The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
THE Alleged Arrogance of the United
States.

States.
An assertion made the other day in the
Hamburger Nach'ichten may possibly de-
serve some notice, because it has been for
some years understood that all the refer.
ences to foreign affairs appearing in that
newspaper have been inspired. II not actu.
ally dictated, 5y Prince BISMARCK. The
statement which we nave in mind imputed
arrogance to the United States, and de-
clared it to be a political necessity to re-
-buke it, especially when directed against
Germany. Let US see what ground there L.
for the charge.
It is certain that we nave adhered un.
~swervingly to the plan Of action followed
by WASHINGTON during his tenure of the
Presidency, and commended by him to his
countrymen in the Farewell Address. From
that time to this, we nave never interfered
In any quarrel between European powers,
although our cooperation has been sought,
and, although. in the closing years of the
last century, there were many Americans
who believed that our country was bound
by the weightiest obligations to support
France against Great Britain. We have
never taken part in any congress or con-
ference the purpose of which was to alter
The map Of Europe, or to readjust conflict
ing claims of European powers. Our com.
mercial interests may nave been affected
by the decisions of such international
tribunals, but we have studiously refrained
from'any protest or remonstrance, lest we
should thereby seem to connec ourselves,
however indirectly, with the European po.
litical system. Nor Ii this the limit Of our
self-imposed isolation. Since the estab-
lishment Of our Constitution we nave wit
messed with indifference the partition
among European powers of nearly the
whole of Africa and of almost the whole of
farther India and of Oceanica. Even the
Insignificant section of the west coast of
Africa selected for the reception of our
emancipated slaves 10 NO part of the United
States, but constitutes the independent
republic of Liberia.
AS regards the american continent itself
and the adjacent islands, our conduct has
uniformly been the reverse of arrogant or
self.seeking. During the long war of the
8panish-American colonies for independ.
once many of them would gladly have be.
come members of our Union had not their
advances to this end been repealed by our
Government. In 1903 we could have
seized the Louisiana territory had we
chosen to do SO, for France was then pow.
erless at sea, but we preferred to buy 1t at a
price which even NAPOLEON considered ade-
Quate. Subsequently we had but to stretch
forth a hand to wrest Florida from Spain;
instead of that we purchased it at a sum
then deemed exorbitant. In the thirties.
Yucatan, having revolted successfully from
the Mexican Confederation, applied for ad.
mission to our Union we put aside the re.
quest. For ten years 70 rejected the
prayers of Texas for annexation, and only
granted them when it was known that
Great Britain was arranging an accommo.
dalton between Mexico and the Lone Star
Republic, which would nave practically
placed Texas under a British protcctorate
III the ensuing Mexican war, although we
occupied the City of Mexico, and Nigh
have annexed the whole Mexican republic
had we so desired, W. withdrew our troops
and paid n great sum of money for the
cession of California and New Mexico
which were already in our hands. For tn,
relatively insignificant strip of territor,
known as the GRdsden Purchase, needed Il
round out the former acquisition, we pale
many millions of dollars. Did the Ger
mans treat France thus generously afte,
their occupation of PARISH
In our boundary controversies with Grea'
Britain, we had, In the meantime, carried
long-suffering and concession to excess
On our northeastern frontier we yielded
much more of our rightful claims than W,
ought TO have yielded. and it is now know
that the protests of the people o
Anina auntnut tha m,itIatiop - xl.I
State were stiled to a largo extern
through the. use of the secret servic
fund by our State Department. On GU