Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-05-23
THE DUAL ALLIANCE.
ARGUMENTS sOR AND AGAINST AN
ANGLO-Am6RlCeN UNION.
Some Reasons Why Such . League Would
BE Advantageous TO the United States.
Matters We Should Have to Conaidei
Before Conserving to the Union


Some Of the advantages to be gained
from an Anglo American alliance would
be these:
The harmonious action of 400. 600, o0e
people. constituting one-third of the
human race.
The absolute security of our territory
from invasion by a land force. since
Canada constitutes the only base from
which such an invasion would be prac-
ticable.
The safety of Chicago. Buffalo. Cleve-
land. Detroit and all our other lake
ports from any possible attack. since
England holds the keys 10 their only
gate.
The practical unity Of the North
American continent
The assistance of the strongest navy
in the world, almost insuring our sea
ports against hombariment or blockade
by the fleets of any combination of pow
ers
The use Of coaling stations distribut-
ed at all the most desirable points ON
the globe
The acceptance of the Monroe doc
trine by the country that has the most
occasion and the most power to dispute
it.
The assurance that in whatever part
of the world an American heard his
own language spoken he would be
among friends.
The probability that such combina-
ton, with its inexhaustible resources III
men, money and ships. would discour-
age attack and make for universal peace
AGAINST
Among the things we should have &c
take into account before consenting &c
anything in the nature of an alliance
with England are:
The chances that we might be in
volved in numberless quarrels not of our
seeking and not naturally affecting Us.
The danger that we might find our
selves obliged 60 depart from our tradi-
tional policy of opposition to large
standing armies.
The risk of losing some of the abso-
lutte independence of action that has
hitherto been the chief feature of our
foreign policy.
The disadvantage of admitting anoth-
er power into such intimate relations
Element Of purely American matters.
The enormous expense in which we
might become involved for objects of nc
immediate interest to Americans
The probability that such an alliance
would embroil us with other powers
that Were our friends when England
was not one and that might be expect
ed TO continue 50 if we maintained our
isolation.
On the whole it may be said that
while the discussion of an alliance may
not be premature, its conclusion would
be in present conditions. We are en-
gagged just now in "a little war with
Spain. We certainly need no assistance
for that. But if three or four of the
great powers of Europe should form a
syndicate and undertake to gouge us out
of our victory, as they did with Japan,
we might be glad TO have England s
help
On the other hand. we certainly have
no desire to accompany England around
the globe, standing guard over her with
a gun while she dumps such African,
Asiatic and Oceanic valuables as she
can lift into her bag. But if any CONT
mental combination should set upon
Britannia and threaten to do her serious
harm we think it safe to say that such
a combination would have to reckon
with Uncle sam. That is as far as the |
project of an alliance seems likely to gel
at present. New York Journal.