The Washington critic., 1888-05-12
wAsH1NeToN, MAJ u, 1sss
,lMANIrEsT pEsTIN ~


Contemporary Review" in which is
foreshadowed such ultimate suprem.
acy of the United States as to threaten
the European continent with schemes
of conquest, and the writer treats his
theme so cogently and cleverly as to
convert into quite reasonable possi-
bility what seems at first sight but a
ianciful conception wholly at vari-
ance with American sentiment and
predisposition.
The idea, though seemingly ridicu-
lous by reason of its antagonism TO
our well-defined policy, he insists is
no more irrational than would have
been 'the assertion of Macedon be-
fore the days of Philip, or of Rome
before the time of the Tarquins, that
it would conquer the world"
His argument, for which he adduces
illustrations from all ayes of the
worlds history, is that whenever a
nation becomes strong enough to over
power other nations, it is in the
natural and necessary order of things
that it should exert this power. To
quote:
The United States, grown moro powerful
and rich than any probable grouping of Euro
pean Powers, must necessarily change It's at
titude toward Europe. The whelp of former
days has become a lion. It will certainly
claim TO be treated as lion; and this alone
signifies an immense change in the attitude
of Europe. We now rest at ease In the idea
that the United States has so much expansive
work to do within her own borders that she
cannot largely interfere with European inter
ests, certainly for long time to come. But
there cannot be greater mistake than to
imagine that the world can be parceled out
into portions or regions which may constitute
charmed circle, within which certain inter
ests can be restricted.
As to the Monroe doctrine, we
are further told that if the United
States has not always acted up to this
standard, it has been owing to want
of strength, and not the want of will.
The time will surely come when
neither will be wanting, and the ex-
pulsion of European powers from the
Continent and islands of America will
inevitably follow; "nor is it incon-
ceivable," continues the writer, "that
with l50,000,000 of people the United
States might enter into conflicts with
European nations and claim an au-
thority that no European combination
could resist" Pretexts are always at
hand, as instanced below;
An embargo on European products, re-
fusal to pay interest TO Europe, might ruin
several nations, and as 1t might be quite i'm
possible for England to do without the corn
and other food supplies of the United States,
the TIN eat of their withdrawal might of itself
suffice to compel Great Britain to yield to any
demand made by the mighty power beyond
the sea. II is not so difficult to imagine a
case which might arise, such as an attempt,
on the plea Of justice, to dictate what should
be our conduct toward Ireland, or toward
Irish-American agitators in Ireland whom we
might wish 10 deal more severely with than
the United States approved; or we might be
required to concede entire independence to
Canada preliminary to Canada being claimed
for the States Again. regulations might be
pushed to still greater extreme, or European
immigrants might be excluded; or the United
States might take sides with revolutionary
movement in Que of the European States, and
practically determine the setting up of a
republic in close alliance with itself. These
are but samples of possible cases.
So imminent and clearly outlined
in the mind of the prophet is this
danger that he seriously urges the
formation of European Confedera-
ton, not at some indefinite period in
the future, but now and at once, to
prevent the shifting of "the centre of
gravity of human affairs" from Lon
don to Washington
1t is doubtless true that at its pres
ent rate of growth 1t will not be many
generations before the United States
will overshadow the whole civilized
world in the immensity of its popula-
tion and available resources. 1t will
have armies and navies to correspond
with its progress and possibly to
correspond with that ambition foI
mastery which is here foretold, but
which as yet is undeveloped, except.
ing as the genius Of manifest destiny
points first to the subjection of the
American Continent to the principle:
of civil liberty and in due course of
time TO its political absorption under
one Republican Government.
Better thus-better the realization
of this dream-better even policy OF
foreign conquest-than. that Other
possibility OF discovered Union
wrecked upon its own conflicting
interests, and, like the nations o.
Europe, transformed into a warrinl
family of States.
But there is no occasion for inn
mediate alarm abroad as to the one
contingency, nor at home as to Tho
other.
NIX. ScoTT said yesterday about al
that possibly could be said on thu