Evening star., 1898-11-03
FRANCE AND ENGLAND.
The Relations of America to Those
Countries Discussed.

Countries Discussed.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Will you allow me the privilege of one
word on a recent editorial of your paper
touching the probable attitude of this coun-
try in case the threatened hostilities should
break out between France and England?
In these days of broad-minded patriotism
and American love of justice and fair play
it is fitting indeed that an influential paper
such as yours should call upon the masses
to realize the duties Of their new situation
and to face honestly and without preju-
dice the intricate problems with which re-
cent events have now confronted us. But
while we have truly turned a sharp cor
ner, and must now view things in far
different light from that which guided US
up to six months ago, 1t would be well 1or
US to guard carefully against leaping head
long into extremes which, by repudiating
that part of our past to Wnlch we are
bound by the most sacred ties, could not
but discredit in the eyes of the world our
stability of purpose and purity of intention.
1t has cost us blood and treasure to live
up to our ideals of humanity, liberty and
freedom. A duty performed at such cost
should not be undone lightly. If order is
heavens first law consistency Is the prime
rule of order. If we have crushed Spain
because of her helpless inability to proper
ly govern her distant colonies, how can We
grasp in sympathy the hand OF nation
whose entire history, in its relations with
weaker powers, stands forth one long rec
ord of woeful tyranny and or active. sys-
tematic oppression? Have we beaten down
the wolf to make friends with the hyena?
Did We condemn Spain's mode OF warfare
in Cuba to make the more hearty and en-
phatic our Endorsement OF the dlaoolical
methods even now res0rted to by England
in India and Ireland? a
What tragic event in Cuban history can
compare with the recent Irish massacre In
South Mayo or the bloody carnage of khar-
toum, where, according to the English re-
ports themselves, after so-called battle
in which the British, from their perfectly
safe positions. had mereilessly moved down
ten or twelve thousand helpless natives
fighting for their country, as many OF these
as were lying wounded on the field of
slaughter were ruthless1y and remorseless-
ly pur to death, that they might not incum-
Der the troops as prisoners OF war! Yes
terday we expelled Spain from this hem
isphere because we felt her yoke to weigh
down upon Cubas Shall we fraternize to-
day with a nation whose treatment OF an
other and neighboring people mas been for
centuries, and Is still even now, the foulest
blot ON the darkest page In 5he history OF
mankind? Why are we called upon to for
get all these things and to give our own
hearts and ideals the lie by making COM
mon cause with this, of all nations, the
most inyeterate foe Of American institu-
tons? Has she really done aught of late
sufficien to redeem her IN our eyes? Ii
the first century Of our national existence
already so obscured in our memories?
Should not the remembrance of it, together
with the teachings of universal history ON
English loyalty, English disinterestedness
and English honor, suffice to give us just
appreciation of the boisterous protestations
of sympathy made us by her at time
when we had no need of the same, when,
consequently, sne ran absolutely no risk
whatever. and when she, on the other hand.
felt the urgent need of powerful ally
and found herself snubbed by all Of the Eu-
ropean powers? Her sudden discovery was