Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-08
War PrObibllities.-III.

When an astronomer announces an eclipse
Of the Gun, We have learned to respect the
prediction rs the result of patient and labori-
Gus calculation. A war alarm in time of
peace 10 not so easily credited, not assuredy,
on the ground Of its intristic improbabilty.
for that would imply gross ignorance, but
because its historical accuracy remains to be
demonstrated. Notwithstanding this disad-
vantage, which is incident to every new
science. which sppertains only to the United
States, (the history of Europe being quite
conclusive thereonJs, it may be worth while
to continue the discussion. if for no other
result than to dissipate an absurd delusion
with regard to our safety ~ q nation, which
IL almost universal.
First Of all, we should be rid of the idea
that our policy of neutrality isolates US from
the rest of the world. The enormous i'm
portation of the foreign element fatty enough
contradicts such an assumption, without go
ing into geographical details. The nations
Of the world move, pari passu, with equal
pace, and they can no more be separated than
the links Of q chain, without harm to the
whole. We were not involved in any
Of the European wars Of the last thirty
years, in direct way. it is true,
but they were largely instigatsd by the United
States, and the end thereof has not vet come
For half century the American Republic
has been recognized as q disturbing element
in European affairs, and the eagerness with
which the southern rebellion WAS seized upon
~ = favorable occasion BY France and Eng
land, is well remembered The menacing
attitude of Russia alone preserved US from
foreign Intervention. The altered political
condition Of France, in apparent sympathy
with US, involves more real danger than its
old-time imperialism, since French re-
publicanism means French rsdicalism, which
assails alike both church and State. Under
Geman protectorate, France remains at
peace. But when this pressure is removed
the case will be otherwise. and something
will have to be done about IL; for We cannot
in decency commemorate Yorktown one day.
and turn a cold shoulder the next. In so far
as eur cities are Parisianized, we take on the
characteristics of French republicanism, and
will be bound by the same fate. The fact
that the United States are entirely beiop the
49th parallel, as France is, explains much
that would otherwise be obscure in American
history. But there are many other facts of
geography. much more surprising when they
are once brought to light.
What has Boston, Mass. in common with
Rome, in Italy. Very little, we should hope
Yet; historically and geographically. their
kinship can no more be denied than that of
Rome and Constantinople. What has Boston
to do with Portland. or either with Montreal?
Well, We shall see by and by. The connec-
ton Of New York with Chicago is assumed as
fact upon commercial grounds alone. We
shall learn hereafter that there are other
grounds more potent than commerce, that
link the fate Of distant communities, and
make continually for peace or war.
In the second place, We must be rid of the
idea that sovereign States can be spread out
infnituM, under federal head. and that the
element Of local self-government is all-suf-
6cient ~ bond of harmony. Discord in the
States and among the States received a
gniefas in the civil war, but that will not be
permanent. The agricultural axiom, eifo ma
fsrnm, eifo pufrsdsm, 10 illustrated already
in several States, but especially in
the great States OF New York and
Pennsylvania. The elective franchise
is . very purchasable and marketable
article in both. Public justice is not abso-
lutely denied. but il is most available to the
hiehest bidder; while in legislation, kissing
goes BY favor only. The stencil from this
rottenness is quite perceptible to the visitor
from abroad, and he Immediately proceeds to
draw his augury therefrom.
A simple democracy is the first step in
every colonization, and the first step only
The other steps are of . different character
A great State cannot play fast and loose in
the selection Of its executive officers and then
complain that its officers play fast and loose
with the State. The one follows the other.
and in the end the people are worsted But
il is evident to every observer at the present
time that the ballot is not held a. q trust At
all. Ii is q toy, to be bought. sold or ex-
changed; to be given or thrown away, or
totally ignored or neglected, as the whim
may be; feat Of unpatriouc citizenship
which was stigmatized by the ancient Greeks
sThe thirty years war, i6is-4s 10 . case In point,
ending q the English Commonwealth. See. also,
Louis XIV le4tiSle, seveuty-two years. Charlie.
mAgne. Charles Of Germany, and Napoleon 1, are
in like manner Get TO time.
THE war Of ists Was waeed to secure the freedom
Of the In 81. forty nine years later thar Is At
the first maturity. our chipping was swept from the
sea. In ~ sixty years AFTER. Il was oG By the
use Of steamers more completely, and now England
chuckles over our impotence. The Geneva award
should have gone to restore marine In the form
Of boanties to the losers condition Of rebuilding
But II seems dilAcult to get the right thing done
even When We have the cash to pay FOR It. Perhaps
- will tell Different story. and Ne fAin would hone
not worse one. We admit, however, that the
opening Of the Sues canal made large amount of
British chipping dead stock, and that the steam
lines have net alWays been run for pro0t.