A Natural Alliance.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2101, 7 May 1898, Page 3

A Natural Alliance.

The frankest and most thoroughdeclaration in favour of a British AmrVi-ai. alliance has come from inowerful, but quite unexpected, quar ter. Mr Richard Olm y, if will be rememWed, was principal Secretary »f State in Cleveland’s last Admini.tration, and was the real propoundei of the newest form of the Monroe doctrine, the application of which t affairs of Venezuela at the beginning of last year all but provoked a rupture with Great Britain. 'Lecturing ai Harvard College quite lately on civicduties and reforms, Mr Olney is re ported to have said that the warning uctered by 'Washington against entrance into entangling alliance with foreign countries was intended for a nation at that time in its infancy, and was inapplicable to the condition of maturity since attained by the United States. It had been made use of to promote a policy of isolation, but such an interpretation was founded on error. At no time had that maxim applied to questions of commerce.. The time had passed for the United States to held aloof from international councils. Isolation mean*, commercial limitation, as shown by the exclusion of foreigu goods and foreign labour, and the decay of American shipping. Mr Olney proceeded to use these word- - , which at the present juncture have deep significance : “There is no doubt with what nation we should co-oper; t v. England, our most formidable riva’, is our most natural friend. There is such a thing as patriotism for race as .well as for country. Nothingless can be expected from the community of interests between Great Britain and the United S ates than that bith shall use their great influence, not only for their common advancement, but for the betterment of the whole human race, Athough at times we may have such quarrels as only lelitives and intimate neighbours indulge in, yet the near future will see in our closer friendship a power for good that will be felt by all mankind.”