Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-11
SALISBURY AND IMPERIALISM.

The speech of the Marquis of Salisbury
at the annual Guild Hall banquet-the
banquet in honor of the new Lord Mayor
of London-carries more than usual inter
est to the people of this country. His
references to our new departure will bear
more than a single reading. After call
ing attention to the fact 5hat this is 'the
first year in which tho mighty force of
the American republic has been introduced
among nations whose dominions are eX-
panding and whose instruments to GER
tain extent are war;" Lord Salisbury went
on TO say:
II am not implying the slightest blame.
Far from it. / am not refusing sympathy
to the American republic in the difficulties
through which 1t has passed, but no one
can deny that its appearance among FAC
tors Asiatic, at ali events. and possibly
in European diplomacy, is a grave and
serious event, which may not conduce 10
the interests of peace, though l think in
any event it is likely TO conduce to the
interests of Great Britain"
Here we have from one Of the greatest
of Wing statesmen and diplomatists en-
phatic tribute to the American statesman
ship Of the past and by the same token
equally emphatic criticism of our new
school of statecraft. Were Lord Sails
bury an American he could not have
recognized more fully the wisdom of he
doctrine of Isolation" laid down by
Washington and iterated in one form or
another by Jefferson. Adams. Monroe,
and others. Were he native and to the
manner born he could not have aceen-
tuated more strongly the warning of the
fathers against entanglipg alliances.
But no less worthy of our attention is
the British Premier's honest confession
that our pursuance of an imperialistic
policy would be likely to conduce to Great
Britain's interests. This may be regarded
as an official explanation of the almost
universal sympathy of the British papers
with us in our war with Spain, their
disposition TO egg us on TO grabbing the
Philippines and their efforts to cultivate
in this country a sentiment in favor OF
an ANGLO American alliance. No doubt
in our complications with Spain we have
many disinterested friends in Great
Britain, but for the most part British
sympathy with us is interested-is bust
ness. In the event Of general war
among the European Powers over the
far East question, Great Britain. would
have all to gain and nothing to lose by
our being in possession Of the Philip
pines being. as Lord Salisbury expressed
it, among factors Asiatic." 1t would
be hardly possible for US to keep out Of
the squabble, and we would naturally
eravitate to an alliance with Great Britain.
Indeed, it is not going too far to say that
il would not be Great Britain's fault if
conditions were not brought about that
would force us to take part in the strug-
gle and become her ally.
So we repeat that Lord Salisbury's re-
marks touching our new departure will
bear more than a single reading. They
will bear many readings, both OF what is
plainly on their face, and what may be
found between the lines. Considering
the source, they constitute one of the
most powerful arguments yet presented.
and sound one of the most solemn warn
ings yet uttered against American inn
peria'ism.