The Irish standard., 1896-04-11


easily occur though Ia all human prob
ability it will not happen. Imagine a res
olution Of the Senate solelnnly condemn
ing as Infamous a French attempt to OBJ
tain by menace common Justice from
Brazil, which has actually and technically
invaded French territory in Guiana It is
quite possible that the French, who are a
dueling people, would feel that insult very
keenly, and quite possible, also, that, be-
ing an ambitious people, they might offer
TO join Germany in a partition of Brazil
That would not be nice for the United
States, which, though beyond risk Of in
vasion, would have to fight two great mil
itary and maritime powers at a distance
OF more than a thousand miles from its
base
The two powers would not dream OF in
yading the Union, but would destroy its
feet and then deal with Brazil as they
pleased The United States. in short,
would be drawn by its own acts within
the circle of European politics. and would
be compelled, whether it liked it or not,
te form European alliances, to watch Eu-
ropean affairs, and in the end to- throw
its weight occasionally on the side which
Il deemed most favorable. 10 it, own in
terests. 1t would probably go on pleading
the Monroe doctrine all the same, for ma
tons are never quite logical. but it would,
nevertheless be intervening in Europe
IN q way which would make that doctrine
seem, In the eyes of international jprists,
just little absurd
y We are not writing with any idea that
OH words may influence American opin-
ION against intervention in Europe. On
the contrary, our impression is that such
intervention IS, in the near future, very
nearly inevitable. The American Union
is growing TOO great IN the world for a
policy OF isolation. IT claims protector
ate over the whole OF Central and South
America, while 1t refuses to acknowledge
@ny responsibility for the petty states oc-
cupying tbat vast area Collisions are
sure to arise from that attituda, and col
lisions with powers not held in, as we are,
By a secret conviction that firing on Amer
leans is firing on ourselves.
Moreover, we believe that the same i'm
pulse which sends every wealthy Amer
ican to Europe, the same attraction of an
old civilization for new one, will ut last
drag the American Republic within the
vortex of European politics. Americans
will want to rival Europe, or to convince
Europe, or to be great in Europe II
said, when the ultimatum about Mexico
was presented to Napoleon III, TO see
whether we can not beat d European
army and that desire to test themselves
against the old powers, to be great among
the old powers, and to influence the policy
of the old powers, will before long become
q national one.
rich man does not feel his wealth
while he stays away from general So
c1ety There is no reason that we know
Of why the process which has already be
gun should not go on to the end, or why
this country, at all events. should not
welcome the arrival of a new power,
which, If 1t is occasionally jealous Of us,
at least shares our humanitarian sen
timentS; but we are not sure that Ameri-
cans anticipate any such issue. They
still not only wish to keep out of European
politics, but, what is much stranger, they
think that they are keeping out Of them.
They are not; for the world grows too
small for any one but the Insignificant to
remain wholly alone. II, says the big
gosling in the hens nest, displacing a
chicken at every Zap df his wings. am
content to remain outside the eomDlica-
tions Of the nest" but he will find as
he steps over the side that the cocks,
whom he has sorely affronted, are not
quite sure he is outside them.
they will be apt to argue that as he
iS so big, and so little conscious of the
comInotion he makes, he must come under
the rules Of the farmyard, or be regard
cd as a general enemy. And the gosling
who is longing for place and position and
Difference, rather than for general dislike,
viii acknowledge at once that the former
alternative is by far the pleasanter of the
TIVE. America has to be admitted into
the great comity. and in our judgment is
even now, though unconsc.ously, seeking
for admission.