England's Valued Friendship.
The American Victory at Manila was also an English Victory, so
proud did our British cousins feel over it. Spain's bribe of the
Philippines. France and Germany beg England to remain Neutral
while they set out to thrash Uncle Sam.
If the reader is an American, the question will naturally arise, what
became of our transatlantic cousins in the "right tight little island"
in the year 1999? In what light was the stupendous fabric of the
United States of the Americas regarded by England in that year? Did
England view with friendliness and complacency the development of
the American Colossus? Surely the awakening of the Americas, both
politically and industrially, must have seriously challenged the
attention of England. Was England in 1999 the same powerful, cordial
friend of America that she so well proved herself to be in 1898?
During the year 1899 Admiral Seymour of the British Navy, while
cruising in Asiatic waters, paid Admiral Dewey a visit on the
Olympia. His parting words to the American Admiral were: "Your victory
at Cavité was also our victory." No words could better express the
fraternal and cordial relations existing in 1899 between England and
America and the Dreamer feels proud and happy to say that in 1999
these cordial relations were still in full force. Providence, it
would appear, had selected these two great nations to act as leaders
and standard-bearers among the peoples of the earth. Their spheres
of action in 1999 did not clash, hence no jealousy existed between
the two nations.
In 1899 America, while perfectly friendly to England and proud to
be her ally, was reluctant to enter into an offensive and defensive
alliance with her. The spirit of American independence, always
self-reliant, was slow and exceedingly cautious in the matter of
"entangling alliances." The only alliance possible would be one with
England, which nation is the parent of the Anglo-Saxon race.
England's wise and friendly course during the Spanish-American war,
had filled the [England our Firm Friend.] heart of every true American
patriot with gratitude. By her sagacious action the unpleasant memories
of 1776, 1812 and the Alabama episode, had been entirely obliterated,
root and branch, from every American breast.
Before the outbreak of hostilities in 1898, which culminated in the
Yanko-Spanko war, there existed between France, Germany and Spain a
secret, yet none the less tacit understanding, that in the event of
war, the two powers first named would come forward to the assistance
of Spain as against the cordially detested Yankees. France held the
bulk of Spanish securities and was vitally interested in the issue
of the conflict between Spain and America. The success of the Spanish
cause or its disaster, signified either the gain or loss of millions
of Spanish securities. Her sympathies, therefore, were given over to
Spain and the French government and people were quite ready to expend
chilled steel and smokeless powder against the bulwarks of America.
Germany, on the other hand, in her self-assumed rôle of general
meddler-in-chief of [Spain's Two Great and Good Friends.]
the so-styled "European concert," was spoiling for a fight with a
country that had taken from her hundreds of thousands of her best
citizens and whose industrial expansion was a thorn in her side.
For the first time since 1870, when the French tri-color was humbled
in the dust of Sedan, Germany and France were interested in a common
cause against America, and were actuated by the same selfish motives
against the American Republic. Both were ready in April, 1898,
to fly at America's throat and in unison with Spain, administer to
our American Republic a first-class thrashing. These two worthies
entertained the notion that the great American Republic would very
soon be humbled and be only too glad to sue for peace on bended knees.
In return for her valuable services in this delightful program,
Germany was to be rewarded by Spain with the gift outright of the
Philippine islands. This was the beautiful cluster of grapes which
tempted the cupidity of the German fox.
But, alas, in the language of the lamented Josh Billings, "nothing is
more certain than the uncertainty of this world." France and Germany,
(an ill-assorted and graceless pair,) had reckoned without their host.
Sorely against their wishes, with hat in hand, France and Germany found
themselves under the absolute necessity of calling at the office of
a certain pugnacious and only too well known gentleman by the name
of John Bull, whose home since the days of the Druids and William
the Bastard has been in the snug little island of England and whose
postoffice address is London.
They (F. and G.) came to consult John Bull on the very important
subject of their proposed expedition against America, with Spain
acting as a tail to their kite.
They explained to Mr. Bull the object of their mission; they set
forth in a very clear [A Very Anxious Pair.] light that Uncle Sam,
on the other side of the Atlantic, needed a sound thrashing, and
what was more, needed it very badly. France and Germany posed before
J. B. as champions of a weaker nation that they were both very anxious
to protect. They represented that they had no possible interest in
the outcome of a war between America and Spain. All they asked of
England was merely to remain neutral,--to keep quiet while the three
prize stars, France, Germany and Spain, proceeded to give Uncle Sam
a taste of their raw-hides.
Then it was that the British Lion gave a roar, and in clear,
unmistakable language informed both France and Germany if they
ventured to fire a gun against America in the defence of Spain,
England would not remain neutral, but would side with America and
lend her assistance on sea and land.
The British Lion is not to be trifled with. France and Germany knew
this only too well, and when the war broke out they decided to remain
home and wisely stay in doors while it rained. Spain went to war
alone with her powerful enemy and took her medicine, we were nearly
tempted to say, "like a good little man."
The era of fraternal love, inaugurated through England's wise
action in repulsing the advances of France and Germany, proved
the keystone to the greatness of America and England in 1999. Ever
after the Spanish-American war they remained loyal and true to one
another and their friendship and mutual interests ever increased
thereafter. Throughout the twentieth century England and America
stood side by side in every emergency. It was not necessary to
draw up legal documents with enormous seals and yards of red silk
ribbon to cement the alliance of true friendship that existed between
the two nations. Their hearts beat in unison in the common cause of
humanity. In the twentieth century England and America were invincible
in war and leaders in all arts of peace.