Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-01-31
Our Trouble with Germany.

Our Trouble With Germany.
The United States should not as
sumo the appearance Of yielding to
any other power on earth any of its
claims. The only way, however, to
avoid the appearance Of surrender
ing to others, is to make no claims
but those that are just, polite and
for its own best interests. 1t can
then, with dignity and fairness,
assert its claims, and it will get into
no quarrel about their being granted.
The great military powers of Europe
may maintain toward each other
constant attitude of defiance or
buster, and be constantly engaged
in duels Of diplomacy Jhat may at
any time become duels of arms. This
/ Government should never place
itself in such an attitude, nor in any
attitude that will require it after
ward, to assume an attitude Of men
ace or braggadocio.
This is especially true in regard
to a policy of distant colonization.
The United States wants no colonies;
il should have none. Ii now has all
the territory requisite to fill the most
ample model Of national greatness.
No other nation will interfere with
us here, on our own soil, nor prob
ably with our neighbors in a way
that will affect US to our uetriment.
With this we should be content, and
it will give US all to do that we can
do well and successfully.
In regard to Samoa, the proper
course for this Government is plain.
An American protectorate over any
distant island or tribe Of savages
like the Samoans is a preposterous
absurdity. The United States should
assume no such duty, and if any
such duty has been improyidently
assumed, it should in a pacific but
dignified spirit be abandoned. 1t
would be impossible to maintain
such protectorate for any great
length of time without mourning
complications in regard to the az
gressiye nations of Europe, who are
pushing magnificent plans Of colo
nization in all parts of the world,
and in the most distant seas. Such
limited relations Of this nature as
the United States held to the
Samoans before Germany and Great
Britain ran against each other there
were simply for the purpose OF
guarding a few missionaries and
traders, and when these relations
were assumed it could not have been
contemplated that they would ever
be supported by force They would
not have been entered upon If force
had been required; and they ought
to be abandoned if they can be
maintained only by force.
The coaling station at Samoa for
the United States is not disturbed
nor threatened. 1t is simply a
peaceful arrangement for supplying
fuel to our merchant marine and
national vessels when they wander
into the South Pacific. If this
grant Of Samoa to the United States
is not interfercd with, there is no
reason for interference Of the
United States with anybody or any
thing outside of it.
The stupid, or inefficient, or blum
dering diplomacy Of President
Cleveland and Secretary Bayard
appears to have got our Government
into serious trouble, or what might
become serious trouble, with Ger
many. But the Cologne Gazette,
one of Bismarck's "irsplred" news
paper organs, advises Germany to
keep cool with the outgoing admin
istration and await the speedy ac-
cession of General Harrison 10 office,
confident that his policy will be
such as to insure a peaceful and
satisfactory settlement Of all the
questions involved. This is a sen
slbIe snggestion and argument, and
offers the best solution of the pend.
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