The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-03-06
A caustic Article Upon the Prop
taF
osed Treaty Between
9IEt Is
the Nations.
America is Mt in Need OF Entang-
ling alliances :1ilI|i witt,
Europe.
England and America Are Directly
Opposite III Their Aims
and Ambition.

and Ambition.
Joseph Smith, writing in the Boston
Pilot of a recent date, says:
1t is now probable that no definite &C
ton will be taken on the proposed treaty
Of arbitration between the republic and
England until after the termination Of
the present Democratic administration.
This is a matter of congratulation, for
every American with moral instincts,
who has in mind the historic relations
of the two governments; and who will
recall this very important fact, that
England never arbitrates, except under
compulsion, with any power whose
standing and resources rendered it an
easy victim OF England's heavy hand.
The Corinto affair, the fiasco in the
Transvaal the plumber and humiliation
of nunnberless African countries, the
sack Of Alexandria, are recent enough
to Illustrate this point.
The United States has faced war
enough, foreign and dom este, to show
the stuff she has in her, and has
emerged from every strugglge with
honor. The American people hate war;
they do not fear it. Bloodshed, death
and destruction are things that may not
be entered upon lightly; and the sword
is only the last resource for the vlndica-
ton of right The American republic
stands for human freedom and peace;
but peace must never be purchased at
the price of a nations honor, manhood
anr self-respect.
When two nations desire to enter into
a treaty of general arbitration they
must start eAual; they must, If actuated
by motives Of high honor by a sincere
desire for peace, throw aside all subter-
fuge and chicanery and enter upon the
agreement with clean hands and honest
purpose.
Today America stands strong, united,
rich and prosperous, With no entang-
ling alliances, ready to settle all dis
putes that may: arise in her relations
with the nations OF the earth, by arbi-
tration. She dominates this continent,
and by her firm and unflinching course
has preserved it from unnecessary in
terlneddling Of, European nations.
England is the direct antithesis of us.
She is busy In Europe, Asia and Africa.
seizing and p!undering where she may
with safety, and standing suspicious
and specious where 'weightier ties over
shadow her. The only menace to Amer,
lean peace comes from her and through
her, and she seeks now, when. every
mans hand is against her, wien the
hour Of err death struggle is approach,
ing, to keep off her back the lash she 50
well deserves. Fully cognizant of our,
desire for peace and fair dealing,
she has fortified and strengthened
every point Of vantage around.
our frontiers. Halifax, Bermuda, Van
couver and the West Indian Isles all
point plainly to the fact that she
expects some day in the near future.
to be an aggressor; and at this very
hour, when all the agencies that Britain
can set in motion to secure the confirm
alton Of this treaty are at work. she is.
increasing her ornaments and strength
ening her fleets in our waters. Does
this indicate desire for peace, or ls
this treaty only a device to free her,
hands until her battle elsewhere Is
fought? Are we a great republic or
only British catspaw? Are We to play
her cards and desert our historic allies
France and Russia--for our heredi-
tary foe?
These matters should be weighed and
estimated before rushing into treaty.
which is designed to do England's
work and mark with certain eclat the
expiration of an administration that re-.
tires from Office amid no public lamenta-;
ton.
Today England is strsining every
nerve for struggle that is regarded as
inevitable France is irritably Jealous.
of England in Egypt, where, despite the:
warnings OF the powers, she has en-
tered upon scheme of conquest in the
interest Of her money lenders, which is:
advertised as 3 usual 81 as for the benefit Of
religion. humanity and civilization, =.
and which being translated into every
day English means Lancashire, Birm-.
ingham and 'London." 4
Russia is vaguely threatening, yet the
willy Muscoyiteeis. willing to see her
hated foe entangled In the meshes Of the
Egyptian net, for when she strikes she
will hit a. foe. lsYs able to return the
blow. The Egyptian difficulty pleases
Russia; she has checkmaled and humili-
ated England in7China; she is mistress
of Northern Asia; she has India. starved
and plague-strhaken, threatened; and
Turkey is .Eiuet plum for her to gather
when she aesireJ to march on Constan-
tinople and opens the Bosphorus to hurl
her fleets into the Mediterranean.
The motives Of France in Egypt are
probably no better or higher than those