The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-07
An Entangling Alliance Indeed!

Fifteen or sixteen princes ana pOCenCaCeS,
ranging in Importance from His Majesty
tho Emperor Of Germany to His Highncss
the Sultan Of Zanzibar, are waiting for tho
United States to ratify what is known as
the Brussels Treaty or General Act for the
repression OF the African slave trade.
The repression OF the African slave trade
Is 30 desirable a thing from the point OF
view OF cosmopolitan philanthropy, that
good many people are wondering why the
treaty. signed at Brussels eighteen months
ago in behalf of our Government by
Minister TERRELL and Mr.. HENRY
SHELTON SANFORD. and by tho representa-
tives of sixteen other nations. including
nearly oil that there is Of the earth's high
est civilization. has been hung up SO long at
Washington. The term originally fixed for
ratification expired in July last. The limit
was passed without action on the part Of
the United States. In some way there has
been an extension; and the treaty. which
has been before the Senate since Jan. 20 Of
last year. and was long ago favorably re-
ported by the Committee on Foreign Rela-
lions. is still awaiting ratification or re-
lection on the part of this republic.
1t should be rejected: not because the
people Of the United States desire that the
nefarious business Of slave hunting and
slave selling shall continue. not because
they are Indifferent to the evils which the
unrestrained sale OF rum and gunpowder is
causing among the savagcs Of the Dark
Continent. not because their hearts are ir-
responsive to the calls OF common human
ity. but for the following reasons:
The main purpose OF this treaty is polti-
Mt hrC, Tho i'm &c
an ingenious device to clear before the
world the blood-stained titles to African
territory set up by the various nations
which have been engaging for the past ten
years or more in the tremendous grab
game of partition and appropriation and
civilization by conquest" We have had
no part in that game. We want no part in
1t. England is deeply interested: Germany
IL deeply Interested: France. Italy. and
Portugal are all more or less concerned; but
tho United States Of America are not con-
cerned. Through the mistaken zeal Of enthu-
siasts or the activity Of private spectators.
our Government has been drawn by degrees
into q position which it has no business to
occupy. and which IL never would have as
sumed with its eyes open to the conse-
quences. Tho Senate Is now asked to con-
'summate that unfortunate blunder Of di-
pomacy which led this Government to send
representatives to the initial conference at
Berlin In 1854. and to the Brussels confer
ence In 1890. 1t Is not too late to withdraw
from tho entanglemont. If the General Act
u ratified It will be too late: and this Is
what wc shall then have done:
] I've shall have sealed with our approval
and formal sanction the conduct OF the Eu-
ropean powers which have seized upon
Africa yfraud and bloodshed In the name
OF civilization. and divided that continent
between themselves.
ii. We shall have entered into an engage
ment for police duty on continent where
VIZ have no colony. no territory. no M
tlonsl possessions or interests. no business
to interfere as n Government.
III. We shall have undertaken to tax citi-
zens OF tho United States to pay our share
OF the running expenses OF an Office, estab-
lished In Zanzibar to promote civilization
and phi!anthropic reform on the continent
where We have no interests.
It seems us II these three considerations
should be conclusive to tho mind OF any
Senator Of the United States who is pos
sessed OF ordinary prudence. or OF any re-
spect for the traditional American policy
for more than a century.
"Itis our true policy" said GEORGE WASH
INaToN. In his Farewell Address. " to stoer
clear OF permanent alliances with any por-
ton of the foreign world"
Steer clear OF the great African combina-
ton. with its pretence Of philanthropy
masking stupendous schemes OF territorial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT!