New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-07
THE AMERICAN PERIL"

So America ana England nave aho'hci ''A
of fellowship. They are bracketed together III
the German Emperors enmity Apprehension
would perhaps be less opprobrious term Ill
sound but 1t would mean much the same. ror
whatever the Emperor regards rs peril ne re-
cards as a foe lie has already scented many
perlls. red, yellow and trcOlor. First was the
Semitic, when he was patron or the Jew-pal'-
ing Stoecker. There was the peril OF democ-
racy which he declared 1t to be his Goo-gl'eh
mission to crush and scatter to the winds Inere
was the Chinese peril. which inspired MIN 10
produce an allegorlcal cartoon. to serve as
graphic exhortatiOn to the Powers or Europe
10 defend their faith and their homes. 1here
was the French peril to cope with whlch he re-
ouired so great an increase Of his army. Ihere
Is the peril of that modern Carthage ENG
land against which it has been MS nleiohg
dream to nlly Red Brooches and Plckelhaupe'
And now the United States Is added 10 the hst.
This Nation is he thinks displaying new ap-
pettes," and Twill ere long want to intervene
In the affairs Of the Old World Wherefore lie
proposes ito grasp the trident by building an
enormous navy with which to crush TINS new
peril Of the West.
II would be difficult to take such utterances
seriously did they not proceed from such q
source Coming from the German emperor
they must be so taken 1mpulsive that monarch
IL. and by some Is deemed cratic Yet he IS
assuredly man of keen perceptions, sometimes
almost Of prescence: and he is, moreover the
sovereign almost the autOcrat, or one OF the
greatest European Powers. 1t is not 10 De sup
nosed that he makes such an utterance against
this country lightly. or without imagined cause
That there is adequate cause Is. OF course, not
n no believed But neither has there been for
half the anmOsities and wars that have vexed
tho nrocress of the world 1t will be none the
loco worth while TO consider what Is the secret or
his anprebension. If only to expose its baseless-
moss ReyoDd question, the idea has for some
time been gaining ground in Europe that this
country Is inclined "to intervene in the airairs
of the Old World 1t has some foothod even
in England 1t is due to some four or nve re-
cent incidents in which this Government mas
seemed to come into conflict with the interests
of European Powers. But close ana dispas-
sjonate examination Of them Will show con
clusvely that instead Of the ''ncw ambitions
which the German Emperor charges against US
they indicate nothing but resolution to main
tain the century -Old policy OF this Nation 10
attend solely to Its own business ana TO leave
strictly alone all the intrigues and interests OF
the Old World.
Samoa is one case in point which appeals
with especial force to the German Emperor NO
doubt this country has baked some German am
billions In that quarter. But Samoa Is not III
the Old World. 1t IS at almost the exact antip-
odcs Of Europe. 1t is thousands OF miles near
or 70 the United States than to any European
country. and concerns the United States far
more nearly. and for this Nation TO maintain
IFS treaty rights and to defend It's interests
there is in 10 conceivable sense an intervention
in the affairs of the Old World. The same is
,ruc OF Hawaii only more emphatlcally as lia-
wall ls still nearer 10 the United States. still
moro IN pojnt is Cuba. That island Is almost in
SIGH, az orr shores 1t belongs to this continent
AZ certainly rs Heligoland belongs TO Europe.
II has no possible connection with the Old
World The Old World Power that owns II Is,
nv the fact of that ownership and for all pur-
noses OF discussion in that case, New World
power II Is rs such that this Government re-
cards II in negotiations over Cuba With SPANS
Europeon policies, alliances and conduct the
United States has nothing 10 do. With her pol
lev and conduct In America. as an American
Power II IS concerned Exactly the same was
true OF the Venezuela case. now happily dis
posed OF. The United States did not intervene
In the affairs Of the Old World for In that case
Great Britain was not an Old World but New
World Power With her dolngs in Egypt or
her relations with the Triple Alliance this cour-
try has not been concerned With her opera
tlons on this continent and her dealings with
the interests OF the United States 1t has been
and IL directly and vitality concerned.
The fact is the Monroe Doctrine. which the
~ inpnrrpcfly 4 n
ace, is AS much an assurance as warning TO
Europe That fact Is too often overlooked. but
| 1t Is no less fact. The Monroe Doctrine gives