The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-29

not fvT a moment to be doubted that the
proposal to which we have alluded, if scri-
ously raised, will be rejected, not, perhaps, by
all, but certainly by the majority Of the Euro
pean Powers. They are not willing that we
should interfere with them, and hitherto we
have not interfered We have not been will
ing that they should interfere with us, but on
more than one occasion they have interfered,
and interfered very unnecessarily. Some OF
us remember the interference of Great Britain
in the affairs of South America, and how
Canning hoped to rectify the balance of power
in the Old World by creating counterpoise in
the New. We have none Of US forgotten what
was attempted on this Continent when our
hands were tied by our recent civil war. The
offence of Europe was not the less that France
failed in Mexico and that English assistance
was Intellectual in the South. The fact is that
interference, wherever interference promised
any advantage, whether on this Continent or
elsewhere, has been leading characteristic
of European diplomacy. II we have been
more cautious in this matter that is no suf-
ficient reason why this caution should con-
tinue. s~- t.--e--,~7
All these things, however, aside, why should
any species of international policy be eternal
and Interchangeable? Why should policy spe-
cially adapted to one age and one set Of condi-
tions be the best for another age and an
entirely new set Of conditions? In the inter
ests of civilization Europe has for some gene
ratipns enjoyed what we may call monopoly
of the control of both hemispheres. The
great Powers have been looked to as the pro-
tectors Of civilization, and the smaller Powers
have followed in their wake or submitted to
their dictation. We are not called upon to say
that the European Powers have done their work
badly. But another civilized Power has sprung
into existence, if that Power, by the extent of
its territory, the numbers and rapid growth
of its population, the magnitude and the sue
cess of its undertakings, commands the atten-
ton and the respect of the nations generally
and induces some of them to sue for its aid
and protection, as little are we called upon to
say that in the interests of civilization the
cooperation of this Power should not be
heartily welcomed. The United States is
that Power What other nation on the face
of the earth is contributing more than ours
to the general welfare of mankind?
Not only are we giving an impulse to
trade and commerce all over the world we
are providing homes and country for the
outcast and the needy of all lands. Our CEN
trail position, in fact, standing as we do
between two great seas and two great Cont
nents, marks us out not merely as the great
arbitrator, but as the great controller Of the
future. The Burlingame mission is striking
illustration of the light in which we begin
10 be regarded by all the nations Of the
earth. In many important respects we have
! greater interest in all lands and in all
peoples than any ofthe so-called great Powers
Of Europe, and this interest will grow and
Intensity with the advancing years. So far as
We can see there is no good reason why we
should not, and many good reasons why we
hould take our place at once among the great
lowers and share with them the duties and
which belong to the position.
In any conference of the great Powers it is
to us to take part, and our assistance
night be invaluable. The peculiarities of the
Eastern question might be more successfully
lealt with by American intellect than by the
ogic Of o WORKOUT Old World diplomacy.
There is nothing insoluble in the difficulty.
The real difficulty in the case is that no ono
IAN, or rather, no one dare, propose any
hing new. European conferences have been
ailures all through. They have never sue
,essfully grappled with the difficulties of
my great international question. They
meet and discuss and patch up an
and leave the question
rs they found it. This has been
specially true of all congresses which have
to settle the Eastern question. AS
Il has been with former congresses so will IL
be with this one. The Powers at variance
will be temporarily reconciled; but the ques-
ton at issue will be left as unsettled as ever.
The time has come when the Turk should
retire from Europe, when the provinces south
Dl tue Ddfhau snouiu VIC BiNeu w NTccCo uuu
The provinces north of the Balkan consolidate
md constituted South Slavonic empire. But
no one at the conference will have the pluck to
speak out the truth. This is but another reason
why the United States should be represented.
Our representatives alone would be untram-
meled. Sympathy for the Turk is quite unne-
cessary. Back in Asia. whence he came. he
would have more splendid field for his ambi-
ton than he can ever hope to have in Europe.
In the interest Of the United States, in the
interest of all the parties to this quarrel, in
the interest of civilization ITSELF we think It
right and proper that, II invited to take part,
our government should send representatives to
the proposed congress-.
The Reciprocity Commissioner from the
New Dominion.
The government of the New Dominion,