The Irish standard., 1900-03-03
ARE WE INDEBTED TO ENGLAND?

A great number of honest Americans
believe that this country is deeply in
debted to England for the attitude as
sumed by her during the Spanish
American war. They think that Eng
land held back the continental powers
of Europe from pouncing on the United
States at that time They say that
were it not for Salisbury and Chamber
lain there would have been coalition
against us and in favor OF the Spanish
monarchy. They declare that such
! combination was in process Of forma-
ton when England kindly interposed in
Our behalf and prevented its consum-
nation. Referring to this prevalent
delusion, the Boston Republic says edi-
torially:
On Nov. 12, 1893, when the English
papers were exploiting British friend
ship for the United States as exhibited
in prevention of this hostile co1nbina-
ton, the Russian ambassador at Wash
ington, Count Cassini, said, in an Off
cial declarations: "At no time was there
a purpose on the part of the great
powers to intervene against the United
States. No appeal by Spain to limit the
claims of the United States has been
made to Russia or to other foreign gov
ernments America needs not the
friendship OF England to become
great power. She is a great power al
ready. England needs the friendship OF
AAn1erica-ttif1at is why she speaks as she
does now. England wants America to
help her to her schemes, and America
will not let herself be used, I am sure
During your war with Spain, though
the contrary has been urged, yet know
as a fact that at no time was there any
purpose of the powers to check Amer
ica's plans or advances upon the Phil
ippines."
Mr.. William T. Stead, perhaps the
best informed man in England outside
of government circles upon continental
politics, said about the same time: II
am afraid shall have to prick this bub-
Bile, much as should desire England to
have assumed the position so generally
attributed to her. She did not have the
chance to do so, as no attempt was
made by any of the powers to interfere
with the United States. This fact I
have learned by inquiries at the foreign
Offices in Paris, London and Berlin;
and men of all parties disavow the
whole story"
Mr.. John Hay was then mbassador
to England. He is now secretary Of
state and slavisll advocate OF an alli-
ance with England. What did Mr.. Hay
say upon the subject OF England's ex-
ploits in preventing the formation of an
unfriendly continental combination?
We quote from an interview published
in the New York World, on Sept. 22,
1893, as follows: Question. You
mean to state positively that there was
no combined or individual attempt on
the part of Germany, France or Russia
to humiiate the United States by talk
ing sides with Spain?' Answer. 4
certainly do. Nothing of the kind oc-
cured"
The German and French ambassadors
to this country added their most en-
phatic dcnials to these, and completed
the chain of evidence in support OF Our
contention that on the score of the
Spanish war we owe England nothing.
She did not prevent hostile combina-
ton of the continental powers because
no such combination was attempted,
She has never done a friendly act to-
ward this country. On the contrary,
she has always been our bitter enemy.
The London Times expressed the real
English feeling when it said editorially,
shortly after Lincoln's death: "The