The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-05
ALLIANCE sPECULATIONs.

InOugn caCcnlnS. But Thai WHICH
teaches that there must be some lire
where there is much smoke, as rule
is safe. Is there some fire below all
this smoke of talk about an Anglo
American alliance?
The mind naturally inquiries, why are
the statesmen and journals OF three
nations discussing with so much of ner-
vousness and indirection, with some
thing akin to fearfulness, and yet with
patent evidences of desire, a vague and
as yet unsubstantial compact, unwrit-
ten and expressed in suggestive whis-
pers only, between powers of the world
to accomplish something. the purpose of
which is mentioned by no man?
Throughout the body of the popula-
ton of at least two nations there runs
a current of suspicion that beneath the
talk about an alliance there is some
thing more than appears; something
with grave and potent purpose that
may involve great powers either in
friendly compact for mutual advantage
or for common resistance of some other
great forces. English statesmen in post
prandia1 expression talk of the racial
and sentimental bond between America
and Great Britain which should more
firmly unite these nations in common
concern and activity.
American journals and statesmen in
I'll defined but not less suggestive utter
ances speak Of the desirability of main
tanning good understanding between
the two great bodies of English speak
ing peoples. The German Emperor,
with no apparent reason for saying as
much, gives forth the expression of
German sentiment that the Teutonic
State views with pleasure the bond Of
sympathy and good feeling between
England and America, and he volun-
teers the assurance that anything Ger
many can do to more closely unite the
two nations will not be neglected.
What is the meaning Of it all? Has
anything happened or is something to
happen which renders it necessary that
tongue should be more closely drawn
together than they are at present?
When a nation of great military
strength and unparalleled commercial
influence courts the favor of another
which is growing into surprising prom
inence in the worlds commercial and
political field, there is usually behind
the wooing something more than mere
friendly feeling and racial sympathy.
What is wanted in the present case?
Why should the smoke Of alliance talk
develop fire of purpose now? These
are questions felt rather than expressed
on this side of the Atlantic to-day
among the Thoughtful people Of the
United States generally. They must
find an answer presently; the under
tone must develop into a pronounced
note soon Where there is so much
current at the bottom there will be
presently open flow Of desire upon the
surface.
The free trade nations are no longer
arrogant and defiant of the protection
nations. They see the impossibility of
either coercing them or Of avoiding the
fierce competition they promote. Nat
urally. therefore, they look to other
means Of effecting adjustments with
them. If they cannot be defeated in
the open. may they be cajoled into
agreements to divide the spoil Of COM
merce? They see clearly that the Pa
cific is to be the greatest theater of
commercial activity in the near future,
tons is to be a powerful factor in the
trade drama to be enacted on this new
stage which cannot be ignored, neither
driven nor frightened.
Armaments are increased, military
and naval strength augmented, and
coast defenses, naval refugees and sta
tions secured and protected, not neces-
sarily to provoke war, but to be ready
for it. Possibly to forward the greater
office Of craftsmanship to preserve
peace. The points of contact are al
ready exposed and even the least
thoughtful must perceive them. If
there comes war between mighty pow
ers the cause for it and the scenes of
its greatest activity will be found in
Oriental waters.
Russia is resolved to become as great
maratime power as she is an inland
one. Her 'ambitionFin this direction has
been borne over the steppes of Siberia
by rail to the waters of the Yellow Sea
and thus making possible a threat to
dismember the Chinese Empire and give
over its trade to those nations so fortu-
nate as to be permitted to share it.
England, seeing In this a. menace to
her commerce. is impelled by self-inter-
est to protest against the partition she
fears, and naturally appeals to the
United States to employ the vantage
she has from her new seat in the Phil
ippines and Hawaii to prevent what she
is pleased to term the threatened de-
struction of the independence of the
unprogressive Mongolian empire. But
the price OF this Intervention is to be
the enforced open door," the preser-
walton in their integrity of treaty rights
which accord TO ell parties to these