The Irish standard., 1898-12-24
ANDREW CARNEGIE WRITES ON THE
EASTERN QUESTION.
HANDS OUT OF The PHILIPPINE TRAP
GREAT britain ALONE FAyORs THE
IMPERIALlsTIC PLAN.
ALLIANCE WITH ENGLAND QUITE RISKY
BEST POLICY TO PURSUE IS TO RE
FRIEND OF ALL NATIONS.

andrew Carnegie has written another
letter to the New York World on the
dangers of expansion, from which the
following extracts are taken:
A full discussion of the foreign rela-
tions of nation, and especially of our
own, as these would be affected by be-
coming rival power in the far East,
cannot be undertaken in the press: so
much as to be said OF other nations, and
their aims and preparations which would
create feeling and arouse antagonisms,
that should be allowed to sleep. Be-
sides this, OUT own position, it's weak
elements included, must be spoken of
1reely. The truth has to be told. and
the truth about other nations is not al
ways welcome, nor are the facts about
our own position such as should be ex-
posed to possible enemies; but this let
me put on record as my belief, that
should the United States assume the con-
troll of the Philippines she will have
cause to ponder well over what the Lon
don Times tells lis as follows:
IF the Philippines are to be effectively
occupied, large naval and transport
power would be necessary. The United
States must show themselves ready to
repel any attempt on the part of other
powers to attack position which for
some time can hardly be regarded se-
cure. or to assert a share in the spoils
of disorganized conquest"
Great Britain has 80 first-class ships of
war, 5S1 warships in all; France, so,
4O3 total; Russia, 10, 2S6 total; Germany,
%, 216 in all, and the United States only
1S, first-class, including those building,
and 81 in all. How near are we ready
! to repel attacks of such powers Il, 900
miles from our base and 1000 from the
Pacific coast?
1t will not BE- sufficient that we have
ships equal TO any Of these powers to
insure perfect safety. something more
will be necessary for European nations
combine and change combinations with
alarming rapidity. France and Britain
combined against Russia and fought the
Crimean war; now France and Russia
are combined and troubling Britain.
Germany and Britain were recently at
variance, but thfs very morning Mr..
Chamberlain announces that Germany
and Britain have found that there are
many interests where we can assist one
another, and think we may hope that
the two nations, the greatest naval and
the greatest m>.tary power will come
more frequently together" THIS surely
will set the United States to thinking.
Germany and Austria fought each other,
but now they are in the triple alliance.
Italy was allied with France at the bat
tie Of Solferino. and now she is in the
triple alliance against her. AS for ar
mics, here are the figures: Germany's
army on peace footing numbers 562 1852
men; on war footing. 3,00o. 900 (and an
increase just ordered) Frances army
on a peace footing, 615.413; on q war
footing, 100000. Russia's on a peace
footing, 750,944; on war footing, 2,512,-
413. All Frenchmen and Germans are
subject to m4o:tary service from their
goth year and Russian from their 21st-
they are, in fact. first soldiers, then citi-
zens.
Europe is an armed camp; with nine
millions of trained soldiers, two millions
Of these in rne regular army; the United
States hive of peaceful industry, with
only $4,000 regular soldiers. The war
ships Of Europe number over 500 those
o; the United States 81. Obviously we
have not yet prepared ourselvegto de-
fend distant possessions against these
forces, even singly; much less If they are
allied. If our territories are attacked we
are powerless. OF course we can prepare
ourselves-no question about the Ameri-
cans ability to equal even Britain or
excel her, upon the sea or land either.
| But the fact remains, we have yet to do
this, and unttf we do it is madness to
the far East.
One point Should always be remem-
bered-it is not actual war which brings
most loss to business or to the poor la
boring masses. War is destructive but
short, and comes but seldom. It is the
unceasing alarms of war which work
most injury, causing capital to shrink
from enterprise, frightening the whole
financial, commercial and manufacturing
world, and throwing upon the working
men the chief burden of want and suf-
fering at last through want of employ
ment. Less from actual war than from
the constant threat of war to which Eu-
rope is exposed, come the misery and
distress of her laboring people. The en-
trance of the United States into the zone
of constant dread of war is even more
to be feared than the danger of actual