The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-09
Remote Possibilities of an Alliance.

Remote Possibilities of an Alliance.
We have heard much since the Unit
ed States decided that Monroe's doc
trine Of non-interference with the pos
sessions on these continents of foreign
powers was out of date with the conse-
quent rise Of probable complications
with foreign nations, of an alliance be-
tween this country and Great Britain
There has been much more talk of it
In the latter country than here, owing
to the greater familiarity over there
with the subject of alliances and the
concerts" which the powers occasion
ally hold. With US a century of ex-
emption from entangling alliances has
made us strangers to the term and the
practice under it, and what is familiar
to English ears has a strange sound
to ours. English statesmen and Jour-
nalists have thus been led to discuss
the matter as one ready for negotia-
ton, while here we are only in condi-
ton to think the matter over. If there
are brevity and directness in the wild
overs wooing, lack of experience war
rants discreet coyness on the part
of the maiden
1t is not probable that an alliance
for joint offensive and defensive &C
ton would be seriously considered by
this administration or any of it's i'm
mediate successors The time may come.
If we get to experimenting in
territorial expansion, when some
such arrangement may be ad-
visable and acceptable. But at this
time it is not necessary. The prog
ress that has been made in the subsi-
dence Of rancor, the quieting of harsh
criticism, the substitution of express
sions of mutual regard and friendliness,
has been very rapid. Barriers that have
been decaying within for a century,
but maintaining on their exterior APP
pearances of soundness, collapsed un-
der the pressure Of the danger of in
reference in our Spanish expulsion
work and before the manner in which
Great Britain made interference impos-
sible. But the better mutual under
standing of the two peoples must suf-
flee until some great danger threatens
the one or the other, and then, posi-
bly,, John and Jonathan may stand to-
gether.
Meantime Americans cannot share.
but must deprecate the efforts made in
certain British quarters to get US to
share their hostility to Germany There
is too much foundation for the state
ment that London has been active in
sending to America all German news
that would tend to create hard feel
ings. Undoubtedly the same methods
have been reversed, and German pa
pers have been supplied with all the
anti-German expressions in which some
of our papers have INDUCED. Thus it
of the powers that agreed to interfere
in our contest with Spain, a movement
checked by England's intimation that
she would be found on the side Of the
United States. The fact undoubtedly
is that when the proposition to inter-
fere was made to Germany by France
and Austria, Wilhelm adroitly evaded
refusal by making the assent of
England condition precedent to the
! acquiescence Of Germany. He knew
we'll that the condition was unattain-
able. Whatever of hostility may exist
between England and Germany, Amer
leans cannot share it. Whatever eff
forts to cause irritation that element
among the Germans known to us as
the Agrarian may make, we know that
Germany's other millions share our as
pirations, and the ties Of race and
blood bind Angle and Saxon and Amer
lean in a union of common interests.
When the time comes that the United
States feel impelled to make foreign
alliances there may be formed another
dreibund, with Germany, Great Brit
tain and the United States the con-
tracing parties. That time is a long
way off.