The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-05
THE TWO WILL NEVER DIVIDE.

THE TWO WILL NEVER DIVIDE.
In the course OF discussion in the
United States Senate last Wednesday
Senator Elkins, OF West Virginia. said
THAI in time OF war the Canadian Pacific
railroad would be OF vast Importance TO
Great Britain in handling troops along
our frontier while the guns at Esqui-
Inault and Halifax would threaten us.
Senator Hoar at once entered q Wig
orous protest lie said "rhere need be
no apprehension regarding those guns.
because. in the event Of war. Americans
will be behind them" lie went on then
to say that he did not agree as to the
danger on account Of the Canadian Pa
cinc in time OF war. As matter Of fact
said he. these 1900 miles Of railroad would
be hostage in case Of hosuliies But
independent Of this factor, the United
States would be entirely capable Of taking
care Of themselves. IL they had done so
during the Revolution and in the war Of
1872 they could certainly DO so now. lie
ola not believe in encouraging the talk OF
possible hostllties with a friendly Power
and wanted especially TO discourage al
ideas OF danger from the guns supposed
to be pointing in our direction from Han
fax and Equimault lie asserted that
neither The United States nor Great Brit
ain could afford TO 50 to war because OF
ties Of various kinds which bind the two
countries together. During the civll wal
in this country two cruisers had swept
the commerce from the seas. and Eng
land knew only too well what would be
the effect OF general war upon her
commerce at the present time.
II England and the United States should
unhappny become involved In war we
have no doubt that we could drive her
commerce absolutely from the face Of the
ocean. vet we do not believe that con
sldera ton would for a moment deter the
English people from declaring war upon
us if we should adopt ana undertake TO
enforce a course or policy that trenched
upon her rights. Any other frst-class
Power could drive her commerce from the
seas as enectuany as We could. Two
Confederate cruisers were sufficient 10
drive nearly an the United states ships
from the ocean during our civil war ana
a half dozen swift ones would be enough
TO kill England's commerce in year
time Any Of the nations would be able
to equip and send out enough Of these TO
do the work Yet in 1854, when II was
thought that Russia was determined TO
ignore her treaty rights upon the Al
ghanistan frontier we saw England notify
the Car that If he made another hostile
movement there would be war between
the two countries, and recently when the
German Emperor showed a disposition to
crowd her we saw her elevate her crest
and prepare to strike with all her might
No. whatever else may be said against
the English people, it cannot be said that
they fear a fight when their rights are
al stake. In all their long history they
have ever been ready to give their lives
and their fortunes whenever they have
believed that ,.oir national rights or their
national honor called for the risk, and
when they have periled them 1t has
always been a case of woe 10 the other
side" No soldiers but the Confederate
soldiers have ever fought upon the field
Of battle as the English soldiers have,
ana her seamen have done upon the
water deeds as daring and as triumphant
as any Of her landsmen ever did upon
the shore. We do not believe, therefore,
that the English people would be de-
TERED from going 10 war with us by fear
of the injury that we would do their
commerce if they thought case had
arisen that required them to fight us.
But, at the same time, we do not be-
Meve il would be possible to embroil the
two countries i'm war. Sensational men
may arouse the angry passions Of eX-
citable people upon both sides Of the
water and cause q temporary friction
that looks dangerous. But when the
solid substratum Of the good sense In
each country is reused 10 action the fiat
Will always so form that we are prac-
tically one people by blood. interests and
infinite business connections. and that
whatever cause Of trouble may be raised
between us that trouble shall be adjusted
by negotiations and not by arms. This
Is the sense in which we understand
Senator Hoar 20 have said that when the
guns of Halifax and Esquimault are
fred Americans viii be behind them. He
meant that they will never be fred at
Americans. and II they are ever fired in
a cause that America is party to it Will
be at the common foe of England and
America. We sincerely believe this to be
the case and we thank God for the faith.
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ADMIRABLE INDEPENDENCE.
II IS refreshing and encouraging TO all
who love truth and justice and the