Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-08-11
American Neutrality.

rnE POSITION OF AMERICA IL THE runoiEAS
STRUGGLE.
[Frlm Gen. \. II Banks Grafton at Boston, Aug. 81
1t is not unnatural that efforts should be made
to identify Americans with one or the other of
the parties to the great contest which blackens
the skies Of the Old World. But Americans owe
The parties now engaged in war nothing neither
love nor hate Our people have no reyenges to
crafty. Our constitution, as interpreted by the
supreme Judicial tribunal, makes it impossible
for us to acquire territory by war, and we there
fore can have no ins sympathy with despotic
powers WHO make war for no other purpose.
Our duty il now, as heretofore, that Of neutrali-
| t.. II Washington was sustained by the people
| i'll rejecting the appeals Of France. whose purse
| and sword had carried liz through our struggles
| for Independence, and whose diplomacy secured
| for lis the sympathy of every European State
| except Portugal, which alone adhered to Great
| britain, surely We shall be justified in maintain
lug Il neutral position between powers which,
| with indecent haste recognized the existence of
war in the very inception Of our rebellion before
| shot had been fired or Il life had been sacri-
feed IL battle. We should comprehend the ma
| tuie of the contest before we embark in it as
partisaiis, Ii is natural, from the character of
our population, the nature of our principles and
onr origin, that we should s. mpathize with the
Northern States OF Europe In contest of
Denmark, Sweden, linssia, Hungary, Prussia,
and switzerland, against Austria, Italy, Spain,
and France, we could MOI be Indifferent, 0ul
views of religion, government, progress, popli-
lar rights, would carry ms with the North But
the contest IN Europe is not now of that charac
ter Denmark Sweden, Switzerland, Hungary,
and probably Russia, sympathlze less with tile
Northern than the Southern leaders in the i'm
pending war Prussia has made implacable en-
enies of Denmark and Sweden by her rapacit,
for territorial possessions on the Baltic Sea, ant
Of Austria by her course in Southern Germany
She has alienated Switzerland and alarmed IIol
land by her diplomacy.
Every State that borders upon her territory
Denmark, Sweden switzerland, Holland
France. Austria has been converted from posi-
ton of neutrality or friendship to one of dprinan
on positive hostility. 1t is unnecessary for ls t,
become partisaiis of France but surely her poll
cy, as it regards intervention with the rights o
other States, cannot be more questionable. Tn
absolute supremacy of Prussia in the Baltic Sci
= threatens Denmark tand Sweden, and shut
Russia in the Gulf Of Finland in the summer,
the ice restricts her navy to the harbor OF Croi
( stadt in winter. The possession of Holland h
| Prussia. which il in keeping with her polio,
. would reduce England to a fourtll-rate power.
| prussan King in Spain destroys France an
threatens the existence of Italy and Austria.
is not to be supposed that any Of the States 1
d Europe will yield to such absolute domination @
G Il single power
|. Our interest is not with imperial dynasties, IN
7, with the people and the small progressive Stat,
l. of Europe. Onr interests are with Denmai
} Sweden. switzerland, Italy, Hungary, HollaI
7, and Belgium. Wherever they lead our symp
thies may safely follow. But until they mai
g their sign, neutrality is our line Of duty.
le have no word to utter against German unit
a nor against Prussia as its leader. ladvocate 4
ID every nation its natural boundaries and
Is necessary outlets to the commerce of the worl
= protest against the policy which las maintain,
re the Turk III Christian Europe for three hundr
70 years for the sole purpose of keeping Russia 0
Of the Black and Mediterranean Seas. | won
in give TO Italy its natural capital, Rome! Il
Danubian Principalities justly belong to Alstr
e. because they are necessary TO her autonon
I'll France for aught have to say, might exte
her boundaries to the Rhine and to Denma
he should be restored Sehleswig and llolstein,
Q. which she was robbed by Prussia and Austr
in Spain should have a republic or monarchy wi
ly a president or king chosen from her own poop
us whichever she pleascs. Cuba should have
er independence, and the United States footht
in the Gulf OF Mexico AS for England.she |
got all aud more than belongs to her But no
uf these results require the ailnliillation of
Of smaller States OF Europe by war. War is wap
ii, fur other purposes. II is to perpetuate and
zee large the personal government OF the pres,
&c. reigning sovereiSns II will cost the people,
Ter continued, from two to four million lives,
~. involve the whole of Europe in the general c.
la migration. And we are invited, in contravent
IL. of our principles, to become partisans in t
terrible contest.
ct No Our duty lies not in that direction.
mt. God reign and iii. will be done. Ugr interest
les for cur own country and the principles it rep
at sents. OF all governments beneath the sun
ch own is the best. And the next best is still
We own. Let our charity for the wounded and s
ed. feiing be opeil-handed AZ the day, and
are prayers be heard for the relief of the ensa'
ct and oppressed everywhere. But our iudgm
should not be led by the partisana of cit
OF camp, nor make lis to suffer from the chan
m of causeless wars.