New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-15
NOT PATRIOTIC POLICY.

When it is suggested that cooperation OF
American nations for mutual defence might
result in incaculable benefit to all those ma
tons, and to the United States as one OF them
the Democratic press cries, mo entangllng
alliances is that the talk of a patriot, or OF
a man without a country? When 1t is seen
that assimilation of customs, methods and laws
might place the American nations III an atu-
tude of greater mutual helpfulneSs, the same
unpatriotic press says, in effect Tree
wool or no arrangement whatever" Is this
the language of a patriot Or of man who has
no country? When it is stated that large
and influential part of the population OF the
Sandwich Islands desires annexation, and that
the commerce and the influence OF the United
States in the Pacific would thereby be great
ly increased, partisan newspaper puts INTO
the mouth of an anonymous gentleman
SANDER about MIR. Blaine in order to pre]u-
dice public opinion against any possible nego-
tiaton. Apparently that paper hates Mr.
Blaine so bhndly that it would rather the ooun-
try should 60 to the dogs than get any benefit,
however great, through Mr.. Blaines efforts.
This spirit is simply despicable Every
patriotic citizen rejoiced when Mr.. Cleveland
was able to do any good thing for his country.
If Mr.. Blaine, in the sphere of duty to which
he has been called, can render useful service
to the Nation, only partisan OF unSpeakable
meannesS would strive to prevent. because some
credit might inure to man he had slandered,
and therefore hated.
The fear Of "entanglng alliances" is at
once cowardly and absurd. 1t is absurd, be-
cause no alliance by anybody contemplated
would entangle the United States, in the sense
of retarding its development or gripping It's
progress. 1t is cowardly, because the Nation is
both strong enough and generous enough to help
smaller and weaker American nations, whenever
they are menaced by the Powers of Europe,
and to offer its aid as mediator in any strife
among themselves, when asked. The maxim
of the statesman of early days, Avoid all
entangling alliances" was meant only to guard
against any ENHANCEMENT Of the United States
in the disputes between European Powers. In
any other sense, it could be considered betting
only to an infant experiment in self-gOvern-
ment, unable to defend itself or anybody else,
uncertain Of its stability, and as yet doubtful
even Of its power to suppress the smallest Of
those internal dissensions to which a self-gov-
efDlUS COunUy JS udDlos nc JOuuuHS NIHIu
is not to blame if it cannot rescue people from
a cOnfiagration. But it would be both coward
ly and criminal if a stalwart and capable man,
able TO rescue his neighbOr'S wife and children
from their burning house, should see them
burned to death without making an effort to
save them. TO him the motto "avoid en-
tangling alliances would be a brand of in
effaceable shame.
1t is the duty of the United States, no less
than its clear interest to use the great power
of its maturity to aid, as far as it honorably
can, other struggling nations Of the New World
when they are unjusty assailed. If frank
recognition Of nations plain duty is an en-
tanghng alliance, then the Nation wants al
liances of that sort without delay. policy
of isolation and total indifference to the affairs
of other nations has served its part if it ever
had an honorable part, in the cOuntrys de-
veIopment. Now, at least, the interests of the
United States in every material and moral
sense are to be promoted by closer relations of
amity and mutual helpfulness with other ma
lions on this continent.