The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
Our Place Among the Nations.

Following the recent announcement
from ST. Petersburg that a treaty of ALI
ance had been made between Russia and
France. an enthusiastic member of the
French Chamber of Deputies contributed
an article to the Jour Of Paris, in which he
suggested that the United States should
unite with its old ally, France, and its
traditional and answering friend. Russia,
in their new and formidable combination.
Among the advantages pointed out by him
as certain to accrue to our interest was the
Immense addition to our naval strength,
which should make us absolutely secure on
the ocean in any contingency that might
possibly arise. From a purely French
point of view the article was inspiringly
patriotic, and, so far as it affected us, it |
was redolent of that delightful sentiment
Of friendship and good will which the
countrymen of LAFAYETTE have ever enter
tanned for those of WASHINGTON.
NJ. CASTOR GERvILLE REACHE, the writ
er Of the article. must, of course, know that
it is and has been our settled policy from
| the foundation of the Government down to
| the present time to form no ~entangling ALI
ances with the European powers, to have
no participation in their wars Of aggression
on one another, and to pursue an undeviat-
ing policy of peace and neutrality In all the
controversies that from time to time agi-
tate the Old World. But, doubtless, he also
knew hat we are not bound down by our
written and fundamental law to an inflexi-
BILE adherence to this national policy, and
that, If they deemed it for the best interests
Of the country, President X and
two-thirds of the Senate are at liberty to
enter into an arrangement such as he con.
tcmplated with France and Russia, with
Germany, Great Britain, Italy, or even
China and Japan. The Constitution 10
silent on the subject. While prescribing
how treaties shall be made. it leaves within
The discretion of the Executive and the
Senate the question with whom and for
what purpose these solemn obligations shall
be contracted. But while the Constitution
holds the door of this latitude of action
open, public opinion, following the teach
ings of our wisest statesmen, stands In tho
entrance and resolutely prohibits the cross
ing Of the threshold except for purposes In
which commerce Is the dominant factor.
In all history there Is no parallel to this
uniform, consistent pursuit OF a policy OF
peace extending over 80 long a period OF
years, through 30 many successive genera
tions, and under 30 widely different and
often Numerically antagonistic conditions
OF internal politics. The parting monition
OF WAsHINGToN, In his Farewell Address,
that "it Is our true policy to steer clear Of
permanent alliances with any portion of the
foreign world" has been the rule of action
for all parties. under all circumstances; and
the rigid adherence to it in the early years
OF our history, when NAPOLEON waged war
r on Great Britain, entailcd on us enormous
public and private losses, larger, per-
I haps, in extent than they would have been
B had we sided with either contestant In
t that struggle. The foreign critics OF our
Government and institutions ave never
appreciated the Significance and Importance
. to their respective countries of this rigor-
GUS non. participation by US In their san
culinary conflicts. They seem never to con-
slider that II from motives of ambition,
thirst for glory, desire Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
passionate indulgence In national friend
. ships or antipathies, or from the divers
t other motives that sway the impulses and
5 mould tho conduct of peoples and govern.
ments, We should precipitate ourselves into
r their contests, tho European continent
II might undergo radical changes and even
j revolutions such as have never entered into
anybody's calculations.
n If. for instance, we chose at the present
9 time to Join the newly founded alliance
between the old ally who so materially and
N heroicaily aided US in achieving our indie.
pendence and the autocratic power that
befriended us a generation ago in our
affecting hour OF national tribulation, the
whole aspect of the European situation
would undergo such volcanic changes as to