Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-02
oBJRCT LESSONS.

1t is just as we'll that, now and then,
a country, like an individual, should
know who its friends are. More than
anything else its republican institutions
and its exceptional prosperity have
made enmity for the United States in
unexpected quarters. Outside of France,
Russia and perhaps Germany, this
country has no good will to expect fro m
any of the European nations. The &C.
centric spectacle has been presented for
nearly a century OF a cordial feeling by
the czars for a republic. This senti-
ment has existed from the time of Alex
ander /. to that of his great
grandson Alexander III. The Ger
man people are friendly to this
country, and it would be strange if
they were not, considering the vast Ger
man element which has been assimilated
into the framework of our republic.
France, of course. is our traditional
friend. Her Lafayettes and Rocham-
beaus made our national existence pos
sible. We seem, however, to possess
the undying hatred of England. Some
Englishman with double-jointed name
was interviewed IN Chicago the other
day, and he said he would like to hear
our howls when the Chilean navy got in
its best licks. This is all very
nice of this individual, and it would
be great pity if his desire
were not gratifed. The tone OF the
English press is almost uniformly hos
tile to this country, and in indulging in
jibes and unfriendly comments it is
simply carrying out an immemorial
usage. The epresent attitude of the Tory
press of the fright little, tight little
isle" recalls our experience during the
war. 1t is a matter of undoubted record
that we should have had war with
England on our hands at the time we
were tackling the confederacy if it had
not been for the active interposition OF
Queen Victoria and her consort Albert.
Even the "grand old man" was then
hostile to the United States, and some
what prematurely declared that Mr..
Jefferson Davis had created nation.
While we are talking about admins
tering object lessons to Chile it is just
as we'll that we should take some our
selves. We find that on the Pacific
coast we are lamentably devoid OF coal.
ing, supply and repair stations. We
ought to remedy this instanter. Eng
land, appreciating the value of the Suez
canal route to India, has had no scruple,
in addition to buying majority of the
stock of that company, in seizing
Cyprus and Egypt. She holds
india herself by right of conquest,
and by no other conceivable title. and
she is ready to grab Afghanistan to Sc
cure the keys to the overland route to
her cherished possession, which has
enriched her intellectually at the expense
of the inoffensive Hindoos. This coun-
try has no plans of conquest, but she
can rightfully, and should instantly
acquire stations in the Pacific ocean
that are needed for the maintenance of
the efficiency of her navy. As it ia now,
her vessels of war are obliged to steam
six thousand miles to San Francisco for
repairs.
Another most impressive object les
son is that we must have Notifications
and serviceable navy. We should not
allow ourselves to be caught mapping.
We need, in addition, naval training
schools sufficiently numerous and eff
fective to supply officers and men to the
new warships which we shall build.
George Washington's wise counsel,
sin time of peace prepare for war;"
never had more force than now. The
Pacific coast, in an especial manner,
needs the immediate attention of the
government. San Francisco, Santa Bar
bara, San Pedro and San Diego, in this
state, ought to be fortified at once, while
camp consisting of several regiments
should be formed in the neighborhood
of Los Angeles, the central distributing
point on the southern coast, as the
nucleus of force which would resist
the invasion of this section by any for
eign expeditions. The adoption of a
just and pacific policy towards the In
dians would make this feasible without
any material addition to our standing
army.
The present commotion should at least
have the effect of awakening us from
our FOOLS Paradise. When Chile, even,
can put on threatening airs it is high
time that we should be up and doing.