The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-09-12
ENGLISH SPEAKING ALLIANCE.

man and writer, the Hon. w. Z. III.
Lecky, in last Sundays Chicago Trib-
une gave his views upon the question
Of an English speaking alliance. He
is one Of the number of English
statesmen who have shown a surpris-
ing change Of heart in recent years
toward the United States and it's peo-
pie. The lions tail has been so severe
ly twisted in late years that English
men are fondly looking toward this
country for the friendship which they
fail to find among the powers of
Europe. Mr.. Lecky says:
"The idea has been steadily growing
that in foreign politics the first aim
of an English statesman should be to
establish close and friendly relations
with the United States.
'The revelation during the South
African war of the intense dislike of
England that prevails in the nations
of the continent has powerfully tended
to draw English sympathies to kins-
men beyond the sea, and succession
of American representatives in Lon
don of remarkable ability and popu-
larity has done much to consolidate
the two countries. In the great
problems that are arising in the east
the policy of the "open door," adopted
on both sides of the Atlantic, has
formed a new and powerful bond of
commercial and political interest, and
the cordial cooperation of the two
| nations is an essential condition of
success"
We doubt not that English SYM
pathies have been driven toward
America. England has at last learned
that she is hated and despised by all
the European countries, and in her
decline is trying to gain the friend
ship of a powerful nation. OF all the
countries in the world, we owe Eng
land least Of all any gratitude. She
was the persistent enemy of this
country throughout the first century
of our existence. Every American
youth in school knows that fact The
distinguished American representa-
tives in London" referred to by Mr.
I.ecky, are. of course, John Hay and
Rufus Choate. These men have dis
tinguislcd themselves for their lack
of Americanism and for their cringing
ot% Tcl,
admits chat only few years have
elapsed since an insignificant question
relating to Venezuela seriously en-
| dangered the peace between England
and the United States" But he says:
English opinion now cordially ac-
quiesces in the Monroe doctrine which
| places the greater number of Ameri-
can questions entirely within the
| sphere of influence of the United
States, while America is happily free
from all obligation to meddle with
purely European complications"
| Yes, thanks to the fact that Richard
Olney. Il staunch and true American,
was secretary of state ut the time the
'insigniicant Venezuelan matter
came up, England now cordially az
quiesces in the Monroe doctrine"
Another fact helpful to an English
speaking alliance in the opinion Of the
distinguished EngliShman is that
with the growth of the new states
the political power of the Irish vote
has greatly dwindled." 1t is Il serious
admission for an English statesman to
of Irish descent in the United States
are unalterably opposed to any al
lance. tacit or otherwise. to England.
Are not the Irish an English speaking
people? Have they not had centuries
of opportunity to become acquainted
whit England and her methods? Why
is the Irish vote an influence against
an English speaking alliance? The
truth is that the Irishman knows
England better than some of our lat
ter day American statesmen who
| HIVE lllc lcSSOIS liuSnI Nv
history. The Irish acquaintance with
England is an acquaintance up to
date Another obstacle to the fond
desire of the English is stated as fol-
lows:
| probably Il more serious fact in
affecting the future relations of the
two countries is growing divergence
of racial elements, for the vast flow
of European emigration to America is
constantly reducing the proportion of
the Anglo-SaNon and even of the
Teutonic race in the American popu-
lation."
Possibly Mr.. Lecky knows what an
Anglo-SaXon is, we do not. There are
none in the United States, and we
were Of the opinion that the species
was extinct long ago. We remember
having read that some savage tribes
called Angles, Saxons and Jutes
came over to England from the north
ern jungles of Europe in about the
middle Of the fifth century. 1t is well