The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-04-25
Nationality in the United
States.
BY HENRY CARROT LODGE.

The 6rst heavy blow to the inhu-
ence OF foreign politics was Washing
toms proclamation of neutrality. 1t
seems q very simple and obvious
thing now, this policy of non-inter-
ference in the affairs oiEurope which
that proclamation inaugurated, and
yet at the time men marvelled ut the
step, and thought it very strange.
Parties divided over it. People could
not conceive how we could keep clear
of the great stream of European
events. One side disliked the procla-
nation as hostile to France, while
the other approved it for the same
reason. Even the Secretary of state,
Thomas Jefferson, one of the most
representative men of American
democracy, resisted the neutrality
policy in the general spirit of the
colonist. Yet Washington's procla-
nation was simply the sequel to the
Declaration OF independence. 1t
merely amounted to saying. We have
created new nation, and England
not only cannot govern US. b Eng
lish and European politics are none
ofour business, and We propose to be
independent of them and not NEEDLE
in them. The neutrality policy OF
Washington's administration WAS q
great advance towards independence
and q severe blow to oolonialism in
politics. Washington himself exerted
q powerful influence against the COL
onial spirit. The principal of nation
atty, then just entering upon its
long struggle with state rights, was
in its very nature hostile 10 every
thing colonial; and Washington. de.
spite his Virginian traditions, was
thoroughly imb1ed With the national
spirit. He believed himself, and
insensibly impressed his belief upou
the people, that true nationality
could only be obtained by holding
ourselves alooi from the conflicts and
the politics of the Old World. Then.
too, his splendid personal dignity,
which still holds us silent and respect
full after the lapse Of hundred years
communicated itself to his Office,
and thence to thu nation OF which he
was the representative. The colonial
spirit withered away in the presence
of Washington.
The only through. going nationalist
among the leaders of tina! time was
Alexander Hamilton. He was not
born in the States, and was therefore
free from all local influences; and he
was by nature imperious in temper
and imperial IN his views. The guild
ing principle of that great man 3
public career was the advancement
of American nationality. He was
called british" Hamilton by the
very men who wished to throw Us
into the arms OF the French republic
because he was welded to the prin-
ciples and the forms of constitut onal
English government, and sought to
preserve them here, adapted to new
conditions, He desired to put our
political inheritance to its proper use
but this was as far removed from the
colonial spirit as possible. Instead
of being "British" Hamilton's in-
tense esgerness for strong national
government made him the deadliest
foe OF the colonial spirit, which he
did more to strangle and crush out
than any other man OF his time. The
objects at which he aimed we're con-
tinentsl supremacy, and complete
independence in business, politics
and industry. In all these depart
ments he saw the belittling effects OF
dependence, anb so he assailed it By
bis reports and By his whole policy,
foreign and domestic. So much O.
his work as he carried through had a
! iar-reaching effect. and did a great
deal to weaken the colonial spirit.
But the strength of the spirit was
best phown in the hostility of indif-
ference which wa displayed toward
his projects. The great cause of op.
position to Hamilton's financial
policy proceeded, undoubtedly from
state ieslousy of the central govern.
ment; but the resistance to his for.
eign policy arose from the colonia
ignorance which could not under
stand the real purpose OF neutrality
and which thought that Hamilton
was simply and stupidity endeavorins
to force as toward England a
against FFRnce.-AtLGntic Moathlu.