The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-04

se-e on behalf % Crete skan the United
States has 70 interfere on behalf OF Cuba
Yss each narfon .s restrained by seaf-inter-
est = Is 10 more the part Of England 10
wander about the word Fighting wrongs
than X = ours. English policy Is OXEN N
conprehenssoie 10 US: many OF neF acIs
are severely and. we think. justly con-
denned- But some Of our acts are no tess
severely ccncennea by foreign powers VINO
co not understand our motives nor iooA AZ
them from our point oe view
E J. Phelps. In a recent article n lne
Atlantic Monthly. discussing me p'0f'oseo
treaty. calls attention 20 the very AAnoay
tone adopted By the queen IN ner message
70 parliament concerning tne venezuelan
controversy, ard TO the fact that In the
debates rot harsh word was spoken con-
corning this conntry's attitude Taa' cour-
tesy was tas more marked as many
OF our newspapers and some or our puonc
men were exceedingly injudicious and IN
necessarily aggressive IN their comments.
We do Tot need TO fear England 1t IS
exceedingly improbable that England VIII
likely TO provoke war with Us. This Is no
reason why We should neglect the ordinary
precautions FOR self-protection or reiralh
from speaking with decision and nrmness
when any OF our rights are lhreatened' out
IL is very good reason for avoiding nos
tile talk and for checking tendency 10
ove--sensssiveness. In many respects tho
Interests OF the two countries are an'aso-
nistic, and we must protect our OWE oy
judicious legislation. This can DC oohe
without acrimony; and the great work OF
civilization viii be prosecuted better py
the two English-speaking powers II spirit
Of good will prevails.
xa- ia a harharous method Of settling
disputes. and this country has nothing 20
gain by provoking II or aoetting IL our
role in the worlds drama is that OF peace
maker Any victory achieved by our arms
must be only temporary in It's Dement'S ana
could only be won at lasting sacrincs'
The people of Europe are burdened with
enormous debts as the consequence OF wars
the cos, of war would be followed oy the
cost of maintaining an enormous military
establishment We do not begrudge our
old soldiers of the civil war the pittance
given them by the nation. but the nun
dreds of millions expended In their PEN
sions would. IL devoted to the development
Of the country. have brought much better
returns to those who are now compelled
bv their manned limbs and their shattered.
health to become applicants for the peo-
ples bounty.
The American character Is such that IL
will never submit TO foreign interference
or wrong; we are powerful enough TO COM
mand respect; but 1t Is TO our lasting ad-
vantage to accept friendly overtures, ana
especially will II be to the glory or the
United States IL the people discountenance
the tendency OF neutrality-suspicious. to look
for causes OF quarrel where none exist
No greater compliment has been paid
this country's growing Importance and In
nuence than the request Of England for a
treaty providing for peaceable means TO
settle differences. No eroitrauon treaty
could restrain US in the face OF any act
committed by England with the design TO
provoke US or to infringe our material
rights Where unintentional differences
arise the treaty will serve a most oenef-
cent purpose and 1t would be a grave error
10 permit paltry considerations ana un-
founded fears to stand in the way OF its
ratification.