The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-14
A FORTUNATE ESCAPE.
Why War Between Spain and Germany Was
Not Desirable for the United States.

Why War Between Spain and Germany Was
Not Desirable for the United States.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13-The fact that the
Carolines affair has been virtually settled with
out bloodshed, and with very little burning of
powder, is regarded in diplomatic circles as
rather good thing for the United States. An
old member of the diplomatic corps, who has
watched the Spaniar6s knock the chip off Bis
marck's shoulder with great deal of eagerness,
said to your correspondent to-day: II am sur
prsed that you Americans have taken the at
tempt of Germany to seize the islands with so
little feeling. But the people of tho United
States are not noted for their diplomates, and,
suppose they never will be. You are altogether
too easy going here, and seem to take too little
interest in the affairs of your neighbors; but to
others who have watched the moves on the DO
litical chess board, it was plain to be seen that
Bismarck proposed to checkmate Spain by cap
turing Cuba. The dictator of Germany has
looked upon the Queen of the Antilles with
longing eyes for many years. and he has, to
confidential friends, frequently expressed his
desire to secure that important and rich
island. He cares no more for the Caroines
GHdu bu0 OulIeO OCdC6S IOr bermuda, DuG ne saw
chance to draw Spain into acontroversy which
would lead to an excuse for him to send his gun
boats to lombard the Cuban forts, and there is
no power that would have prevented him. The
United States, of course, would have taken cog
nizance of the matter when it had got SO far
that Havana would have been bombarded, but it
would have taken this country too long to have
recovered from the shock to have done anything.
Of course there would have been protests and
resolutions. and all that sort of thing but if
Bismarck had once got his grip upon Cuba
the United States would have found itself forced
to fight or show the white feather. In the
present condition Of your navy. the latter alter
native seems to me to have been the only one
that would have been left for you. Therefore,
say, you may think yourselves extremely fortu-
nate that the Carolines are not to be fought for,
after ALL"
1t seems that there is quite an American
colony in these Caroline islands, and that the
church people of this country have vested rights
there which amount to a considerable sum-
recent writer in an Eastern paper has the follow
ing to say in regard to this matter:
FOR more than thirty years American citi-
zens. from twelve to twenty in number under
the direction of the American board of foreign
missions have resided in the Caroline islands
and neighboring groups. and have carried on a
philanthropic and religious work with most
happy and striking results. The chief centers
of this work are at Kusaie, Ponape and Ruk,
where American missionaries now reside, and
this year missionary and native teachers have
gone on to Yap, to begin their work there ALSO
More than thirty of the Caroline islands have
already been visited and no more than half of
these heathenism has been entirely extingushed
About fifty churches have been gathered, with
more than 4 900 communicates separate schools
for the sexes, well attended, are in
successful operation on the islands named above;
five Of the native languages have been reduced to
writing and school books printed in them; hymns
and the Scriptures have been translated into
three of these tongues. Within the past year
missionary packet with steam auxiliary power