The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1898-02-17


and civilization"
The United States, not to be outdone as
. great world-civilzer, has ordered some
OF our heaviest cruisers to steam into Gu
ban hsrbors. train their dynamite guns
on Spanish Notifications, and put an end
to the barbarities OF war. And do we
not talk seriously Of compelling four
fifths Of the HaW aiians to take dose OF
American civilization again st their earn
est protest. II all these benevolent plans
Of the great nations toward the feeble
folk Of the world are prosecuted With suf-
ficient dynamite in 1898, our Biographies
will need to be rewritten at the end OF
the present year.
Is it not astonishing what the "inter-
ests OF civilization" lead men to do?
There is occasion for suspicion, however.
If Uncle Sam by the demonstration in
Cuban waters is really trying to aid an
oppressed people to gain liberty, our
womanly intuitions lead us to say
"Brsvo!" But il it is the sugar trust
and the tobacco syndicates and property
interests of quasi.citizens of the United
States that have demanded the presence
of our iron-clads in foreign waters, We
have no words of praise TO speak. Such
chickens always come home to roost with
a large brood OF evils under their wings.
II our Hawaiian intentions are wholly
philsnthropic We sh )uld not hesitate to
approve them; but if the purpose is to
justify and perpetuate the very unreput-
lcsn rule Of 1000 Americans over 40, 100
natives. in the interest of commerce, no
good can come from such departure
from the principles for which the govern
ment of the United States stands.
II England and Germany and Russia
and France are carving China only to
satisfy the taste of queens and emperots
and czsrs for territorial extension, and 10
protect few merchants and traders, is it
not menace to the integrity and well.
being OF every other nation on the face of
the earth?
1t seems to us that the most dangerous
symptom in the political world to day is
this disposition of the powers that own
great guns to make the mere commercial
interests of private citizens sufficient
excuse for war. With such an excuse,
recently, Germany pounced down upon
little Isyti and acted 80 much like big
bully that every self-respecting man in
the world must have felt like taking I'D
arms in defense of the little Caribbean
republic.
If the troubles of private citizens who,
for purposes Of gain, have chosen resi-
dence in Cuba or China, justifes armed
Intervention on the part of our country
or the nations of Europe, how long will
our own country be safe from invasion
Not only have We great body OF aliens
following gainful occupations in our
midst. but there are also some billions OF
foreign capital invested among US. If
some alien German has his toes trodden
upon by some bad Yankee; or II, by
reason OF some misfortune, portion of
our people should fail to pay interest
when due on borrowed English capital,
might not the allied powers of Europe
undertake to crush us, and justify their
action by our own attitude to-day toward
nations where American investments are
suffering?
There has been but one just provoca-
ton for a declaration Of war by our coun-
try in recent years. 1t did not arise in
Cuba or Hawaii. 1t is the case OF the
much-abused American citizens in Tur-
key, who did not 90 there to take the
chances of trade, but bv permission of
the highest Turkish authorities, and with
out hope Of earthly reward gave them
selves unselfishly to the education and
uplifting of the citizens OF that empire.
Turkey was under obligations to grant
them adequate protection. When the
schools and hospitals of these Americans
were burned, and when they were shame.
fully maltreated, we should have COM
PEELED restitution and satisfaction from
the Turkish government War for such
a purpose We could afford but we cannot
afford as nation to encourage CONNER.
mercial wars. The fact that the Roths-
child family and other wealthy English
men have loaned their money to Egypt
ians ought never to justify Englans's
subsection of that poverty tax
ridden country. No more should the in