Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1898-07-21
France, the United States and the War,

The attitude or forelgn powers TO-
wards the United States in the present
war is a subject of natural and general
concern. This attitude is, however,
neither easy to state nor simple to ex-
plain. Perhaps in no instance is It one
of unmixed hostility or of unreserved
sympathy. Nations, like individuals,
are moved by what they conceive to
be their respective interests. Human
itanan considerations, while seldom
entirely ignored, rarely turn the scale
against positive self-interest. In the
present crisis, the self-interest of most
European powers is based upon varl-
Gus, complicated, even antagonistic
motives. Some of these motives are
common to all or several Of the great
continental powers. Others are par
ticular in their application to the diff
ferent powers. a precise appreciation
Of the sentiment Of any particular pow
er is, therefore, to be derived only
from a special study of it.
Among the greatest surprises occa-
stoned by the war is the apparently
hostile position of France Has the
former ally and traditional friend Of
our Republic suddenly transferred her
sympathy to our present enemy? How
explain this brusque change? Three
sets of motives have been extensively
cited: l, financial ; 3, racial 8, relig-
ious.
/. An immediate effect of the war
probable and actual war-was to
precipitate the value Of Spanish gov
ernment securities from IS to about
30-33. The French hold Spanish Sc
curities to the extent of thousands OF
millions-government, railway, min
ing and others. The owners of these
securities thus saw as much as three
ffths OF their fortunes disappear. Even
the remaining value is an uncertain
quantity, subject to the vicissitudes Of
an unpropitious war. The sensitive
consciences of these hard-squeezed
purses naturally perceived that the
war was unnecessary. unjust, if not
even outrageous; and all the organs
susceptible to sympathy with their
sutierinss have proclaimed loud and
far this righteous discovery.
.. Affinity of race has been worth
deal of sympathy to Spain. The
supposed precious heritage of Latin
civilization is vested conformity in the
Italian, Spanish and French nations
Italy has sapped her vitality in fe-
yerish pursuit Of empty glory-the
title ola great power" Cruelty forced
to abandon her dream of colonial great
ness, she now lies exhausted. Spain
obstinate, fool hardy insistence upon
an antiquated, semi-barbarous colonial
policy has wrought the disintegration
Of her once splendid colonial empire
and has sunk her into almost hopeless
national bankruptcy Spain is decid-
edly decadent. France, in spite Of the
stupendous reverses suffered in 1870
Il, in spite of a relative loss ofstrength
as compared with the other great Eu-
ropean powers, in spite Of certain
alarming symptoms Of national disease
France alone seems to have retained
the vigor and prestige that assure her
a position among the nations of first
rank. She, therefore, by virtue of her
position and power, becomes the nat
ural defender of the common heritage
and the natural protector Of her weak
er, imperiled sister. This, however, is
only moral obligation which is i'm
posed by mere racial affinity and in
creased by the fact that the scepter Of
power, having passed successfully
through the hands of her two Latin
sisters, is now lodged in her own. If
this moral obligation be denied, if La
tin civilization be even regarded as a
family heirloom that Is not worth de-
Tending, the duty Of France to oppose
the United States, as against Spain, is,
according to another view, imposed by
the very necessity of scLf.Pres@ration'
This view apprehends, as an ultimate
result of the success of the United
States in its present enterprise, the
formation of great AngIO-Saxon-
possibly Teutonic-alliance for the
domination of the world. Such an al
lance would finally subjugate and ex-
terminate all Latin peoples, in order
to make place for Anglo-Sa1ons or
Teutons. Common interest of the
French with the Spanish to prevent
such an alliance is, therefore, indica-
ted by the desire of self-preservation.
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