The herald., 1898-05-12
OR ISOLATION
WHY ENGLAND AND AMERICA
SHOULD BE FRIENDS
Sidney Lows Letter to the st. James
Gazette, Yankee
Hater

We deceive ourselves II we suppose that
the masses of Americans-especially the
half instructed and less than half Amerl-
canized masses of the west-have any lik.
Ing for us. They have not. To many Of
them England represents all that is most
hateful In the poverty and tyranny of Eu.
rope. from which they and their fathers
emancipated themselves. Irishmen, Poles,
Germans. Scandinavians, Italians - what
cause have they to love England? To say
nothing of the native Americans who have
carried down through three generations the
carefully cherished memories of the Revo-
luton and the War of 1872. But side by
side with this there Is growing up another
sentiment. Many Americans of the more
instructed classes are beginning to realize
that permanent isolation is an impossible
policy for great power with an enormous
and expanding commerce. They know
that America will be forced, in spite of her
self. to look outwards. Today 1t is Cuba
and gulf of Mexico; tomorrow it may be
Hawaii and the South Seas; soon the call
may come from the China ports and the
Northern Pacific. There is distinct school
OF American imperialists being formed,
and 1t already includes some of the most
vigorous and able among the younger
public men In the Union. The other day
a remarkable speech was delivered in Bos-
ton by Mr.. Olney, the secretary of state in
Mr.. Clevelands cabinet, and the author
of the famous Venezuelan dispatch to
Lord Salisbury. Some Of his sentences are
worth quoting:
In our country, as well as in monarchies.
tradition and custom are strong. This
policy of international isolation was form
ulated by Washington in his farewell adj
dress and has come down to US as fn-
dorsed by long line Of statesmen. 1t is
rule that could hardly have been more
closely adhered to II 1t were in the consti-
tuition itself. There are many cases in
which laxity cannot be excused by an ap-
peal to this time-honored rule. If in Tur-
key we can protect our missionaries BY
making temporary alliance and not with
out it. we should do it. Or If our trade with
China were ruined by its partition amorg
other nations. we would be justified in
making such temporary alli-
ance. The rule has been out
grown by our natural development and
expansion. Washington said that the
time might come when we might take part
In European affairs. We are always
attempting, with great blare of trumpets,
OF tender our moral support to all sorts of
countries and adventures We sympa thfxe
with the unfortunate Armenians, and "
any other nation will force the Dardanelles
and menace the Turk we will give them our
moral support We are always offering
this moral support until the nations OF
the world think we have nothing else
to offer; that we are mere swaggerers, who
cannot support our clustering words, and
consequently we are today through this
policy of isolation, left with no friend
among the nations of the globe.
No foreign question arises nowadays, but
as soon as 1t is hinted that the United States
should interfere and play its part in man.
ly fashion, than the cry of 'Jingo' goes UP,
and all we do is somewhat tardily to tender
our moral support Is that the position
for great nation to take? 1t is not enough
for us to pose and call upon the world to
look upon and admire US; we must do some-
thing to justify our claims to be worthy of
notice."
Here is an utterance which, coming as it
does from one of the strongest and ablest
men in the Democratic party. is surely sig.
hificant. Mr. Olney's views are those of
minority; but it is a minority that Is grow
ing fast, and Is not unlikely to convert It's
opponents before long. The United States,
with great fieet-which it can have If it
an active foreign policy, may
play formidable part in international rela-
tions; and its possible alliances or enmities,
when it enters definitely upon this new
phase of development, are of the last i'm
portance to us to consider.-Sidney Lows
American Letter to the st James Gazette.