ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10575, 8 February 1900, Page 2

ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

CORDIAL SYMPATHY OF THE STATES. NO ALLIANCE WANTED. INTERVIEW WTfH A PROMINENT AMERICAN/. i'S*! iaU *** » being token fc Anwica opinion, expressed Aoughtfully by a repteeedltative and pronanent American, mar t f«*Mi as a pmty safe indication of the ctowncse «od attention with which Qreat Bntam s actioa in the Transvaal is watched by oar cousfcs in the Uaited States. The remark was ma<fc by the Hon. J. W. Buckim, of Colorado, who is travelling through ul« countiy o Q 'bJs way round the Englieh «paunng world in search of information, and *'» was in Christchtirch Hie other day. "We feel," contwmedMr Bucklin, speak- «»« to a representative of "The Preas," Mat you have to fight in the biggest war of the century, while we hare simply a small trouWo to settle. 'Yes, the feeling in Ajnerica ie peculiar. I n&d President McKmfef* message to Congrws in fulL We in America are very much opposed to interfering in European affairs, both for local and haatoricol reasons. Our Mooroe Doctrine, which is almost tacred w*th us, says that w« ahould attend to our ovm affairs and beep out hands ou* of EuroP«n troubles. Further, our declaration of impendence sets out that the Government aball not go beyond its just power* without tfaeccnsent of the people.. These matters are' absolutely inconsistent with our attitude in regard to the Phittppinee, and the whole war » * departure from the traditional and legal *»*» previously occupied. ?ln my judgment, Mr Chamberlain's ™ads hinting that there wae an alliance between England and America were very foolish and exceedingly offensive -to the American people. It probably was the cMee of the tone of the Presrfdentfe message Bt*fcng that an entangling affiance was to beavoided. There i* a large foreign element I in tiio United States that does not want any affiance, and even supposing that McKinley w biaeelf favourably disposed to England, n». would feel it necessary to intimate that tltfre was no such an alliance. "Farther, w© have had ideas that England sympathised with the South, during the time <£the rebellion. The Tory Government of the Ume favoured the Southern States, and W* caused the idea that the English people would not be displeased if our Government wiioverfchrown. The result of that, togwher with a tendency on the part of politwuuis to truckle to the foreign element— especially the Irish and German—has caused mjajßOT less antagonism to England. But xroeroeatb it all throughout, there has been a etrong sympathy with England. We derive our kws and institutions, and our haguage as well as our original stock, from England, and we have always recognised th»t England end America are the two gflat .progressive nations of the earth. "After the Spanish war we have considerably changed our opinions regarding England. We recognise that wo received the materi*! assistance of the English, people, and it hag vastly improved tbe cordial relatMQS existing between the two nations. Today the great bulk of the American people at* in sympathy with England. There is a divided opinion as to whether England was right or not'm the war; whether it wae gj*ed of countary or love of justice and fair pky that led to the war. Bat notwithstanding that- divided opinion, there is a general fading, even among those who look upon the quarrel ac unjust, tharb the success of tie British arms would moke for human progress. There is no longer any spirit of antagonism. There is a friendly and cordial feeling America does} not want to sacrifice. She knows that England can win this war anyhow if she is left vlone, but if other nations interfere ftod start in to try and tramp on her. there'll be trouble. At the same time I don't think there is any probability of any alliance with England. We don't want any alliances, but if, *s I say. other nations interfere, the sympathy of America will wheel strongly to England and the situation would be entirely changed America would fed that it was an attack op tin Anglo-Saxon race, and that she would hive to come to the aid of her own people. "That is the position. We like England, we sympathise) with her, but we don't want an alliance with anyone."