
may be led into the "entangling alliances"
is despicable" As it well says;
Every patriotic citizen rejoiced when Mr..
Cleveland was able to do any good thing for his
to which he has been called, can render useful
service to the nation, only partisan of un
spea sable meanness would strive to prevent,
because some credit might inure to a man he
had Slaudered, and therefore hated.
It IS true, as the Tribune suggests, that
the warnings of the fathers against en-
tering into entangling alliances referred
to our relations with European and other
arbitrarily monarchical countries. More
over, no alliance we may form with a
South American State can possibly retard
our development or cripple our progress
It would not be an entangling alliance to
stipulate with our neighbors that if their
independence should be assailed by Euro
pean monarchism, we would stand their
friend; not to do so would be to act the
part of the coward and the empty boaster
We can well afford to offer ourselves as a
mediator in case of difficulty, or as a gen
erous friend in case OF assault upon liberty.
We should do all We can to insure to other
American States such blessings as we en-
joy, and to preserve intact from the con-
soiracies of the enemies of self-government
every inch of the soil of the free States of
the American continents. To every strug-
Cling republic on earth it should be our
pride to extend cordial sympathy, and
where We can do so ia honor, our helping
hand.
TIE story comes that Beggs, one the
Secretaries of Camp 20 Of the Clan-na-
Gaei. has made confession that is in sub
-.I.,so. of tho mart fbaf