The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-16
A NAVAL DEMONSTRATION.

L y.
The Popolo Romano of Rome says
/ it understands the powers of Europe
/ viii intervene between the United
J States and Spain in favor of the latter
| country. And, it adds, according to in
formation gathered in well informed
quarters, the Intervention viii take
! the form of a naval demonstration
in which all the powers will partici-
pate
That Spain has been working to that
end is most probable Washington dis
patches in yesterday mornings papers
went to prove that such a move is on
foot. That the Spaniards are past
masters in diplomacy. all the world
knows; they must play the fox because
it is impossible for them to play the
lion. If they can succeed in bringing
about a naval demonstration by the
powers of Europe, it will be one of the
greatest diplomatic triumphs of all
time. Such demonstration would be
a very serious matter and would COM
pei this country to give it most re-
spectful heed. Such a demonstration
- RboSAb4Ss 10 IL bAODeSbAC- We NAAiAAh
not. There are too many conflicting
European interests standing in the way
/ of its accomplishment. To unite Ger
many and France for any purpose is
practically impossible. But the one
great government that win not unite
| in a demonstration against the United
States is England; and it is the only
government in Europe that has the
least sympathy with American politi-
cal ideas or American aspirations of
any kind. We do not believe in school
girl sentiments in politics. national or
international, but there exist be-
tween the United States and
England the ties Of COM
mon language, the ties of a great
literature, the ties OF a great history.
1t is only little more than a century
since English history ceased to be
American history; since that time
American history has been the history
Of a great branch of the Anglo-Saxon
race, but along the lines of general
development of that race.
This country has not cultivated the
friendship and good viii of England as
it should. Twisting the tail of the Brit
ish lion has been a favorite pastime of
our demagogues, that they might make
a little cheap political capital. The
rastime may have been pleasant to
these who INDUCED in il. but it has not
been TO those upon whom it has been
practiced. People are, perhaps. more
sensitive in their national capacity than
in their individual capacity, for each
thinks he is peculiarly and abundantly
endowed with those characteristics that
are supposed to be distinctive of the
nation.
There is no Disgusting the fact that
the trend of the United States is to-
wards participation in the affairs of
the world; the American people show
unmistakable signs of desire to emerge
from their splendid isolation, an isola-
ton that if properly guarded, would
have made them independent of and in
vulnerable to the whole world. When
the United States begin to participate !
in the affairs of the world, in the sense !
that the governments of Europe do, |
then they must conform themselves. in
large degree. TO the ways and methods !
of the world When that time arrives, |
if it ever shall, we must have alliances. |
What alliance could be so desirable, So |
powerful, so profitable as one with |!
England? Friendliness with all nations |
does not mean that we have the friend !
ship of all nations. That of England |
we have, and it can be made so strong /
that the whole world will admire and |
respect it. Why not strive to keep and /
increase it? While we may never have !
any need for an active alliance with |
England CT any other country, yet ii |
would be a pleasing assurance to know /
that under no circumstances would she /
consent to enter into any coalition ]
formed against us; and without her no |
coalition would be really formidable.
There is no likelihood of any naval |
demonstration outside OF press dis
patches.