New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-22
NO EUROPEAN INTERFERENCE.
THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN CAN
SETTLE THEIR OWN DIFFERENCES.
From Harper'S Weekly


THE Weekly" did not believe that the war
should have been begun but the country decid-
ed otherwise. and on grounds which make the
war. in international law at all events, a just
The last Power to combat this proposition
ought to be the very that is showing ltself
most eager TO interfere. If the Emperor VIII
lam will consult Bismarck or this point, or II
he will even reflect upon the revelations when
the Chancellor has volunteered concerning MS
view of the ethical value Of lying and forgery
excuse for war. he Will be forced TO the
conclusion that Germany will always ma IL
difficult to declare any war entered INTO Dy an
other nation 10 be unjust. However that may
be. and whatever may have been the motives OF
some of the politicians and newspapers thdt
urged on the war; the people of this country,
the people who are fighting and paying for the
war, believe that it is righteous contest en-
tered into for the cause of humanity, and While
that motive governs and determines the moral
character Of conduct. this war Will be judged
a just in the tribunal of nations we are
using the term Just war be II understood
wholly in the technical sense of the authorities
on international law. for we are inquiring mere
~ into our international status IN view OF the
war.
We haveas yet given cause for interference
nor for threats of interference. and we cannon
permit Europe. or any European power. 10 lnsist
upon taking part in our iuture nesolati'iIs
with Spain for peace. We not kept out or
European waters, or European analrs' TOT tha'
matter by. our assertion Of the Monroe DOC
trine nor are we TO be treated as If we were d
party to European complications because we
are at with European Power When the
time comes for making peace the iate OF span
colonies will be determined by agreement De-
tween Spain and the United states, ana we
shall not permit the fruits Of victory 10 be par
celled out among non participants in the combat
as the fruits of Russia s victory over Iuihe!
were divided by the Berlin Congress.
1t has been intimated, even in this country,
that the United States might well initiate the
quiet and submissive example OF Russia on thdt
occasion There seems to us to he every reason
why we should do nothing Of the Kind. In the
first place, IL Is not at all certain that RUSSIA
uuiescence and submissiveness were real. or that
Lord Beaconsfeld was as successful as he ana
his admirers supposed. Contemporaneous MS
tory teaches otherwise. In the second PIaTe'
there Is no analogy whatever between the reia,
ton of Russia to the rest Of Europe in 1870 ana
the relation of the United States to Continental
Europe to-day. Russia had entered upon her
| war with Turkey for the purpose of enforcing
| reforms which the concert of Europe. including
| Russia had vany demanded OF Turkey. Al
| though Russia made war without cohsuilaliUh
| with her associate Powers she was, in fact. the
! champion of the Christian Powers for the right
| ing of the wrongs inflicted by the sultan upon
his Christian. subjects Therefore mere was az
| some reason for consultation Of the interested
! Powers concerning the settlement of the Sc
| auences of the Even so. the congress was
not held until Russia had formally accepted
Bismarcks invitation, and had agreed TO leave
to the congress the task OF revising the whole
treaty OF San Stefano. Moreover, the relations
between the Powers of Europe on the Eastern
question were very close and their common
interest in ii had been recognized in more IMAM
one treaty.
In the of ourselves and Spain there are
no special relations or conditions. and no agree
ment that changes in any respect the rules OF
international law affecting the subject The
question is between the two Powers engaged IN
war When the time for peace comes the two
contestants will have the right to settle their
differences without interference from any other
Power, unless that interference shall be invited
or assented to by both. IT, for example. we snail
insist that Spain surrender the Philippines, II
would be as hostile on the part Of the German
Emperor If he were to take sides against our
/
| undertake to prevent Admiral Dewey and Cen
| cral Merritt completing the conquest OF Manila.
We are sorry that we are at war; but as we
arc I. is our war, and shall insist on settling
II in our own way. We cannot permit any Eu~
| ropean Power TO question our good faith, or TO
! dictate what shall be our conduct toward our
| conquered enemy. AS for that, there is nothing
| I'm our history that tends to show that we shall
! be anything but generous.