The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-11
Our Interest in
The Oriental Pie
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.

focneSter Democrat and Chronicle.
m m ARVELOUS in its mischievous
IMJ1I Stiffness is the attitude of cer-
lNVIlI tain unthnking American news
lllJlI papers toward the controversy
now pending between Great
Britain and Russia in the far east. Rus-
s!a is the active champion of despotism
as the most perfect form of human gov
cTnment, fighting and pledged to fight
with all its might against religious and
political liberty, against government of
the people, by the people. against every
great principle that Great Britain and the
United States equally hold dear. Unless
the English-speahing race has led the
world wrong unless the sun of freedom
is an 'ignis fatuus," Russias growing
power is growing threat to every free
land on earth, and every advantage
gained by Russia is a disadvantage to us.
Reasonable sympathy and true friend
ship between the United States and Rus
sia cannot exist until one or the other
OF the two nations abandons its present
aims and ideals. They have been able,
so far to maintain relations of mutual
courtesy and kndliness merely because
there has BEEN so far, plenty of room in
the world for both of them and neither
has come into the others way. BY and
by, unless Russias progress Is checked,
the great despotism and the great repuo-
lie must stand at last face to face, each
an obstacle and menace 10 the other.'
On the other hand Great Britain and
the United States are, as to all essential
matters, natural allies, animated by the
same great ideals, marching side by side,
along the same road. toward the came
goal This fact is being every day more
clearly recognized by all thinking men
OF both countries. BY so much as Great
Britain is weakened is the great cause
of political and religious liberty for all
mankind also weakened. If Great Brit
ain should go down in a struggle with
continental Europe and be wiped out of
existence as nation. this republic would
soon find itself fighting single-handed
for its life against Great Britain's con-
querors Every struggle between Great
Britain and Russia is a struggle between
free institutions and despotism, between
liberty and tyranny, between progress
and retrogression. In every such strug-
gle, even If we do not seem to be directly
interested in it's immediate outcome, re-
gard for our own safety and future ease,
to say nothing of any more generous mo-
tive, should make us pray, If not fight,
for Great Britain's success.
O.
In the result of this present struggle
we are directly and materially interested.
England is fighting to throw open the
markets of China to the commerce of the
world, including the commerce of the
United States. Russia, backed by France
and Germany, is fighting to close China
against the commerce of every other ma
tion, against the commerce of the United
States. The coalition, against which
Great Britain stands alone, is waging
commercial war against the United
States. 1t is a matter of immediate and
most material importance to this country
that Great Britain shall gain the day. 1t
would seem almost impossible that any
American should be, at this time, so
blinded by prejudice and folly to even the
immediate and obvious interests of his
own country as to be enthusiastically
cheering on three alien and hostile ma
tions against men of our own race who
are fighting our battle for us, without
even asking us to, aid in protecting our
own interests But there are American
fool-newsrapers equal to even this ci-
macteric asininity.