Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-13
EyTANGLING ALLIANCES.

Certain lnHuentlaA EHbhSN HcNnP~PN''
have attributed President Mcb1nley's
cold references 10 Great Britain and
warning against entangling alliances
which appeared in his message, TO Ie-
sentiment of some of Chamberain's re-
cent utterances. The New York Evening
Post, however. thinks that these papers
are very wide Of the mark What they
complain of, says the Post, was Clearly
a line the administration has long ago
determined to take" Our New To:k
contemporary argues that in the OHIO
campaign too much was made Of Mr. Nc
Kinley's susceptibility 10 English bland
tshments TO leave any doubt that his
next appearance would he in the role OF
a cool and distrustful observer Of Eng
lsh wiles, and in conclusion express ;
the opinion that he rather welcomes Ing
hsh comment in his studied neglect.
The fact is tie Post finds that the Presi-
dent. in his cold" references TO Great
Britain, has placed himself in a very in
consistent attitude But had ii looked a
little deeper it would have found that IN
his warning against entangling alliances
Mr.. Mckinley placed himself in an alb
surd, not to say hypocritical, attitude.
AS 70 this matter. Mr.. Mckinley forcibly
illustrates the difference between precept
and practice. He would seductively keep
the word OF promise Of the fathers TO the
ear, but ruthlessly break it to the hope.
Beware of entangling alliances" Is an
American shibboleth that rang out al
most coevally with the birth Of the re-
public, and was sounded down and heed
cd through all our history, until we en-
tered into an alliance for making
in Samoa 1t is still popular, still a
shibboleth, with those who would pre-
serve our institutions in their integrity
and keep the covenant of true republican
ism. 1t still has a charm for the thou
sands scattered throughout the land who
have not risen to an appreciation Of the
new school Of craftsmanship.
Mr.. McKinley's motive in reviving 1t Is
therefore easily understood When old
he not court every gale that might pos
sibly help to watt the argosy OF his
None the less, in view Of his acts and in
view of the situation he has brought us
20, and its probable sequence, the warn
ing, coming from him. is a mockery.
What is meant by "entangling alliances -
We let Washington answer:
"Why forego the advantages of so pc
cular detached and distanD a situation?
.tsft To afg nd Aksrf,
ground? Why. by Intervening our des-
tiny with that of any part OF Europe, en-
tangle our peace and prosperity in the
tolls OF European ambition, rivalship, in
tercst, honor, or caprice"'
President Mckinley warns us against
"entangling alliances" forsooth. lie
echoes the warning of Washington. AND
vet he has deliberately ignored that
warning. BY plunging us into the Philip
pine war ne has caused us TO quit oui
own to stand upon foreign ground" He
has started us on career which, IL not
checked, must end In Intervening oul
destiny with that of Europe and EN-
tangling "our peace and prosperity in the
tolls of European ambition. rivalship, in
terest, honor. or caprice"
Despite his cold references to Grea
Britain. and his word of mouth consecra
ton to tho faith OF Washington, he ha'
exposed us to the "insidious wiles O.
foreign influence" which influence Wash
ington pronounced ''one of the most bane
full foes Of republican government" From
being found guilty under this indictment
In the future President Mckinley cannot
escape. whether his raising OF the shib
boieth shall help his political fortunes
nam mt