The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-03
The Supreme Need.

All Americans capable Of taking a !
large view of critical situation must
concur unreservedly in the remarks on
the need of stronger national defence
which we reproduce on this page from
the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Events Of big import following each
other rapidly in the worlds affairs
roin. to this need with increasing en-
phasis or warning.
Throughout Europe there is intense
unrest. 30 many men are kept out of
productive industries in order to main
tain great standing armies that con-
tncntal Europe is slowly yielding to
the dry rot. Countries that used to sell
goods t. us now have to buy food of us
to keep their people from starving.
They buy. because compelled to; but
the humiliation involved in the changed
relationship sOurs their opinion Of us.
In France and Germany they dis
criminato against some of our exports.
In Austria prime minister openly ad-
viscs a trade combine ct all Europe
against us. There is not a country in
Europe which is honestly friendly to
| MS England could be won over; and
Russia is not against us, simply be-
cause she has not yet felt the steel Of
our commercial competition. But with
! the single exception of England we
| have not p friend in Europe. and with
| England we are more often quarrelnS
| than .:ot.
Turning to South America we find
| that the sentiment of earnest and SER
ious friendship for this country is linz
| tied to one nation--Nenezucla. The
| Latin-American republics as rule are
| Jealous E the primacy of the United
| States ant in the event of trouble would
| help us olly to the extent that they
should find it necessary to help them
| selves. In these countries European
| bankers do the foreign barking busi-
ness and European traders command
large proportion of the import trade.
We cannot get into those markets with
out crowdng European interests out.
| They don't like our crowdinE as il is.
| They will like IT, the less as it increases
| and all the figures go to show that
our export trade now the largest that
| it has over been. is bound in the next
few years to increase immensely.
Looking, finally. to the great arena
of future international competition
| the Orient-we perceive that the mill
tant powers of Europe, lowering over
its coveted territory vulture-like, are
| armed and waiting for n war of spolia-
| tion. They mean to fight for spOils.
We must, therefore, be prepared to de-
fend our own.
In short though some men talk Of
peace there is no visible rift in the
clouds of war. As European govern
ments, submerged by burdens OF debt
and military expense, find Themselves
being steadily distarced by the young
ana vigorous United States, they win
not look to arbitration treaties to signi-
fy their chagrin; but pushed on by a
fcrment Of internal ignorance, social
ism and anarchism. they will eventual
ly chose the weapon of desperation
sullen and Nengeful war Heretofore
we have been absent from tlCir calcu-
lations ana immune from their attacks.
This was because we We're busted with
internal development and cid rot get
in their way. But now, having begun
to reach out for our rightful share of
the commerce of the world, having in
course of inevitable evolution reached
the national stature which necesstates
the playing of a major part in the dra-
ma 0f the worlds affairs, we no longer
can expect the waters of the separating
oceans to constitute our sufficient coast
defence nor the unsupported words of
kindly diplomacy to be an adequate
safeguard Of our merchant marine on
its white-winGed missions of trade to
the worlds innumerable ports. We
mus. arm ourselves for trouble. and.
by being armed either avert it alto
gether or be in condition To protect our
selves when it comes.
The KlOndikp relief GXnpditiou thai