The Irish standard., 1898-06-04
ON ANGLO-SAXON ALLIANCE
Its Salient Points as Printed in
the London Times.
THE ISOLATION OF BRITAIN
Tie Judas of Liberalism breads
the Russian Bear.

The Birmingham speech of Joseph
Chamberlain, British secretary of the
Colonies, which has excited so much of
q sensation on both sides of the Attain
tic, and which was the most radical
British utterance thus far in behalf of
an Anglo-SaXon alliance, was published
In full in the London Times Of May IA,
Herewith are republished it's salient
features:
Now, the first point that want to
impress upon you is this. 1t is the crux
of the situation: Since the Crimean
war, nearly fifty years ago, the policy
OF this country has been policy of
strict isolation. We have had no allies:
I am afraid we have had no friends.
Naughter) That is not due altogether
to the envy which is undoubtedly felt
at our success; it is due in part TO the
suspicion that we are acting in our own
selfish interests, and were willing that
other people should draw the chestnuts
out of the fire for us; that we would
take no responsibilities, while we were
glad enough to profit by the work of
others.
But now in recent years a different
complexion has been placed upon .ha
matter. A new situation has arisen, and
it is right the people OF this country
should have it under their considera-
tion. All the powerful states of Europe
have made alliances, and as long as we
keep outside these alliances, as long as
We are envied by all, and suspected by
all, and as long as we have interests
which at one time or another conflict
with the interests of all, we are liable
to be confronted at any moment with a.
combination Of great powers so power
ful that not even the most extreme,
the most hot-headed politician would
be able to contemplate it without GER
tain sense of uneasiness. QHcar! hearty
I'VE stand alone, and we may be con-
1ronted with such combination as that
I have indicated to you. What is the
first duty Of a government under these
circumstances? 1 say, without hesita-
t1on, that the first duty is to draw all
parts of the empire closer together
cloud and prolonged cheers), to infuse
Into them spirit of united and of impe-
rial patriotism. (Cheers.) We have not
neglected that primary duty (Cheers.)
We have pursued it steadfastly and
with results that are patent to all the
world. Never before in the history of
the British Empire have the ties which
connected us with our great colonies
and dependencies been stronger, never
before has the sense of common inter-
ests in trade and in defense and in war,
never before has the sense of these in
terests been more strongly felt or more
cordially expressed. (Cheers.)
What is our next duty? 1t is to es-
tablish and to maintain bonds of per-
manent amity with our kinsmen across
the Atlantic. loud cheers.) They are
o powerful and generous nation They
speak our language, they are bred Of
our race. cloud cheers) Their laws,
their literature, their standpoint upon
every question are the same as ours;
their feeling, their interest in the cause
Of humanity and the peaceful develop
ment of the world are identical with
ours. (Cheers.) 1 do not know what
the future has in store for us. I do not
know what arrangements may be possi-
bic with us, but this l know and feel
that the closer, the more cordial the
fuller, and the more definite these ar
rangements are with the consent Of
both peoples, the better it will be for
both and for the world. cloud cheers.)
And l even go SO far as to say that,
terrible as war may be, even war Itself
would be cheaply purchased if in a great
and noble cause the Stars and Stripes
and the Union Jack should wave to-
gether cloud and prolonged cheers) over
an Anglo-Saxon alliance. Now, it is one
Of the most satisfactory results of Lord
Salisburys policy (cheers) that at the
present time these two great nations
understand each other better than they
have ever done since more than cen
tury ago. ("Hear! hear!'D They were
separated by the blunder of the British
government.
AS to the East will only say this
that more active interference on behalf
either of Armenia or of Crete would
have infallibly brought about precisely
one of those combinations which l have
indicated to you as possible ("hear.
hear!"), and I do not believe there Is
any one in this country, any reasonable
man, who would pretend that it would
be right for his country to face such a
contingency in such case. But In the