The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-23
AxGLo-AmERIcAN ALLIANCE.

ANGLO-AMERICAN ALLIANCE.
The current talk Of an AngIo-American
alliance is chiefly interesting as an indica-
ton Of the trend of modern politics and in
| ternational thought. A generation or two
ago American children imbibed hostility to
England almost with their mothers milk,
and the feeling was strengthened through
childhood and later years. Now patriotic
men of both countries agree that a war be-
tween them would be almost a crime against
civilization, and the probability of such an
event grows more and more remote.
The idea of an alliance between the two
great English-speaking nations, besides APP
pealing to the imagination, has some foun-
daticn in reason. The two peoples have
more in common than any other two in the
world. and there is no reason why their in
terests should ever clash seriously. No
doubt England would hold on to her present
possessions in this hemisphere. but there
is 70 reason to think she desires to extend
them. She is not nearly as aggressive in
this part of the world as she was thirty
or forty years ago, and she has shown
disposition TO recognize the Monroe doctrine
as reasonable one from our point of view.
Within Few days the British minister at
Washington, acting under instructions from
his government. has disavowed any inten-
ton of meddling in Hawaiian affairs under
any circumstances. and high official of the
British Foreign Office has stated that 'her
Majesty's government recognizes that the
United States has the foremost interests
in Hawaii. and that it is natural and inevi-
table that Hawaii should be under Ameri-
can influence" The British policy of terri
torial expansion seems to be turned wholly
towards the East. where we have no inter-
ests except such as are identical with hers
in opening new fields of trade. 1t is the
policy of all other European countries. as
far as possible, to monopolize the trade of
their colonies; England throws the door
wide open and takes her chances of getting
the lions share. Under this open-door pol
icy considerably more than 80 per cent. of
our total exports go 10 Great Britain and
her colonies. SO far as trade is concerned
the United States has no reason to regret
British expansion.
1t is an interesting fact that Spain, whose
government is responsible for bringing
about the present talk of an Anglo-Ameri-
can alliance, was also the means of bringing
about a friendly understanding between the
two governments three quarters of a CEN
tury ago. In 1923 Mexico and some of the
Central and South American states. being
then in revolt against SPAIN a movement
was set on foot for European interference
for the re-establshment of Spanish author
ity in America. This proposed coalition was
called at the time ''the holy alliance" 1t
was then that Canning, British prime min
lister, proposed to our minister to Great
Britain that the two governments should
stand together in preventing European in
reference for the purpose above indicated.
Thomas Jefferson urged President Monroe
to accept the 'proffered aid of England
and the outcome of the matter was the
PRONUNCIATION of the celebrated Monroe doc
trine. There is every reason to believe that
If 1.-The holy alliance movement had con-
tinued after the PRONUNCIATION of the Mon
roe doctrine Great Britain would have joined
the United States in preventing European
interference for the re-establishment of
spanish auInOTlly III America. OH JdIileS
Macintosh said in Parliament:
The coincidence of these two great Eng
lish commemorative (for so delight TO call
them, and / heartily pray that they may
be forever united in the cause Of justice and
liberty cannot be contemplated without the
utmost pleasure by every enlightened citizen
of the earth.
Three years later, Henry Clay, as secre-
tary of state. in instructing our delegates
to the Panama congress, said:
After these. two great maritime powers
Great Britain and the United StatesO had
let continental Europe know that they would
not see with indifference any forcible inter
position in behalf of old Spain, it was evil
dent that no such interpoStion would, or
with any prospect of success, could be Of
fered,
1t is curious paralelsm of history that
1898 makes Spanish misrule in America
again, as it was in 1923, the cause of draw
ing together between Great Britain and
the United States.
1t is not likely that a close alliance be-
tween the United States and Great Britain,
offensive and defensive for all purposes. will
ever occur. 1t might not be feasible, and it
might not be desirable. But there should
be a distinct understanding between the
two countries that sincere friendship should
be the fixed policy of both. and if either
one ever needed help it could depend upon
the other There can be no doubt whatever
that if continental European powers should
side with Spain in war growing out of Gu
ban affairs, Great Britain would side with
the United States