The Irish standard., 1898-12-24

wolves direct sacrifice of human life.
On the other hand, lack OF steady en-
ployment through seasons of panic
caused by alarm Of war, also claims it's
victims, sometimes in the course Of
years perhaps exceeding in number those
who fell in battle. There can be no gen.
uine prosperity In a country kept in
constant apprehension of war.
War between European powers is al
most sure to break out in the East
sooner or later. for it is in view of the
coming struggle that every gun plant,
armor plant and shipyard Is busy in Eu-
rope night and day, Sundays and Satur-
days. preparing engines Of war. The
United States win then have to look our
for alliances. We must combine. 1t is
all very we'll to say that Britain will be
our OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES per-
haps not. Il depends. The president
has been called to account for ignoring
Britains rights over the Nicaragua ca
nal in MS message, and has had to state
that he had no intention of doing so. 1t
is announced that Kingston, jamaica, is
to be made a second Gibraltar. The
Tribune this morning had to rebuke GER
tain English journals which are con-
stantly complaining that the United
States does not pay in hard cash for
British friendship. Here is what the
Saturday Review says: Let us be frank
and say outright that we expect mutual
gain in material interests in this rap
prochement. The Americans are maxi
ing their bargain under the protecting
naval strength of England" The West
minister Gazette tells us that IF Secre-
tary Cages program is carried out it
cuts away the practical grounds for CO.
operation in colonial enterprise between
the Two countries, where territory has
been annexed, and limits any joint effort
in Cuba and the Philippines, where the
American status is undetermined" Sure
ly nothing could be palmer than this.
No American statesman should risk his
coiiierys safety upon any assumption Of
alliance or aid from Britain, or any
other power, nor depend upon other
than our own strong right arm, which is
very weak indeed today, but which must
be made strong if we become an East
ern power.
The United States will be at a tremen-
dous disadvantage in the game in the
far East for this, among other reasons.
European nations have things Of value
to trade with each other. Other nations
can be squared. For instance, France
can offer Britain free hand in Egypt,
great temptation .for England. Ger
,, many can concur, in .Britain's acquiring
Delagoa bay, which Would end Britain's
trouble with the Transvaal, which Judge
from Mr.. Chamberlain's speech, pub
! lished yesterday, is what she probably
has done. Russia could offer Britain
safety in India. We shall be the strange
dog IN the melee, the presumptuous
newcomer, every hand against us, and
our hands empty of valuables to offer,
and destitute of power, either military
France, Germany anf Russia combined
drove Japan from the coast of China,
after portion had been ceded to her by
China. What part did Britain play
None whatever-only held off.
.dppose the president had not yielded
to Britain's wishes and secured her the
TRADE of the Philippines through the
"open door," 10 per cent of which trade
she has. All that Britain had to do was
to intimate to Germany, France and Rus
sia that she would remain neutral in any
contest, as she had in their combined at
tacks upon Japan. The business would
have been settled. The United States
would have been brought face to face
with the question. presented by these
same powers to Japan: Can we fight
the combined navies Of Russia, France
and Germany, these navies being only
5000 miles or less from home, Russia
less than 5000 Our ships of war could
not go through the Mediterranean and
the canal, because that would be running
into trap where European enemy or
the combined fleets would meet them
at their own base. They would have to
go via the cape or straits, $4,000 to Is, 900
miles distant.
Japan, on the other hand, was near her
own base, and yet she had to succumb,
and she proved herself wiser than we
probably should. We are young, and
have yet to learn that sometimes the
truest courage is that which yields
against overwhelming force. But the
wiseSS of our statesmen would have to
decide that any attempt to oppose any
Of these powers would be foolhardy, and
agree to humbly acquiesce in their de-
mands lis to such humiliations that
imperialism inevitably leads at best.
1t is not actual war between Britain
and ourselves that we nave to fear 1t
is only Britain's cold neutrality If we
ever venture to displease our protector
When the republic, now hand free, is
invited or encouraged by Britain to put
her hand away,eut beyond her own con-
tinent and laye1t in the lap of national
complications Hp the far East. the trap
in which af other powers have their
how'd, ,,o ,I.,,C