The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20
THE REFoRMER BRATTEBoRo FRIDAY DECEMBER 20 1896

elaborate historical analysis. begin.
mig with Washington IS famous farewell
address, warning Americans against
entangling alliances with European
powers, and of which the logical
sequence was Monroc's position nearly
30 years later that Europe must not
extend her territorial dominion on this
hemisphere or NEEDLE with American
affairs. Mr.. Olney adds:
The rnlc IN question has hut Il single purpose
and object ii IS that no European power or
combination OF European powers shall forciby
deprive an American state of the right and
power of self government. and Of shaping for it,
self its own political fortunes and dcstinies II
was the component factor in the emancipation
of South America, and to 1t the independent
+, states OF that region are largely indebted for
| their very existence Since then the most strik.
ing single achievement to be credited to the rule
! Is the evacuation Of Mexico by the French But
we are also indebted to II for the Clayton. Bul-
wer treaty, neutralizing any inter oceanic canal
across Central America and excluding Great
i Britain from any dominion there. IL has been
used in the ease of Cuba, as ii justifying the
! position that, while the sovereignty of Spain
will be respected, the island will not be permit.
! ted to become the possession of any other Euro
| pean power. II has been influential in bringing
about the definite REIMBURSEMENT of any sup.
posed protectoratc by Great Britain over the
Mosquito coast. Europe has a set of primary
interests peculiar to herself; America Is not IN
tcrested in them, and ought not to be yeXed or
complicated with them. II all Europe were
suddenly to fly to arms over the fate of Turkey,
would 1t not be prepostcrous that any American
state would ind itself ineXtricaby involved in
the miseries and burdens of the contest The
moral interests OF Europe are peculiar to ner
and entirely diverse from those which are pecu.
liar to America. Europe is, with n single i'm.
poriant exception committed to the mona chi |
cal principle. America is devoted to the idea /
that every people has an inalienable right Of
selfgoyernment. And European control of our |
interests Is necessarily both incongr dons and in.
III q In int tnttn
powers in American politics Is to be deprecated |
tue resistance must come from the United !
states. the only power with strength adequate
10 the eNigencH. There Ican be but one answer |
to the question whether the safety and welfare |
OF the United states are concerned with the |
maintenance OF the: independence of every
American state as against any European power |
as TO justify and require our interposition |
whenever that Independence Is endangered.
inc united States Is today practically soser !
cign on this continent and its fiat is law. All |
the advantages OF Its superiority are nj once |
inpcr!led If the principle he admitted that /
Eur E,nropean powers may convert states into colo
lily avalcd of. and any power doing would
Immediately secure base OF military opera.
u non agalnst US ana II Is not inc0ncclvcabie
that the struggle now going on for the acquisi.
tion OF Africa might he transferred to south |
America. The weaker colonies would soon he
absoI bed and South America would be parti-
toned between European powers. The COnsc-
quences 10 the United states would be aiSas-
trous Loss Of prcslage would be the least of
them Our own real rivals IN peace,as wei as en-:
emies In war wOulG be located at our very DOORS
We must be armed 10 the teeth, convert the
Hover OF our male population into soldiers and
sailors, and thus annihilatc Il large share OF the
productive energy of the nation. 4
our Just approximations are not 10 be alaycd
ny suggestions of the good Will OF European
states have learned in the school of experience
10 what extent the relations OF states depend
not upon sentiment or principle, but upon sell
fish Interest. They with not soon forget that in
. tsrr he a. nj Mp |