The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-12
RELATIONS OF THE UNITED
STATES AND ENGLAND.

The Concord Monitor, which is the
paper of Senator Chandler, predicts that
war between the United States and
England is inevitable, because Of the
disregard of our rights and interests by
the British, by reason of British en-
croachment upon other nations all over
the world, because Russia is our ally,
and because Of our attitude regarding
the Monroe doctrine.
We considered the other day the ques-
ton of present friction between our own
the conclusion that the only danger to
US is in our defenseless condition in the
matter of preparedness for war. That
there is something OF a feeling of hos
tility growing up between the two ma
items cannot have escaped the attention
of students of the times. That it is
cause for uneasiness on both sides the
water among statesmen is evident, and
it has found expression in the PROPOSE
ton of the English press that England
and America form a defensive alliance
on the basis of the Monroe doctrine.
But nevertheless, there is no reason
to regard Senator Chambers fears as
other than nervous. England is the
unpopular nation just now the world
around. She is not IN position to in
wife conflict with any great power.
She has been outwitted in the far East
by the japanese and the Russians, and
despite her protests the Chinese ques-
ton is to be settled. so far as those
nations are concerned. without her as
sistance or intervention. In the
Venezuelan difficulty England does not
appear to have sympathy in any quar-
ter and this fact has greatly embold-
ened the Venezuelan Government, so
much so that it is now reported that
active military preparations are on foot
to put the country into a strong de-
fensive position.
But in all this talk of possible waT
between the two English-speaking ma
lions it is to be remembered that
British commercial interests are the
greater-so much so that England will
be restrained by them from any action
likely to provoke war. Blood is thicker
than water. and the natural disposition
will be to conserve friendly conditions
and strengthen them. Besides, we are
neither prepared for war nor disposed
to enter into it. We would have more
to lose than to gain by a conflict. Our
craftsmanship viii be shaped for peace
rather than war, and to the settlement
of all Issues upon an amicable basis
1t is not necessary, nor does it COM
port with our policy to enter into an
international partnership. such as some
of the English press favor. The United
States viii do nothing to provoke a
conflict, and England will not push
upon us any issues that will demand
the intervention of guns and powder
She has too much at stake and too lit
tie to gain by a conflict
We have heard these prophecies as to
war periodically for the last thirty
years, and they have become stale and
Improbable for consideration. What
we need TO do is strengthen our de-
lenses. augment our military forces
and assume an attitude of prepared
ness that will of itself protect us from
European audacity or English bully
ing. and peace win be assured forever
between the two great English-speak-
ing nations. which have so much in
common that war would mean irrepar-
able disaster for each.