New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-16
A LESSON FROM THE POWERS.


crn Question is concerned, not in an envable
plight That will doubtless be readily conceded
by all observers whatever their sentiments for
or against the Turk. II the Turk be In the right,
as some would persuade us, a good man con-
tending with adversely. the Powers must be
regarded as meddlesOme and oppressive. III he
be In the wrong. as most believe. blot upon
the civilization Of Europe the Powers must bear
the reproach of having so long tolerated and
even projected him. and Of being now impotent
to apply that "bag-and baggage" policy which
has by one Of their most distinguished spokes-
men been so vehemently Invoked. In either
case they have difficult task on their hands.
such rs any nation might be glad to avoid. In
such fluctuations Of theirs the United States Is
not concerned. save through the common and
impersOnal sympathies Of humanity. But he
must be blind. indeed. who does not see there
In lesson of great profit TO this country albeit
the rehearsal Of lesson move more than
century old.
Eve must all hang together" said Franklin.
as he wrote himself down glorious rebel. ''or
we shall all hang separately" That is the secret
Of Ellrope's distress to-day. The Powers must
act, or fail to act. together. lest evil befa them
individually Their alliances and rivaries and
animostles are such that not one can venture
upon an individual line of action. Number One
wants to do this but fears to arouse the resent
ment of Number Two. Number Three deems it
a moral duty to do that, but Is restrained by the
physical opposition Of Number Four. Number
Five would be benefited by doing the other
thing but is prevented by an alliance with Num-
Der Six SO It goes all around the circle. Not
one can follow its own desire nor show the
courage Of It's convictions. simply because Of
it's entanglements with the others. If ever there
were a tangible, concrete. convincing demOnstra-
ton of the supreme wisdom Of Jefferson's warn
ing against "entanging alliances" there it is.
There can be no right-thinking American who
is not to-day thankful that this country is not
involved in the responsibilities the embarrass-
ments. perhaps the shame. Of that concert Of
the Powers which has been not unaptly termed
the "chain gang Of Europe"
Nor does the lesson end there. 1t Is legti-
mately applied even to some forms Of so ad-
mrable a thing as international arbitration. 1t
does not initiate against arbitration as a prln-
ciple o. as a practice, judclously, voluntarily
and independently followed. It is rather an
argument in favor Of it. But II does tell with
destructive force against any scheme Of arbitra-
II
pendent action and would amount in practice
10 an entangliDg alliance. With such an ex-
ample as that of Europe at the present day be-
fore 1t. the United States cannot be censured
for hesitatng TO make any permanent compact
with any OF the Powers that might make this
country a mere nppendage. to the concert" nor
for preferring to deal automatically or judicial
ly with each controversy that may arise accord
ing 10 its individual merits. 1t Is entirely per-
tlnent to inquire how far this omnpotently i'm
potent concert" might affect the freedom Of
action of any Power with which the United
States might make a treaty. and certainly not
unreasonable to ask that any Power seeking
compact with this country should prove its abil.
ty to bring to It's relationship Hereunder
freedom from extraneous influences comparable
with that which would be brought by this cOun-
try The present lesson Of the Powers does not
dscredlt arbitration. IT does teach unmistak-
ably that II Is for those Powers to demonstrate
their worthness to ester into such compact
with one that has never declined to arbitrate a
controversy and has never had IN entangling
alliance