The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-06
WHY RUSSIA Is WITH US.
Considerations That Would Justify
RussO-Amerfcan Alliance.

New York Press.
Interest in Russian alliance is neces-
sarily academic in its character. Such an
alliance could never be disclosed by either
party till the hostilities upon which il was
contingent began. Such hostilites are no
where in sight.
What ienos probability to the contention
that there is at least traditional under
standing between the Russian Foreign Of
nee ana our State Department is the fact
that II would be highly advantageous TO
Russia TO put US under obligation at a
pinch. For the United States Is the only
great power on earth at whose hands the
cars government could look for sincere
cooperation were il put to a choice of al
lies for any aggressive venture.
Each European country must and does
view the knitting together of the great
frame and the vitaI1zing of the extremIies
of the Colossus of the North with dread
france has thrown herself shrieklng on his
neck in these late years, but il is a syprian
woolng, the outcome of fear and self-inter-
est. And ma mselle carries knife in her
girdle ready to be loosed at need, as her
pig Muscovlte protector knows. France has
no more desire that the ''Kuss should ever
have Constantinople' than England. Her
Mediterranean influence, now minimized by
the British occupation Of Egypt, would be
nearly annihilated by Russian occupation
of Turkey.
Germany and Austria can never entertain
sincere affection for the huge gray neigh
Dor, simply because he is so huge. Should ne
once get 10 straining against their eastern
boundaries, stretching out like the land
or the Adriatic, what will stop him? We
have learned lately mat only the late Cars
pacific or. rather, unready, character pre-
vented a war in 1887.
We may examine here the extraordinary
circumstances which must forever prevent
while the British empire retains it's vital
ity, any relations other than those Of
armed truce between that empire and that
or the Car. That 1t will retain that vi
tally for long time is evidenced by the
tremendous fecundity of the English race
G In in LOT ion. nf f1,a
three islands that of France; now nearly
equaling that of Germany Three barbaric
states stand between Russia and a COM
mercial and military empire undreamed of
before in the old world. These are Tur-
key in the west. Afghanistan in the center
Manchuria in the east Their boundaries
once erased and Russia would have ports
upon three summer seas-the Mediter-
ranean, the Arabian and the Pacific. BY
It's treleSs policy, unyexed, unbroken by
domestic party strife, this empire, which
was little more than a clearing I'm bar
barrie wild in Queen Anne's day, has worked
its way to these slim barriers which stand
between 1t and limtless power. And to
each of these barriers England sets it's
back and strains.
With no other warrant than that of
the balance Of power she forbids that one
tilizes all previous labors. and without
which all previous labors are barren. Can
anyone wonder at the hate that the Noyoe
Lord Salisbury's bland. optimistic room
for all I'm Asia" fall on Russian ears
as other than the merest hypocrisy? The
room for Russia is that of sandy deserts
and ice-locked ports--Turkestan, Vladivo-
stock The room for England is that Of
teeming ports and fertile fields Hong
Kong, Hindostan. And the title. of both
1t is only natural. then. that. confronted
as she Is with hostile inrer-<rs at averv
point in Europe and Asia, Russia should
have shown to us in our war time that
friendly attitude the recollection Of which
Is revived at present. For this is the one
country that could go with her to the
end seeing no threat in the vastest increase
of her European and Asian possessions. In
other words, should Russia be able to do
us some service of sufficient magnitude to
insure requittal she could defy that balance
of power which has worked most to her in
Jury, and almost solely to her injury, in
Europe and Asia.
No American statesman, however, Gould
every justify, save as a war measure, an
alliance with Russia or any other European
power. 1t would conflict with the admon-
ton OF the forewell address, of which the
Monroe doctrine. as Mr. Oiney has pointed
out, is only a development. 1t is the adj
monition against entangling foreign ALL
anceS.
But If foreign invasion or interference
should ever necessitate a temporary de-
parture from that principle it is plain that
a compatibility Of interest, due to the en-.
tire diversity of development, would make
of Russia our natural ally.