The herald., 1898-03-10
BLOOD THICKER THAN WATER

War, no less than politics, makes
strange bedfellows. The attitude Of
England in the far east, in demanding
open ports for the commerce of the
world, became at once protectorate of
American interests in the Orient-inter-
ests which the United States could not
hope to so we'll defend with her inferior
naval power. The aggressions Of other
time menacing our limited trade there,
and threatening to put an end to its ex-
tension, have now ceased to enlist our
concern.
The supposed mutual interests of Great
Britain and Japan, in the Orient, have
tended to soften our feelings toward the
latter country, which six months ago
gave strong evidences of displeasure with
the United States, lest it's absorption of
the Hawaiian islands would jeopardize
Japanese interests there. The relations
between the two countries were seriously
threatened, and each was for time en-
gagged in measuring its resources and
calculating its strength for an encounter
The nutuality of the interests of the
three countries is not particularly pleas
ing to Russia, the traditional friend of
the United States, but we cannot be
bound by traditions when our limited
trade with foreign countries is at stake.
The development of the Cuban trouble
has still further served to bring the two
great English-speaking nations together.
British sympathy is unquestionably
sympathy isn't thing to be despised
in such a critical emergency. One may
not hear many pleasant things said about
John Bull on this side of the Atlantic,
but that doesn't seem to influence the
lion in the least. The first expression
of sorrow from abroad that came to this
government over the loss Of the Maine
originated at Windsor, and condolences
from all members of the royal family
quickly followed the message of the
queen The press of London, with not
single notable exception, has taken
stand in favor of the American attitude
and contention, and one newspaper there
only yesterday took occasion to scold
the government for permitting Spain to
withdraw two cruisers that had been
practically completed before hostilities
between Spain and the United States
were threatened, lest the fact might be
taken as an evidence of sympathy with
the Spaniards!
All of the London papers declare that
the question of European leanings in the
event of war need not be considered
but this assurance is doubtless based
upon the assumption that other nations
would not dare to go to the support of
Spain should England lend her moral
support to the United States.
Thoughtful Englishmen see in the
present crisis an opportunity, not likely
soon again to arise. for "annealing the
two English speaking nations;" and
this sentiment was forcibly illustrated
by Sir William des Voeux, who in an
interview published yesterday, declared
the time opportune for Great Britain to
express disposition to aid the United
States with her fleet against an attack
on our seaboard cities. This, he de-
clared, would prevent war with Spain,
and make general the American sympa-
thy with Great Britain, now only par
tial, enormously to the advantage of
both nations, while assisting in the So
luton of the Chinese question.
We are mindful of the fact that all
of the voices of the past come up to warn
us against European alliances, and that
traditional policy is opposed to it. 1t is
not commended now, as either desirable
or necessary; but at the same time we
are bound to recognize the great ad-
vantage to us, in the solution of the
Cuban as we'll as the Chinese question,
of the sympathy and moral support of
the greatest maritime nation on earth;
and whereas we may not need the assist
ance of her fleet in protecting our coast,
as suggested, the fact that she will not
be disposed to help the other fellow is in
itself comforting and reassuring, and
one the meaning of which should not be
lost sight of.