The Advocate and news., 1898-07-06
The AnglO-Amerlcan Alliance.
LOUIS MAFIGNoN.

banquet, closely following the speeches Of
Salisbury and Chamberlain proclaiming for
an American alliance and the hearty ap-
proval such manifestations OF pretended
British friendship find In the columns OF
certain class OF papers indicate that o
strong current Is at work to cOnsummate
such a scheme But this talk OF an Rlli-
ance with England which is looked upon
by many public men as desirable object
to be obtained In view of the prepOnder-
ance American influence would achieve In
the affairs OF the world, should be re-
garded with sober deliberation and eau
ton.
There exists no circumstances In our ma
tional life to make an alliance with Eng
land or any other European power neces-
sary or desirable. The claim OF identity
in commercial and social interests that
England sets forth In support of her de-
signs is merely sentimental, and In
view of the character of her foreign
policy carries with II a. taint OF hy-
pocrlsy that Is thoroughly suggestive.
The same relationship Of kin and lam
guage that Is now utilized as plea
for rapprochement Of the two countries
existed In l716, and also In 1872 when she
sought to destroy our commercial inter-
ests and wipe us from the seas. The same
was eXtant In the late civil war when she
supplied the South with the sinews of re-
belllous warfare and fitted out Confed-
crate privateers to prey upon American
shipping. Like wise In the fishery ques-
ton, and the Behring sea controversy. IL
Is we'll enough OF course TO overlook minor
difficulties that will arise between nations
involved In large mutual dealings, but It
Is proper to investigate the spirit and
motive which prompt one nation to seek
alliance with another, on terms so wholly
unequal and dangerous as those cOntem-
plated in the alleged British treaty text.
The recognition Of the American interpre-
tation OF the Monroe doctrine Is a gratul-
tous concession that scarcely needs Eng
lands approval since II was Wrested from
hAr In the VpuagMnlAn hOun1lFV QiQnIto
through an impending threat Of war. Her
assent to the construction OF the Nicar-
aqua canal by the United States Is an
other superlluous pretension of patronage
since the necessary concessions have been
secured from the Nlcaraguan government
and no other power has opposed It's con-
structlon by American capital and enter
prise Her demand however, that no other
foreign nation but herself shall have use
Of the canal in time Of war, thus requiring
OF US the abrogation OF the main clause
OF the Bulwer-Clayton treaty OF 1850, Is
fraught with such arrogant presumption
as to scarcely merit consideration. An
other clause Of the proposed alliance treaty
exposing England's disinterested friend
ship for the United States Is shown In the
declaration that she Will protect American
conquest OF Spanish territory against the
aggression Of any other foreign power.
This third proposition is O poor stretch OF
British llberality, since no EurOpeon power
is apt to question the right or dispute the
any territory It wins from Spain to secure
n war indemnity. But the climax OF Brit
ish presumption Is reached when In return
for the privilege Of open ports In Asia, the
United States are required to stand pledge
to back up England In her encroachments
upon the Aslatlc continent, thereby In
volying this country In the most bitter
and dangerous OF the Old World policy of
an adjudication by arbitration of contrO-
versIes arising between the two countries,
which forms the final part OF the proposed
treaty Is pleasant to entertain, but as It's
practical application would require re-
versal Of England's argument OF force in
settling international disputes, the reasons
for entertaining 1t are by no means con-
elusive.
There is little probability that an alll-
ance with England on these or other terms
would be ratified by the concensus OF pub
lie sentiment. Every one is aware that
for many years move OF that kind has
been In progress among q certain aris-
tocratlc clique In England and America
for the purpose OF enlarginB and soldify-
ing the capitallstic interests OF both coun-
tries. But will the American people con-
implies a departure from the traditions
and precedent of the past hundred years?
The destiny that England has chosen for
herself as the great colonial and sea power
OF the world cannot be made to harmonlze
with those OF nation whose founders
wisely restrained her mission to the de-
velopment OF democratic institutions, and
to a policy OF absolute neutrality and re-
stralnt In her conduct with the outside
world. The present war with Spain has
given pretext to O. certain class to revive
and urge an alliance of this sort, but the
sentiment that dictatesits promoters means
the absolute enslavement OF the American
masses to the plutocratlc ollgarchy OF
both countries 1t is the sinister design
of capitalistic conspiratOrs seeking TO de-
stroy the last vestige Of freedom that
American citizenship still possesses, by the
completion Of an alliance with a foreign
power entalling measures OF military
emergencies, and resting the support OF
the social superstructure upon the brutal
arm Of a mercenary sOldery devoted TO
the protection OF capltallstic interests. 1t
would indeed be fine achievement Of
Brltlsm diplomacy IL an alliance with this
country along the lines indicated In the
alleged treaty could be concluded, but 1t
Is to be hoped that enough patriotism re-
malna In the nnnnlrX To rehIlke the sIle-