The Indianapolis journal., 1898-05-27

To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
The American people should make no al
lance with England. We spoke the same
language with the English in 1861 as we
do in 1898 We We're of the same blood-were
Anglo-Saxons-then as we are now. All of
that counted as nothing with England in
1861. The suddenness with which they have
discovered these tender ties is as amazing
as it is suspicious 1t did not prevent them
in our civil war from fitting out gunboats
to prey on our commerce. Many an Amer
lean soldier was killed by bullets furnished
by dear old Anglo-Saxon England, and
many of our ships were sent to the bottom
of the sea by shells and torpedoes furnished
by English factories. Not only that, but
they gave their sympathy and moral sup
port to the Southern Confederacy, and the
war was prolonged greatly. and the conse-
quent ruin and cost added by the assur-
ance that in the end England would recog-
nize the independence of the Southern Con-
federacy.
When Captain Wilkes took Mason and
Slideil, commissioners for the Southern Con-
federacy. as prisoners from an English ves-
sci, England gave us but seven days to ex-
plain the incident or she would withdraw
her minister. Lord Lyons and to emphasize
TROOPS
transports and sent them to Canada on our
border and raised the war cry all over Eng
land. The Southern Confederacy was in high
glee over the prospect of an easy dismem-
berment of the Union and of the certain
and easy triumph of their cause. Our gov
ernment had all the war on its hands it
could manage and was compelled to submit
to England. British statesmen and news
papers made our humiliation a matter Of
jest and reproach. 1t was a time of shame
and sorrow to the American people that
they had TO submit to the inevitable The
despots of Europe (Russia only excepted)
Joined with Earl Russell, of England. in
rejoicing over the fact that the young
American republic had to bend the knee to
British domination. 1t mattered not to Eng
land that the act of our gallant Captain
Wilkes was in complete accord with the
practice of England, as was so fully shown
by Mr. Seward our secretary of state in
his reply to Earl Russell. 1t was the desire
of the English government and a majority
of the English people that the American
Union should be dissolved. They were then
glad that an opportunity had arisen furnish
Ing them pretext to attack as when we
were in no condition for defense. President
Lincoln wisely conceded the unjust and
bullying demand of England, and it was
difficult at the time to determine whether
the rage and disappointment of the South
ern Confederacy or of England was the
All of this is stin fresh in the minds of
the intelligent American. 1t is well 10 recall
again the events of those times in view of
the professed friendship Of England for lis
now. 1t was well for us as nation that we
had such q as Lincoln at the helm
in such critical period Had we had some
OF the shallow jlngoes that now disgrace
the American Congress. the American re-
public would have been doubtless destroyed
and this fair land would have been cursed
with despotism and slavery. The sounding
brass and tinkling cymbal'' professions OF
English friendship are but a repetition of
the hypocrisy that have ever characterized
British diplomacy. If France, Austria Ger
many and some Of the other despotic powers
were to join in with Spain in the present
conflict do not doubt that England would
turn her back upon us and join with
our enemies that she might thereby get a
slice of the conquered territory Ireland
and India have been oppressed and robbed
by the British as Spain has robbed Cuba.
We are fighting now that Cuba may be
free. 1t is a noble cause and does great
honor to the American republic. We mean
that this side of the world shall be free
from robbers and despots. It will dim the
glory of our victory if we make an alh-
ailce with a nation which has the iron
reel of oppression on her conquered prov
.nces and who has always been our enemy
when we were weak and needed friends.
We want the friendship and respect of all
Ioreign nations. and alliances with none. We
dc not want to be a party TO their quarrels;
we do not need them TO help US in our
own Mind your own business is as sound
athies for nations as for individuals
WILL CUMBACK.
Grsensburg, Ind, May 25