The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-01
A Silly Suggestion.

Repiep contains lauGhable article by an
English army officer. Sir G. S. CLARKE. The
author has evidently taken note OF the actual
and prospective development OF the Ameri-
can navy. and coolly proposes to turn 1t to
his country's account by naval union of
the United States and Great Britain for the
purpose OF exercising joint protection
over the commerce OF the two nations and
maintaining peace on all the waters OF the
globe. In other words. he would like the
lion ana the eagle to form a partnership.
in which the eagle would do the screaming.
while the lion swallowed all the food In sight.
When the United States have resumed
that great share Of the worlds carrying
trade. which they possessed before the war
OF the rebellion. and Of which they were de-
prived largely through the depredations OF
the Confederate cruisers fitted out In Brit
ish ports. there will be time enough to talk
of naval union with Great Britain. At
present Engishmen have much to lose, and
Americans have much to gain by a war be-
tween Great Britain on the one hand and
one or more OF the Continental powers upon
the other. one result OF which would be the
defamation Of tho British mercantile ma
rine. IL not its total destruction. There is
nothing which Americans would like better
than to see English commerce exposed to
just such perils and Loose, rs those to which
ours was subjected during our civil war. and
which were viewed with malignant delight
by the majority OF Englishmen. That as
cendancy upon the ocean which. forty years
ago. we had in view. and for which we are
unquestionably destined by our geographic
cal position. can be built only upon the
ruin Of our British competitor. Never shall
We obtain the rank among the maritime
powers OF the earth to which our popula-
ton and our wealth entitle us. until Eng
land has been brought low. and made to
sink into tho humble place to which her
fragrant military weakness and the gross
inadequacy OF her resources to the main
tenance OF u worldwide empire. must at no
distant day. condemn her.
The struggle between England and Amer
lea for commercial preponderance. and for
the primacy OF the English-speaking race. is
as unavoidable as was the contest between
Rome and Carthage for the mastery OF the
Mediterranean: and that is why the maxim.
DeteRda est Cdrthd0o-England must be
broken down--lies at the root OF all patrl- |
otto and far-sighted American statecraft |
There is no sentiment more deeply planted |
In the hearts OF native Americans. as well as |
OF their naturalized fellow citizens. than |
hostility to Great Britain. Before that |
feeling can be weakened. the whole British |
political and social system will have to be |
recast from top TO bottom. That prcpos- !
ferrous iiGurehead. tho monarchy, which |
has long been shorn OF real power, and ex- |
lists only as puppet show. must be Topped |
of and flung aside: the monstrous absurd |
ity OF permitting nations will to be |
blocked by knot Of hereditary legislators
must be dealt with in the stern and scornful
mood OF the Long Parliament; the inlquity
OF compelling one-half OF England's popu-
lation to pay taxes for the support of a
Church to which they do not belong. must be
expunged from the statute BOOK and finally.
Irishmen. Scotchmen. and Welshmen must
enjoy the same powers Of seli-government
as are vested in the citizens OF an Amer
lean State. Then. perhaps. but not until
then. the antipathy engendered by the en-
vious and spiteful treatment which we
have experienced at tho hands OF England
Tor upward Of a century. may to some ex-
tent, be neutralized.
Meanwhile il is not our business to help
20 protect British commerce from the injury
which. in the event OF war with France or
Russia. it would undoubtedly suffer from
he enemy's cruisers. The more it suffers.
he better for us; and there could be no
more memorable example OF righteous ret
'ibution than the loss by England. under
analogous conditions, OF the share in the
arrying trade OF the world. which she stole
rom us by assisting the Confederates to
rive our merchant navy from the ocean.
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