The state herald., 1898-09-09
TO HELP ENGLAND.
ALLIANCE WOULD BE A GOOD
THING FOR JOHN.
This Country Would Only he the suf-
ferer-The People Who Have Money to
Loan Are Afraid That the Might of
Britain IL to he Dethroned.

Sir George Sydenham Clarke has In
the current Nineteenth Century an ar
ticle concerning an Anglo-American
alliance. He considers the subject
from the British point of view. He
deals with concrete facts instead Of
sentiment or day dreams, and there
fore affords Americans a fair concep-
tion Of what coalition with Great
Britain would mean-not In the pulpit,
not in the classroom, not In the lec-
lures of dreamers and literary enthu-
siasts-but in the actual course Of the
iving politics of the civilized world.
At the outset Sir George turns his at
tention to the offensive and defensive
features Of an Anglo-American alli-
ance. He does not waste his time in
discussing all the sweetness and the
light which would come to civilization
with the new combination. He goes
directly to the point, and that point
is war. For instance, he says: AN
Anglo-American alliance would for
purposes OF war be wholly free from
the conditions which involved the CO.
alition OF Pitt. the Anglo-French COM
bination Of 1854, or the German league
against little Denmark in 1864. which
by an easy transition dissolved itself
into the Prusso- Austrian campaign Of
1866" 1t will be observed that Sir
George is not deluding himself with
expectations Of universal peace or
tranquil conquest. He takes 1t for
granted that the alliance In question
would be an alliance of fighting pow
ers. Consequently he holds up for our
edification the picture OF the exhaust
Ing warfare Of England upon Napo-
leon, OF the bloody and costly invasion
OF the Crimea. and of the six years OF
conflict by which Germany fixed the
present boundaries in Western Eu-
rope. In a word, he makes prominent
the very patent fact-patent to every
body except American advocates OF an
Anglo-American coalition-that It is
the duty of an ally to fight, and that
II We enter into an alliance with Eng
land we have to expect only what the
allies against Napoleon. against Rus
sia. and against Denmark have ex-
perienced In this century. Sir George
also discusses several possible at
tempts to rob Great Britain of Canada.
South Africa, and Australia. to divide
the spoils among continental powers.
and numerous additional contingencies
which the United States would be ex-
pected to fight against on sea and
land.
The question that sensible Ameri-
cans have been asking for several
months is: What possible benefit
could the United States derive from an
alliance with Great Britain? Unfor-
tunately. like other British publicists,
Sir George neglects to answer this
from his article, our business in the
alliance would be merely to save
Greater Britain from partition, to fur
ther her diplomatic campaigns. and 20
hold our army and navy In readiness
to support her against the rest
instructive to contemplate the one
sidedness of the proposed Anglo
American bargain as II appears the
moment We get down to details. What
do the American people think OF Il?
Just now. when they are recovering
from their only war in this genera
ton. when they are mourning their
dead and counting the cost, how do
they feel about being pledged by their
national government to enter upon n
boundless sea OF complications, war
fare. and carnage to uphold the
threatened power and commerce OF n
foreign government? The mere state
mont OF these questions implies an in
suit to American intelligence and
craftsmanship. 1t Is atrocious that
callous to the best interests OF their
own people and so sensitive to the as
pirations OF n foreign power that they
tolerate the idea OF an Anglo-Ameri-
can alliance even as n subject OF
academic discussion.
II Americans would only consider
the whole question as practically and
minutely us II is being considered In
England. II Is doubtful II even the
most pcrversc OF our political dream
ers and the most supinc OF our An
glomanlncs would dare continue long
err the present agitation In favor OF
blackcning our glorious future with
nil the burdens OF Europe's dying
past.-lnter Ocean.