The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-04
Belated Enlightenment.

DCidtCO EuI$USSIInCuSs
One Of the amusing features of the
contemporary discussion of congress
action with reference to Cuba is em
bodied in the dispatch from Berlin
which says:
The intentions of the American govern
ment toward the rebellion in Cuba as in
dicated by the action of the United States
senate, awakenS profound interest ana
widespread discussion here. The qucs-
tions involved are not regarded by any
means as being confined in their effects 10
Spain and the United States. The Cuban
resolution Is coupled with President
Clevelands Venezuelan message in the
public mind, and there seems to be q
deep-seated conviction in the European
mind that these incidents mark deter
mination on the part of the United states
government ITO depart from its time-hon-
ored course of non-intervention in Euro
pean affairs. The American action on the
Cuban question Is therefore regarded as
an event of Importance to the European
world. Germany and Austria stand
amazed, and neither statesmen nor public
know how to regard what they consider
as recent frequent evidences that the
United States has formed a new determi-
nation to take an active part hereafter in
the worlds politics.
Following this there Is some general
talk Of European alliance to whip the
conceit out of the United States, sup
plemented by an interview in which
Herr Richter, the Radical leader in the
German reichstag, makes with evident
surprise the belated discovery that "the
United States has undoubtedly become
new factor in International politics"
We say this Is amusing. but 1t is more
than that. 1t is likewise instructive;
1t brings vividly to our notice the small
eyes of Europe-a circumstance which
explains why the American tourist
abroad is often filled with shame at the
scant respect exhibited by the mass of
for his country, its institutions. pre-
tensions and achievements. No one
who has visited the countries
of continental Europe, especially
France and Germany, has failed to no
tice and to feel the general contempt
prevalent in them for America and
Americans. When we are not held up
to derision as long-haired savages liv-
ing in primeval jungles, we are equally
misrepresented by being described as
unprincipled cheats and Adventures,
devoid of sensibility, culture or the or
dinary decencies Of civilized society.
That upon these shores a government
of freemen has been established with
natural and acquired resources greater
than those of all Europe combined, with
the possible exception of Great Britain;
and that these despised republican bar
barians who live on buffalo meat and
frequent the forests are actually wrest-
ing the leadership among civilized ma
tions in inventions, scientific discovery,
mechanical progress and social evolu-
tion is fact so far beyond the aver
age Europeans ken, 1t Is with a sense Of
shock and resentment that he is now
and again forced by the logic of events
into a fieeting and imperfect realiza-
tion Of it.
The occasions of this compulsory en-
heretofore have been few,
thanks to our absorption in more i'm
mediate problems of domestic politics.
But now that Uncle Sam has reached
mans estate, and has begun to exhibit
a virile anxiety to assume without
fiinching the responsibilities of man.
hood, we should not be surprised If our
French and German friends would have
many opportunities for correcting their
importance.
Besides, Cuba and Venezuela are not
parts of Europe.
One Of the political stories Of the