The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-03-17
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.

| The Imbroglio with Spain Makes Mighty
| Alterations in Our Attitude toward the
| Fest of the World.
| All the world is looking on while we set
i,tle this Cuban question-taI<ing q keen in
terest in every word of the President, in
| the expressions OF Congress. in the move
ments of our Neutrality-suspicious. closely
every phase in the development of the sit
uation. The United States has for so long
! attended quietly to its own affairs that
thus suddenly to become the center OF the
worlds interest, speculation and diplo-
macy, to hold the key, for a time to all
| international interests, surprises us quiet,
| near sighted citizens.
| Yet is it true that the United States now
| has control of new era. Upon her deciS-
/ ions and actiOnS-upon her promises and
! the fulfiIment thereof depends the pace OF
/ civilization for years to come. We will
| enter upon Il new time. We have COM
planned OF Spanish barbarism IN Cuba;
| therefore, we must show what the highest
| civilization can do there. We complain OF
Spanish treachery; our honesty must be
unfalterable. With SO many new lnven-
tons in guns, powders and notifications,
| one can hardly guess what war Will be.
We may have to- show the world and give
a practical demonstration OF the fitness or
! unlitness of modern war methods.
| With our interference in Cuba we shall
| have to begin to participate in International
affairS-a duty which we have long Shirk-
/ ed but once taken up we must show Eu
| rope how to maintain part IN international
concerns upon a peaceable, honest footing.
| We have sat aside for many years and made
scornful remarks about the international
relations of European powers; now we
| have a chance to show how much better
We can do.
| Moct of tho other nations recognize that
| it is our duty to set to- rights That He'll on
| earth"-Cuba. Some express sympathy
with us; others are indifferent and others
| incline TO favor Spain.
France does not deny our moral right
| nor our ability to whip Spain, but she has
| the interests of creditor to guard Much
| French money has been placed In Spanish
| interests and now it is reported that Spain
| has succeeded in obtaining large loan IN
/! France. but that it has only been secured
by giving up control of the Spanish rail
ways. So France has 10 make the best OF
bad bargain, il worst comes to worst.
and be easy on her ncignbOr IN the hope OF
getting her money back.
Germany looks at it with purely bust
ness eye, and says as GroceryElan might:
America is good customer, therefore
shall not ally against her.
Austria seems TO have more affection for
Spain than for us. and has loaned her a
battleship with the promise OF four more,
the SpaniardS say. However, 1T would be
absurd for a nation so torn up as is Austria
to ally herself with cause 80 remote.
The AuStrO- Hungarian Empire was on the
point OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT two months ago,
and is in no condition to spend men nor
money on the little island of Cuba. so far
away and uninteresting to her turbulent
citizens.
Spain herself brags loudly calls the
United States silly, laundering old
country; exultS in her own fire and dash,
and comfortably pictures all sorts OF de
feat for us If once she arm herSeif and
come forth to war.
Russia is our traditional friend but she
is very busy about her own affairs Just
. now, making immense plans and not put
ting her finger in the Cuban PIE Tor a
. moment. She is arming herself cap-a pie |
and increasing her navy and-if England
! fears are cOrrect-iS contemplating an eX-
tensive grab of Chinese markets Now we |
may have to take hand in this Chinese |
game yet We have an important Pacific |
coast line and are interested in watching
Russia and Germany narrowly. that we |
may not be showed away from fat markets. |
But one of the most interesting phases |
of this Cdban question, so far as our in |
ternational relations go, is the sympathy |
that England Is shOwering upon us. For |
the first time in our history England is on |
our side, and takes pains to show it.. Not |
only do the English papers trouble them |
selves TO prove how complete and UNI
aIterable is our right to control Cuban
affairs and make great demands for repara-
ton for the Maine disaster, but they cheer
our Congress, praise our President. and the
Queen sends messages of sympathy. Mem
bers OF the English Commons rise and de-
!mand an alliance of the Anglo Saxon races |
TO spread Anglo Saxon civilization.
What does all this protestation mean? 1t
means far more than the relief for poor
little Cuba or particular wonder over what
will har n of nrtr
ships with those of a fourth rate power like |
Spain. The question is one of much
wider scope and is really, What are we GO
ing TO do about China The 81. James
Gazette in a strong editorial, proposes that
it bean exchange of moral support for
moral support. That England will grant us
her blessing upon our efforts to civiliZe
Cuba, if we will return the courtesy VIXEN
she comes to insist upon holding open the
markets of China. 1t goes on further to say
that we are as much interested in having
access to these markets as is England. and
that Notwithstanding our national reluc-
lance to meddie in foreign affairs. yet we |
cannot afford to be passive if Russia and
Germany attempt to close the Chinese
markets.
Pacific opens up in turn great field for
speculation as to what the future will bring
to us in the way OF prosperity, and when we
have Strengthened out little Cuba we may
lInu ourselves at the gateway Of Il hundred
new interests as we behold our magnificent
Pacific Coast line and think of the great
of our West.
. In the history of the world the great high
ways of commerce have changed from time
to time, and the changes have left old
cities, once prosperous and busy niarts, TO
create new centerS OF trade and industry
once the Mediterranean was the great
avenue for commerce. and the Italian
French, Spanish and Turkish coast cities
We're the great cities OF The world. Then
with the discovery of America, the discovery
of the Cape of Good Hope. the growth of
England's power, the Mediterranean was .
deserted and the Atlantic became as it is
now, the great highway for ships of all
Nat onS.
Will the Atlantic in turn have to v cid at
least part of its prestige to the Pacific
Ocean that washes the shores CT our own |
vast and teeming West, the immense shore
of China; of South America, with alI&its
rich es and itslinexplored forests mines and |
plains of Australia, and OF the land Of the
clever little Japanese? 1t looks very much
as though our Pacific ports may become {
dangerous rivals of their sister cities on
Ihe Atlantic shores.