Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-01
Not aParaIIsi Case.
work.

| Richard Harding Davis has cited our
war with the Barbary states as pre-
cedent for our attacking the Sublime
Porte in the name of humanity. But
this assumption that these two cases
are parallel does not seem tenable.
The government Of Turkey is virtually
sustained by the great European pow
ers. Without their money and recog-
| milton it would crumble away. While
Turkey is thus subject to them they
are subject to it inasmuch as no one
of those powers apparently, dares at
tempt TO seriously disturb the govern
ment of the Sultan for fear of the re-
suits and they cannot agree upon what
those results should be. Should the
dian knot, not because Turkey has in
suited our government and insulted or
killed our representatives but because
she is massacring her own citizens?
1t would be a grand and noble thing
to do if there were any assurance that
the relief would be permanent or the
results satisfactory, which may be
doubted. But the motives inspiring it
and the precedent thus established
for the war the United States waged
against the Barbary pirates and the
nrecedent then StabliShed
Prior to 1901 when jefferson sent
Commodore Dale with naval eXpedi-
ton to make demonstration along
the coast of Barbary no country except
Great Britain willingly paid the tribute
extorted from them by the Barbary
states. England paid a big indemnity,
because she preferred to leave them
in existence in order to be a scourge to
the commerce of other powers. and
even to support them by paying sum
so great that other states might find
it difficult to make peace with them.
Up to 1895 the United States had paid
nearly 81. 600 600 in bribng these pirates
and matters only grew worse. Our
government must protect itself and the
method tribute or war. Adams ia
vored the former and jefferson the
latter The insolence Of these pirates
was intolera bic. In 1900 when Capt.
cambridge arrived at Algiers with
tribute money tho dey told him you
pay ME tribute because you are my
slaves" and ordered him to sail to
ConstantinopIe with Agerine dis
patches and the gallant Capt Balm
certainly seem that the United States
had a duty to itself rather than a duty
to other people in going to war
with the Barbary states. Not
only was our government robbed
but it was humliated; Americans
were not only thrown into prison,
where II of them remained ten years
because the government would not
pay their ransom, but Americans We're
reduced to slavery and subjected to
horrible treatment. Surely there We're
| selfish along with righteous reasons
why our government at last, after
many years. brought those Barbary
pirates to terms while the rest of the
! world, with the possible exception of
England. applauded.
For the United States to declare war
upon the Turks, whose record for war
Elike prowess is renowned. and affrOnt
Russia as we probably would if we
sent our ships through the Dardanelles
without asking anyone's permission
Turkish subjects good government.
where good Turkish government is i'm
possible, is another matter The mo-
ment our ships sailed away, however
successful their visit might seem to
have been, the Sultan would forget
every promise unless his nature should
change and If we attempted to adjust
difficulties by removing Armenians
from Turkish dominion we should be
undertaking the problem that has
paralyzed Europe, and at the same
time be actively interfering in Euro
pean affairs, the very thing we have
forbidden Europe to do in our own.
Moreover we would incur RESPONSE
bility for results, even if those We're
the most terrible European war ever
| known. And while doing all this we
would not be in a position to protect
ourselves at home in event of trouble,
we would be overlooking the atrocities
being inflicted upon the Cubans. our
next door neighbors, and the damage
| to interests that are legitimately our
own. If it appears that our subjects
and our rights are not respected by
Turkey it is our duty to bring her to