The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-04
A CRITIC ON AMERICA.

Dr. Max Nordeau whose "Degeneracy'
brought him into such new prominence,
has been expressing himself very freely
concerning America and Americans.
He finds as the result of his studies that
hatred Of Europe is the prime motive in
our social and political development. 1t
must be confessed that there is some
truth in the statement, and that it is
not altogether regretable either. 1t may
be unreasoning, but as it serves to unity
and concrete our people, it is a senti-
ment by no means without virtue.
Nordeau rather surprises us by the
statement that civilization is getting
ready to leave Europe for America las
two and a half milleniums ago it left
Asia for Europe" 1t is for this reason
that he looks upon the Cuban insured
ton of such great Importance. Spain
will be unable to hold Cuba. If not now,
presently she will have to surrender it,
and simply because that surrender is the
demand of public sentiment in America,
WHICH, IQiOpt hOl now SNANAAS
enough to resist successfully. Europe
can no longer ignore America, he de-
clares, and he then proceeds to say in
the Vienna "Freie Presse," according
to the translation of the Literary Di-
gest'':
America is distinctly unfriendly to Eu-
rope The Americans are emigrants or
descendants of emigrants, of men who
left their country because they did not
find it possible to live in comfort in the
hand of their birth. The Americans are
people descended from men whose char
acter was strong and whose courage
high, else they would not have under
taken the voyages across the ocean.
These emigrants and their descendants
will never forgive Europe that misery
forced them to leave their homes. A
small number of Americans, scienti-
fically and artistically inclined, still re-
spect Europe. But the majority have
only one wish-to become independent
of Europe, and to humble her. This wish
is embodied in the Monroe doctrine
which is not a doctrine at all, but rather
an expression of emotion. America in
tends to sever all bonds between her and
Europe, she wishes to lead a separate
existence. intellectually and morally as
we'll as physically. And America will
succeed. Already immigration is re-
stricted to considerable extent, and ii
will not be long ere the Monroe doc
trine is explained to the effect that the
enlightened Americans do not choose &c
mingle with the inferior races of Eu-
rope.
And so the shrewd critic, who is I'M
equalled in cunning defences of his
views, holds that our sympathy for Cuba
is by no means an expression of love
for Cubans, nor yet such an irresistible
desire to see her free on her own &C
count. as it Is an expression of hatred
the word the critic employs is too strong
against Europe. Convinced that il
Cuba is freed it will sink in a generation
to the level of Hayti and Domingo, not
being enthusiastically enamored of col
ored races, and knowing perfectly well
that the Cubans rebel against work and
education, and avoid battles neverthe-
less Americans assist them to spite Eu-
rope.
Fact is there is not enough truth in
all this to make it at all relish
able for thought. We may not bt
conscious of it altogether. but it Is
probably true that this is a case II
which our sympathy is the child. OF
one side at least, of some dislike. DIR
Nordeau is of the belief that Eupropear
coalition against the United States i:
not altogether improbable. But he
rather startles us by the forecast tina
IL ii is forced and results in war, IL /.
not impossible that Europe will sue
coed Nay, the doctor goes so far "a
TO say that the conquest of America b.
Europe would in such a conflict be no
improbable.
To Americans that seems foolish. w
are so Embedded in our own concei
that we cannot tolerate for an instan
the thought or entertain even suspicion