The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-22
That AngIo-American Alliance.

Sir Charles W. Dixie, member of par
lament, discusses pointedIy in the
September Pail Mall Magazine can
Anglo-American Alliance" He sees
little possibility of such an alliance.
either in the progress Of events in Eu-
rope or in the disposition of the lead
ers Of thought in the United States.
Mr.. Dixie Is recognized as one of the
far-seeing public men Of his country.
Some of the reasons for his belief are
outlined in these words:
1t is still necessary to point out that fair
relations with Ireland are essential to any
present or future alliance between the Brit
ish empire and the United States. and that
ireland and Great Britain would be fatal to
the permanence even OF the present happy
state Of feeling between the two chief sec
lions of our race. 1t is certain that there
are many in this country, and some In the
United States, who deny this and who rely
upon an anti-Irish feeling in the United
States but those who well know the United
States in all parts of their territory, and in
all classes of the community, are aware that
no permanent reliance could be placed upon
the steadiness Of anti-Irish feeling under
political temptation, and that what has been
said above is true
The outcome Of the present war will prob
ably be the possession by the United States
Of colonies, or, what would for some pur-
poses be better, United States protectorates
over local autonomous governments, in the
Philippines and in Cuba. United States pos
session in freehold Of these various islands
might lead to the imposition of protective
tariT. which would check British trade and
produce irritation here. Protected local au-
tonomous governments would be more likely
trade relations without much change. Tho
Americans becoming interested in the Pacific
| would have the more reason to Join with
US in any steps which we might have to take
n Ont n INV nnf fbn soto
Of low duties In China, which is an increas-
Ing field of the future for the trade of the
United States, as for our own.
1t may be assumed that the objections to
hampering our policy in Europe by the con-
clusion Of alliances with military powers,
and that other main objection to alliances
that, while imposing upon us heavy obli-
cations, they will not be likely to meet our
greatest needs, such as the defense of India
| do not apply with equal force to the con-
olusion of e standing alliance with the United
! such permanent alliance with the United
| States being obtained? confess that. as
matters stand, I should answer No! I have
seen no inclination expressed across the At
opinion pointing towards the conclusion Of
any instrument consecrating so start
| ling departure from the American policy
| OF the past.
There are two modes by which it is Just
| possible that such an alliance might come
| into existence. The one would be our taking
| the first step by assisting the United States
In the event Of an attack upon them by some
European power, in connection with
| the conclusion Of the present war, and with
their annexations. But then no European
power is likely to be foolish enough to in
| terfe-a.
| The other possibility is that some day there
! should occur that of which there was some
slight sign last year-namely, the uprising
of moral feeling in the United States in some
question concerning the position Of the weak.
and profoundly moving to the religious part
Of the community. The Armenian messacres
are an example Of the kind of question which
might at some moment produce a common
feeling among the religious people of the
British empire and of the United States.
which might lead to common action, even of
a military kind. But here again there seems
little prospect of a general or standing war
alliance arising out of such action. The main
tie between the two peoples. or the two
sections of one people, in whichever light
we prefer to consider them. has hitherto been
literary and religious; and the tie Of liter
allure. producing the existence upon both
perhaps on the whole increasing rather than
diminishing in strength: Common action
will therefore be increasingly probable; but
Of permanent alliance there is as yet no sign.