Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-12-20

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to combination having for its object
armed Intervention in behalf of Spain.
Had Great Britain gone into the ar
rangement also, or even promised to
remain hands of, the United States
would have suffered extreme humilia.
ton. The combined navies of Europe
would have been too much for US.
But Great Britain gave it to be under
stood (very likely in compliance with
II previous agreemenD that If the COM
bination should undertake to interfere,
she would be on the side of the United
States. From naval standpoint,
Great Britain aud the United States
would have been entirely toe much for
the combination, and that is why there
was no interference. Just exactly
what price our administration agreed
to pay in return courtesies for Great
Brilain's good offices in this matter, is
not known.
1t will be remembered that few
weeks back an Associated Press dis
patch from London annoupced tue
consummatiop of some kind of alliance
between Great Britain, Germany and
the United States. The details were
given in Il general way, uuotiicially,
leaving the public in more or less
doubt. Each country has reasons for
not officially acknowledging the exist
ence of such treaty. But take look
at the pointers which seem to verify
the report. 1t is to the interest of
Great Britain, of course, for her ene-
mics to know that she is not friendless.
In a recent speech, Mr.. Chamberlain,
the British colonial secretary, said Gun
officially" but almost specifically, that
such all agreement has been perfected.
1t is not 10 the interest of the admins
tralion at Washington to have such
things discussed in this country for
various reasons. Among other things,
the Republican party is not 8 unit in
its sanction Of the Transvaal war, or
even upon the desirability of such an
alliance. Again, while such alliances
involve risks, they are generally based
upon contingencies which are not liza.
ble to develop, and, therefore, the ad-
minislralion which negotlates them
prefer to avoid unnecessary discussion
and criticism. So, following Chamber
lain's open but unofficial avowal of the
alliance, we find President Mckinley,
in his official message, without deny
ing anything, giving the British rap
for their unjuslfiable aggression, and
ut the same time saying some very
nice things about Germany, with
which country we were short time
ago thought to be on the verge of war.
We note, also, that the German news
papers, especially the official organs,
which, not great while back, were
scorching US black and blue, are now
saying only the incest and pleasantest
things about US. And not the least
significant fact about the whole matter
| is the circumstance that all of the Lou
don papers seem TO have appreciated
the motive of the presidents thrust at
Great Britain, for not Que of them has
tried to hurl it back at him. On the
contrary, all of them seem just as we'll
satisfied AZ if the president had said 10
Russia and France, ~. am backing
England iu this thing; touch her if you
dare"
| And what are the terms of the bar
gain by which these thing were
brought about2 The only people who
can answer this question are The exec
utives of the powers in the combine.
So far as the United States is con-
cerned, it is not impossible that she is
paving back the obligation she owes
Great Britain on account of Cuba.
As TO Germany, it will be remembered
that she and Great Britain have been
for several years quarreliug over
Samoa, and two or three times it has
looked as if they were about TO fight.
Since the report of the alliance refer
red lo has become public, it has also
become public that Great Britain has
voluntarily turned her interest i'll
Samoa over to Germany. Of course,
this is not the whole of it. There are
undoubtedly other considerations Of
which the public has no knowledge.
As to the practical utility of such
an alliance to Great Britain, am only
able TO touch the surface. For in
stance, Great Britain and Russia are
no, orious rivals in the matter of exten-
sion Of empire. In several places Brit
ish territory shuts Russia Oft from the
sea at reasonably convenient port in
order to BIZ in position to develop her
latent resources TO enormous proper
lions. The inducements to her are
great enough to warrant war with
England, the only means now in sight
whereby she can hope to accomplish
her ends. She has little cause, under
present conditions, To fear Great Brit
aims navy. She is almost as secure
from it as are the Beers. 1t is the
army that she will have to reckon
with. There is reason to believe that
she has been watching her opportunity
for years. Now, while the army is
busy in the Trarsvaal appears to be
the time. France is known 10 be her
ally. Then why does she not act ?
Under all the circumstances it would
seem that Germany, the United States
and perhaps Japan must be in the way.
And the United States, standing back
of big bully engaged in whipping all
undersiz-d, but plucky antagonist
That looks horribly humiliatiug doesn't
lii? If that is the sole situation it is
humiialing. But suppose our present
position has grown out OF some trade
we made ON accuunt Of the Spanish