The times., 1899-10-26
THURSDAY. OCTOBER 25. 1899.
The AnsIo-saxon RnpprochemeHt.

THURSDAY. OCTOBER 25, 1899.
The AnEIo-saxoR RapProchemeHt.
The war between the United States and
Spain. as we all know, changed the map Of
the world. Il reduced the ancient State
Of Ferdinand and Isabella from the condi-
tion Of an Empire with important colonial
possessions to that Of a third rate nation.
a negligible quantity in the international
politics Of Europe It transformed the
previously isolated and provincial Republic
OF the West into a great imperial, naval,
commercial and colonial world power.
But. in Importance and direct value to the
future Of civilization under conditions Of
intelligent self-government, the war ac-
compIished something else equally worthy
Of consideration, and as great, or greater.
Il resulted in the extinction OF the last
vesuge Of an i'll feeling which had sub
sisted between the two Anglo-sa1on States
and peoples, with varying intensity, for
century and quarter
Among all the Governments Of the Old
World. Great Britain, our former enemy
and always our close trade competitor.
alone supported US when others, whose
friendship we had cultivated for genera
tions. were ready to pounce down upon
as. and by means Of q joint, armed inter
ventiou. to subject our apretenslons" in
the Antilles and elsewhere to the hostile
Judgment and decision Of Europe. This
would have been done or attempted, but
for the British Lion in the path Thus, in
one short year animosities toward England
which had more or less survived through
out American history, disappeared, and
with them also disappeared our old SEN
tImental friendship for France and, largely.
FOR Russia. This was not because. blood
IS thicker than water" but because "ac-
tions speak louder than words!" The su-
preme test came and we were entirely able
TO recognize our true friend. as well as our
enemies. From the decision Of the Ameri-
can people in this matter. based on Lnas-
sailabIe evidence, there is no appeal. It
VIII stand. ard the AngIo-saxon rapproche-
ment resulting. too. VIII stand.
It seems almost incredible that Ameri-
can sentiments and prejudlces should
have been 50 radically revoIuuonized in so
short "a time. Ten years ago. If any man
on this side OF the Atlantic had predicted
that within a decade, the people Of the
United States would be in hearty sympa-
thy with England against the rest Of the
world. he would have been counted crazy
Today a great European coalition against
Great Britain would be regarded with
almost as much resentment here as II
d were aimed at US.
u may be said. indeed. that, while there
3 no formal alliance OF understanding be-
tween the two related Anglo saxon powers
-notalag q the kind being necessary or
presently desirable-that does not mean
-hat America would be an uninterested
spectator Of an effort to destroy or cripple
Great Britain. Just as that country inter
posed its moral force to prevent aggres-
fion upon the United States. so the latter
might act should there be occasion.
L IS almost unsraci0us 10 add that the
~gize scIfshness" that forms the basis Of
national policies. warns us to range our
selves with the sister peoples Of our race.
The intense antagonIsm to England on the
Continent is 10 . great extent an incident
OF The economic war which, separately.
but commonly. the Anglo Saxon peoples
are vaging against the Latin and the slav
II The latter by uniting can crush or check
the oHraah q The former they viii do it,
and VIII do il as quickly IN the case Of the
American as of The British branch OF the
family. II follows from this that whatever
tends TO weaken our imperial sister and
friend equally menaces our position and
future Sentiment aside, the logic Of
events and OF the Irresistible economic
and race movements Of the day, leaves no
choiee To- The AHglo-saxoa but to stand by
Tho AnElo-sazon.