The Florence tribune., 1898-05-28
THAT ALLIANCE.
The Greatness Of America Manifestine
 Itself to the Powers.

from H. R. Chamberlain, its London correspondent:
 "The moment is at hand when the American government and American people must decide the destinies of Christendom for at least a generation to come. It is absolutely imperative that the attention of the United States should be turned from the daily events of the Spanish-American war of the vastly greater issues which involve the future political history of the entire world.
 q have repeatedly urged the readers of these dispatches. in the past fe8 weeks, the importance of the great crisis in the afairs oi mankind or which the present war is only singte feature. It via serve, perhaps, to demonstrate this importance if I men tion single fact, knowledge of which Las been confined until now to diplo- matic circles. It is this:
 "Had it not been for the sharp veto of the British government, the United l States would have been confronted several days ago, with the difficult problem whether to withdraw Dewey ignominiously from the Philippines or fight combined Europe. make this statement on the authority of two prominent members of the Salisbury cabinet and its accuracy is beyond question. Moreover, it falls far short of conveying an adequate idea of the manifold perils, plots and counter | plots which the situation contains.
 ''Some of these dangers were indi- cated in Mir. Chamberlain's s remarkable speech, which is the most pessimistic l and alarming utterance from a mem Der of the British ministry in this gem eration. His open charge of bad faith against Russia amounted to chal- | leuge- He spoke, of course, from a 4 strictly British standpoint when he advocated abandoning the traditional { pOllCy dBdluS6 d1llduCCo.
 "The whole object and aim of Mir. Chamberlain's speech were to advo- cate an alliance with the United States, and there is no doubt that he won the heartiest approval of his hearers. There is no doubt, also, that it is be- cause the British government is earn estly desirous of the consummation of such an alliance that the fact Is now permitted to be known that Great Britain alone has avertsd the active interference of continental Eu rope iu the present campaign between Spain and America. The most super fciaI observer now understands that 1t sas only tAe ieag that sae United States and Great Britain would be driven into an alliance which prevent ed unfriendly sentiments of the conti mental powers from finding an expres- sion ere this. It is doubtful if ever this fear will avail till the end of the war.
 "The shock of surprise caused by Chamberlain's announcement of tho radical change in British policy, [ !. change which marks new epoch 1T political history, has for the moment silenced public comment both in Eng land and on the continent. When the full significance of his momentous words is realized in Great Britain anC Europe, the world will talk of nothing n else. The plans of the nations will b. revised. Vast schemes of ambition ant aggrandizement will be abandoned O modified. The policy of every em ! peror and every cabinet in Europe vii be suspended to await the respons
 which America may make to the Brit ish overtures.
 "Hence it is no exaggeration to sa
 that the political destinies of the ol
 world as well as the new rest at tn
 present moment in American hands.
 "It is premature, perhaps, to discut
 to-day the details and nature of the a 1ianee which Great Britain desires ,F make with the United States. IT a chief point which it is desired to d. ( termine at this juneture is whether tt
 public sentiment of America will san
 tion any alliance. Ifitwill, l do n'
 20 too far in saying that the terms ca
 be arranged either now or at son .e more suitable moment in the near :. ture.
 sThe British cabinet has definite 'h and unanimously committed itself,
 principle, to an Anglo-American al - anee if it can be made upon terr
 honorable and advantageous to bo
 countries. The British governme na. having committed itself to this rat
 cal new departure, has no dispositi .er to drive sharp bargain. It is pro ey ably quite willing that the Unit n NJ. States should determine the scope
 the proposed partnership, the gene day desire being to make it as close and
 innate as possible.