The Irish standard., 1898-08-20

/ oOSAo-SSOAOm1C PlOU1C1uSp IuSll Ouly CdlI
we achieve much for humanity.
Peace hath higher tests of manhood
than battles ever knew" 1t is argued
! that we should secure possessions in the
Orient and elsewhere, that we may have
| a just share of the worlds commerce.
Even if we grant this as sound policy,
| do we need union with any foreign
government for the protection of our ar
! gosies? The colonization of Africa and
| disputes in the Orient are dividing CONT
mental Europe, thus lessening the danger
to the United States.
| Concerning the race prejudice" phase
of this alliance question, a few words are
pertinent There should be just enough
of this so-called prejudice" in the blood
of every h-American to make him
meet with resentment any proposition
! looking toward union with country
that has transformed the land of schol-
ars and the nurse of arms into an
isle of sorrow" On the cheek of every
lover OF humanity should rise the GRIM
son mantle of shame when he thinks of
an alliance of the United States with a
country that has been the abettor and
partner in the massacres of Armenia, of
Bulgaria, of Servia and of Montenegro,
by upholding the status quo in Europe.
Let us examine some of the arguments
set forth in favor of this Anglo-Saxon
alliance. We are told that it would be
a logical union. Common interests
language and blood are drawing us to-
gether,' and would make it a permanent
union.
Common interests are a weak bond of
union, an ignis fatuus that NAV disap-
pear at any moment. With Russia and
Germany arrayed against England in the
Orient, 1t is Of vital Importance that she
should have powerful ally to maintain
her precedence. 1t has yet to be proven
that we have any interests in common
with England in the far East.
History has taught us that common
language and blood are not guarantees
OF permanent friendship or union. Eng
llshmen were arrayed against English
men in the War of the Roses, and during
the struggle of Cromwell against the
Cavaliers. America has twice measured
arms with England, and have we not
even seen brother arrayed against
brother In our own Civil War?
We can hardly claim blood relation
with England, considering the large
number of Irish and Germans and Scan
dinavians. Even the language in which
we pride has been embellished from a
thousand sources, until we can scarcely
consider it Anglo Saxon.
The present crisis in our history is not
without precedent. The United States
recognized the Spanish republic of South
America as free and Independent states
In 1922. The holy allies PRUSSIA, Prls-
STA, Austria and France), decided in 1923
to aid Spain in again securing control of
her colonies. England decided not to
join the alliance, and called upon the
United States to aid her in maintaining
the independence of the South American
republic But President Monroe, follow
Ing the policy Of Washington and of JET
ferson, took an Independent stand This
episode brought forth the Monroe doc
tr1ne,' by which we were not to meddle
in any of the political affairs of Europe,
and mo European government was to
extend their system to any part of North
or South America, nor Cypress, nor in
any other manner seek to control the
destiny of any of the nations of this
hemisphere"
The attitude Of England changed in
1861, when she thought her interests
would be favored by the success of the
southern Confederacy. Was it in the
name of morality and humanity that she
equipped the Alabama? Was her attitude
toward the South American republics
prompted by philanthropy, or was it The
commercial lion parading as a lamb?
The adage still remains: The leopard
cannot change it's spots.
Columbia's ideals are too lofty for a
logical union with "a government
steeled to barbarity," a government that
has been the instigator of massacrcs and
and the abettor Of famines. Let us con-
tinue in our ime-honored policy, taking
these words for a guide: The duty of
holding q neutral conduct may be in
ferrcd without anything more, from
obligations which justice and humanity
impose on every nation, In cases in
which it is free to act, to maintain inv,o-
late the relations of peace and amitv
toward other nations" Such is the lam
guage of the Father of the Republic he
who stood firm as Gibraltar when tho
people clamored for war in aid ne
France. Composed of different races lot
our government meet all nations in a
spirit Of concord; then only will the
hopes of humanity be fulfilled. and
through the ages be evolved: "a Parlia-
ment of Man, a Federation of the World"
E. w. HARRIS.
| Sensible Views Expressed.
| Inc following is portion Of a rou