The herald., 1896-09-19
NO ENTANGLING ALLIANCES

The suggestion which seems to have
found favor with an influential portion
of the London press that new drei
bund, embracing the United States,
Great Britain and Italy, be formed for
the settlement of the Armenian question,
will not, and ought not to, be received
with acclaim in this country In so far as
it is expressive of consideration for the
power and standing of the United States
it. of course, merits appreciation, but
the acceptance of such proposition
would be contrary to our traditional
policy and the reasons for that policy
are as strong today as ever.
When Washington declared that we
should have friendship with all nations
but entangling alliances with none, he
enunciated principle that should be
adhered to as one of those preservative
of the life of the republic. We have moth
ing to gain by departing from it, except
indefinite responsibilities and obliga-
tions. The government that enters into
an entanglinG alliance is no longer con-
Quoted exclusively in the interest of its
own people; its foreign policy cannot be
untrammeled and Independent, and con-
serve in fullest measure the honor and
the welfare of the citizens who support
1t, but must be modified and controlled
by desire to be prepared for or to avoid
contingencies which might possibly
arise out of it's entanglements. The citi-
zens of country so obligated cannot
give their Individual consideration to
their own public affairs; the sphere of
their government being ordered, they
Will have to yield time and attention to
the public affairs of other people. Thus
distracted, the questions which really
concern them most deeply will be neg
lected.
The participation Of this country in
the proposed dreibund would mean the
formation by it of an entangling alliance,
not only without excuse, but dangerous
! to so much of its foreign policy as is
| known as the Monroe doctrine.
| A reading of the constitution of the
United States will develop the fact that
this government was established to serve
the people of this republic according to
the ways specified in that instrument.
The United States are not interested in
the outcome of the political controver-
sizes of Europe; they have no territorial
PooocooioiS, HUI prospectus OIL any, TO be
imperiled by the adjustment or lack of
adjustment of the Armenian or any
other strictly European question. The
disturbance of the balance of power of
Europe will not shake their political
, equilibrium little bit. There is not the
outline of an excuse for this country's
meddling in such all affair in the capa-
city suggested. Having no excuse we
should keep our hands off and thus act
in the spirit of the injunction we have so
frequently given the powers of the old
world regarding themselves and Ameri-
can affairs. The keynote of the Monroe
doctrine is that the American continent
must enjoy immunity from European
interference and aggression. We shall
be in better position to uphold this
doctrine in diplomatic controversy if we
refrain from any act that may bear the
appearance of American interference or
aggression on the European CONT
nent. The great powers of the other side
are pledged solemnly to the maintenance
, of peace and tranquility in Armenia and
other Turkish provinces and in the end
they will have to do their duty if for no
other than selfish reasons. We have
| troubles of our own, let those of Turkey
be told to the police of the powers