The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-10-02
England and the United States.

che is neither for nor against Eng
land.n
Does any particular reason exist, in
the history OF the last one hundred and
twenty-five years, why President of
the United States should be for Elg
land2 AS matter of wise policy or
sound craftsmanship, why should a
President OF the United States be
against England, except uuder the ex-
istence Of provocations or hostile con-
ditions, such as must Inevitably breed
hostility9 Why should the President
of the United States discriminate in
favor of England among the othor
nations OF Europe?
A century and quarter ago England
was the mortal enemy and oppressUr of
this people. Inalienable rights aud in
dependence were won from her after a
long war and the endurance of the Sc
verest hardships. The generation af-
ter the recognition Of Independence
fought again with England in defense
of the rights of American citizens.
AT what time from the second decara-
ton of peace between the two coun-
tries down to 1860 was the friendship
OF England for this country 30 strik-
ingly manifested as to constitute lien
upon the good will of Americana
AT what period Immediately preced-
log or during the civil war did the gov
eminent of England or the ruling or
aristocratic classes of Englishmen with
hooks of steel bind their kinsmen across
the sea to the mother "country?" Was
it in the encouragement they gave the
people of the South to rebel? Was it
in building commerce-destroying cruis-
ers for the rebels, arming them with
English guns, supplying them with
English ammunition, manning them
with English crews paid with British
gold, and with these piratical craft
sweeping American commerce from
the high seas?
When did highlands loving kindness
for the United States begin to be mani
tested? Was it while they were a weak
and defenseless people, poor in every
thing but unconGuerable spirit, strug-
Cling for national existence? Was it
while the nation, having attained to
strength and was increasing nightly in
power and or eatness, was plunged into
the fierce death struggle for the preser-
walton of the Union? Was it when the
English premier proclaimed to the
courts of europe that the "great repub-
lie had gone to pieces" and even the
faith of Gladstone's sympathetic eye
was dimmed by early confederate VIC
tories? Or was it when, in spite of
England herself, the union of the
States had been 80 strongly cemented
that the gates of hell could not prevail
against it, when national power and
development of imperial strength and
dimensions had followed in the train
of the restoration of federal govern
ment throughout all the borders of the
old Union, when on sea and land, in
the arts of war and peace, the United
States had demonstrated its capacity to
cope successfully, not with England
alone, but with the allied nations of
Europe also? Was it when, under these
conditions existing here, England
found her own power and prestige
waning and the object of the more or
less open hostility of all Europe? There
is, indeed, virtue in friendliness of this
unusual and disinterested kind.
While the real facts of history con-
tain no particular reason why President
Roosevelt should be for England, poll
icy, enlightened common sense, Chris
tian precept, forbid that this country
should be against England. Equally
they forbid that the government should
ia the slightest degree discriminate
among the powers Of Europe in Eng
lands favor. Certain OF these powers
were this nations staunch and helpful
friends when England was in war
against it, or seeking pretext for it's
destruction. France was our tradi-
tional friend, without whose timely and
powerful help the war for independence
had not succeeded. Russia early &C.
knowledged the independence of the
colonies, and when, in the perilous
times of the Trent affair, and war with
England was imminent, squadron of
Russian warships, With hands-off
aid, dropped anchor in the hsrbor OF
New York. The instructions the Rus
sian admiral bore should forever insure
for the rough Northern Bear tho earnast