The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-16
OUR FOREIGN CRrrICs-GERMANY.

The American people can easily stand the
unfriendliness of certain European peoples
a1d their open sympathy with Spain as long
as their governments continue to observe
the strict neutrality they are now doing.
European governments know better than
European peoples do on which side their
interests lie, and they not likely to be
Influenced by popular criticism or clamor to
make an enemy of one of Lord Salisbury's
living governments by seeking an alliance
with a dying one. Thus far the United
States have no reason to complain of any
violation of neutrality or exhibition of I'M
fricndliness by any European government,
and as they all assert their determination
to maintain this attitude in good faith we
need rot pay mucn attention to the I'M
friendly comments of the people and press.
1t is little remarkable that the people
of Germany, which country has contributed
so largely to our population. and with which
Americans have sympathized in all her wars
and troubles. rejoicing in her victories and
progress at home and abroad, should sym
patnize with our enemy in this war. There
have been expressions enough to show that
this feeling is not unanimous, but its
strength is surprise. A Berlin cablegram
in the Sunday Journal said it was very pro-
nounced, especially among the upper class
es.'' and added:
An American lady who married a German
nobleman. both of them being in constant
touch with the highest society, said to the
correspondent of the Associated Press:
You have no conception of the bitter feel
ing against America. IT is Impossible Tor
me to go anyWhern s W'thoXt e nearing Te g
of being a nation of hypocritical tradesmen,
who forced war with Spain with no other
object than our own financial gain.
The same dispatch quoted from Berlin
paper which commented in a very sarcastic
and contemptuous vein on the worthlessness
of our navy. Such comments from Germans
would come with better grace after they
have themselves given some proof of being
superior to the mercantile spirit, or of pos
sessing a navy worthy of the name. True,
they have a fairly good navy on paper, but
it has never done anything. When it shall
have made as much history and surrounded
itself with as many glorious traditions as the
United States navy has during the last hum
dred years. German newspapers can afford
to adopt a superior tone in discussing naval
affairs. The only exploit of their navy has
been the capture of Kiaochau bay, in China,
last fall, when a German squadron of four
ships performed the wonderful feat of COM
polling a garrison of 1900 Chinese to sur
render This exploit was soon followed by
a spectacular performance, at which the
whole world laughed, when the Emperor
William consecrated his brother, Prince
Henry, in command of a second squadron
of German battle ships in Chinese waters,
and babe him farewell with tears and pray
ers, as if he were going to sail into unknown
seas with a frail craft that might never be
heard of again. AS far as heard from the
Young naval hero has not yet smelt powder
nor got his feet wet. No; Germany is not
naval power, and never will be. If the en-
pire lasts a thousand years, the German
navy will never achieve as brilliant an eX-
nloit as Dewey's at Manila or perform as
gallant and hazardous a service as the cut
ting of the cable under fire at Cienfuegos, a
few DAYS ago The Germans are great
people and their soldiers are great fighters
on land, but when they make fun OF the
United States navy they must be reminded
that their own has no history and that 1T
remains to be seen whether their victories
or the land will ever be duplicated on the
water.