New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-28
BETTER THAN ALLIANCE.

Kinship has its value Tho boy set upon by
n gang Of street loafers knows where he stands
little better If hls stout brother is on the side
walk Gladstone made Il great deal OF history.
and 10 made some when he deliberately chose
kin beyond sea" as n title. Mr.. Chamberlain
has caught n glimpse Of the future moro than
once, and other men In Great Britain are not
now hcsltatlng TO put his thought into their
words The latest talk IL Of "a strong ALI
ancc," and Tho bright newspaper criticism of it
suggests that IN alliance would be weaker than
some definite unity OF purpose.
Both are good, but both are short Of the
mark. Great Britain and the United States
arc onc-not Will bc. for there is no contingency
about f. Ono in character and in general pur-
pose regarding the worlds business. not be-
cause of any alliance past present or TO come,
but because two men Of the same heritage arc
apt 10 look at the worlds problems IN the same
WAY. 1t was eighteenth century to say blood
IA thicker than water" The twentieth century
saws, "one In purpose and character Hrc allies
Nobody cares for papers filed In the State do
partments Neither docs anybody care for the
casual vagarics Of those Americans who hate
England or the Englisbmcn who con,cmpiu-
ously regard Amerl,a. 1hcSe two nations can
not separate II they would, and they axe surc
not 10 try.
Alliance is fctter. Many things in British
foreign politics this country has not admired
Az many In American politics. no doubt. have
met British disapprovaLH But Il IS great help
10 each nation that tho moral approval Of
the other is desired. Something indefinitely
stronger than alliance comes when two great
nations think the same thing right and worth
fighting for When Great Britain was ham
pcrcd by the socallcd Powers IN Greco Turkish
affairs, ore strong word would have shown
purpose which America Shared. When Great
Britain has seemed cntnnglcd In Asiaic
trickcry. n straight and manly resistance 10
all restrictions Of civilization and commerce
would have been felt by millions in this coun
try. When tho United States strikes against
Spanish tyranny in Cuba, the British heart
answers The two nations, for some things
are not two. 1t IS altogether better that they
secm 10 be one only where they arc one.
That is not an alliance piuful thing OF
shreds and patches worthy OF the nations
which have no honorable object 10 fight for
If ever America and Britain stand against the
world II will be for n cause which the English
spcaklng conscience on both sides OF the water
holds good That cause may arise tomorrow.
or after thirty years; but the two nations, with
all their power and all their wealth, VIII bc
found behind II Instantly, without word said.
britain knows and America knows thst ali the
nations together never can disturb Al alliance
which Is a natural unity Of conviction and OF
character Also. all the world knows that 4
thing held unjust by British and American
opinion will not easily prevail. Tho two ma
lions arc both ready 10 have convictions and
TO net upon them in any case OF need. IT;'y
tAou.ard allilrccs ami protocols would not
m.a1 as much FOR the future.