The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-02-01
s Ths Question q Our Northern heishbors
Practically Dis.
cussed.
IS THE REPUBLIC in ANY PERIL;
What Appears to Be rho Manifest Des'
,3 tiny Of Our cousinn Across
] h the Way.

every quarter Of the globe, and, natu-
rally, takes deep interest III the con-
trOversay between Great Britain and this
country. in regard to the Venezuelan
Boundary dispute In O. correspondence
from, london to rhe Independent Of Dec
cember 20 Ir. O'Kelly scouts the idea
that President Cleveland's message was
intended as a campaign document, and
says that such q supposition would be
an outrageous insult to the American
Government. But, strangely enough, he
seems to regard the Venezuelan qnes-
ton as mere pretext, and that behind
it stands the real issue--the existence
OF formidable English power on the
North American continent: Taking this
view of the matter Nh. O'l<elly writes:
Everyone who has studied the poli-
teal division Of the American CONT
nsut has realized that a time must come
when the present political organization
of Canada, and It's connection with Eng
land. would constitute danger to the
peeee and security of the United States.
This remedy was suggested to the
Am ertcan mind in the doctrine Of mani
fest destiny which was popular before
seemed yearly fading out OF sight, as
Canada tends more and more to con-
solidate herself and assume the charac-
tertstdcs of distinct and monarchical
nation. Every year this process is all
lowed to go on Canada becomes a greater
danger to the peace and security of the
United States. Not Of her own strength
1t is true, but as forming a secure base
for the operations of a combination OF
European powers for an attack on the
United States. OF course, fools will say
that there Is no danger that outside
powers will ever attack nation so
peaceful and so remote as the United
States, but China, which is far more
peaceful, and even more remote, has
been, over and over again attacked by
foreign powers for the meanest and
basest motives. Since Germany has
made war into an industry or a vast
system of brigandage, as different minds
may regard it, no nation that is not
armed and ready to fight anyone who
assalis it can really be regarded as safe,
and even then the term safe is merely
relative. Just now, with all it's power,
the United States itself is not quite
safe, for while the Americans for the
last twenty years nave been amusing
themselves electing various Presidents,
their forts with new artillery and build
ing powerful fleets. So long as the Eng
lish or any nonarchical flag, floats over
Canada the Republic of the United
States will be exposed to the danger
of attack from the outside. This
danger can only be removed by the
withdrawal Of the English flag from
Canada and the substitution of an in
dependent American state, or the en-
trance into the American Union of the
English speaking States, and the cree
ton of the French provinces into a.
separate Or independent State, and it's
recognition as q distinct nation. The
time for forcing some solution of this
kind is singularly oppcrtune.'
Commenting on the attitude of the
rest Of Europe toward the Anglo-Ameri.
can inbrogfio Mr.. O'KeIly says:
gland stands alone, aud is abso-
lutely isolated. It is true that there are
fools In France who urge the French
people to take sides against the United
States. but in all probability these writ
ers belong to the class OF Panamistes
who are ready 10 sell their souls for a
little ready money. But even If the
French Government were fools enough
to mix up in u quarrel that does not
concern France, Russia would be there
to prevent that folly, and as France
could not long continue to live as an in
dependent country without the help and
protection Of Russia, France must fol-
low the saner and more fars seeing policy
prescribed by the statesmen of ST. Pc
tersburg. That policy was laid down
during the civil war when Russia as
sumed {. most friendly attitude towards
the United States in contradstinction to
the policy pursued by England, France
and Spain. This policy was emphasized
by the sale of Alaska. and the with
drawal OF the Russian flag from Amer
lea It was clearly understood at the
time that this was far-reaching move
on the part of the Russian Government
to prepare the way for the advance Of
tie United States flag northwards and
the disappearance of the British flag
from the continent of North America.
Europe is therefore paralyzed, and even
if Germany and Italy wished to help
England they dare not, for they in turn
would be attacked by Russia and
France. If President Cleveland and Mr..
Olney are not engaged In an ignoble
farce, their object must be to precipitate
a conflict with England for the purpose
of compelling Canada either to enter
the Union or to set UP as an independent
State or collection OF States. If this
he the real, as 1t is the probable, object
of Mr.. Olney's dispatch, and, President
Clsvelands message, then war is abso-
lntely inevitable, for England is bound
to defend the red route to India
though she is also bound to fail in the
effort.
.tThe task before President Cleveland
and Mr. Olney IS a heavy Que. but not
so heavy as some of the London papers
seem to imagine England is enormously
powerful at sea-, but she will not be able
1 to use that great power to it's full extent
against the United States. She must
guard the channel, and she cannot
i abandon the Mediterranean. She must
also protect her commerce, and with
d 90 swift Yankee cruisers about she
Will have her hands full. Although the
American sea-going fleet is very inferior
\ fr,ntlmbers to the British, 1t is formid-
4 able. and it is backed for the purpose
Il lof harbor and river defense by a very
Considerable number of the old moni-
tors which might prove difficult nuts to
crack. There is then also the probable
n ity;s that sif once hostiNties were started
sstefween England and the United States
y 10Th Russia and France would seize
MA opportunity to demand the with
4 avail OF England from Egyp pit, and III
u ga arart OF refusal the French and RUS