The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-28
WHY THEY DISLIKE Us.
Some Causes of the Unpopularity of
the United States.
New York Independent.

the united STATES
New York Independent.
OF the fact there can be no doubt-every
visitor more than a mere haSty traveller In
Europe will testify to the fact. 1t is not
true, we think of other American coun-
tries, at least to the south of US. But Amer
leans do not travel much their hemi-
sphere, and the Monroe doctrine has made
us to be regarded as a kindly elder brother
who can be called on for help in the last
emergency.
But in Europe we probably have not one
cordial friend among the nations OF Europe.
Indeed, we are much in the position of
splendid than agreeable. The causes or
this growing unpopularity would make an
interesting study, and we note some OF
them.
1t is easy to see why we are unpopular in
Spain. Spain is unpopular with us. we
naturally sympathize, all or us, with the
Cubans struggling for their independence.
But it is a matter Of the intenSeSt pride
with the Spaniards to hold their choicest
possession. They know the Cubans depend
on our sympathy, that they smuSBle mill
tary stores from our coasts, and that our
government has made it clear that we can
not allow the cruel wrong to the Cubans
and the injury TO our own interests TO go
on indefinitely. We are intensely unpopular
in Spain, and the residences OF our minister
and consuls have to be guarded against pop
ular attack.
We are not popular In France, notwith-
standing the hereditary friendship. For
years there has been a large American col
cult to get any entree into French society.
French ideals differ from ours as much as
they do from the English. Besides, the
natural sympathy of France is with its
neighbor Spain, which has a large colony
in Paris; and Spanish bonds are held IN
France and would be almost worthless II
French believe what the Spaniards tell
them, that the United States is hungerins
to annex Cuba. -
We need not argue the i'll will Of Ger
fc
caused partly by the operation of our pro-
tective tariff and partly by the loss to
the United States of so many German citl-
zens and possible soldiers. But still more
the cause is in that which is seen all
through Europe, the growth and prosperity
of this country, the development OF It's man
fractures and commerce, which excite gen.
eral apprehension. What Germany feels is
what the Austrian premier, Goluchowski,
startled us by proclaiming that the TWEEN
tieth century must see the union or Europe
against America 10 shut out American
products and influence. The. yellow peril
from China is not so much feared as the
American peril. This apprehension AFFECTS
all Europe, though just now most clearly
expressed in Germany and Austria. put
special grievance in the New Orleans lynch
ing case. ru..
which has no public opinion, and Great
Britain. President Washburn thinks that
the mother country remains our friend We
trust this is so; certainly we are her friend
that our diplomatic correspondence lacked
courtesy, have cooled the feeling. The
prompt payment of the indemnity now
awarded to Great Britain might relieve this
tension.
There are other general causes of the ILL
will to America which must not be forgot
ten, and for which we to blame. The
enormous number of murders and lynchings
in our Southern and Western States makes
an impression on the European mind, as 1T
should Here we verify guilty. Closely
connected with this is the failure of our
citizens to secure honest government. The
handing over of the government of the
Greater New York to Tamamny, when it
might have been SO easily prevented, has
created a profound distrust of the capacity
OF the American Republic. The parallel
failure of free and equal suffrage in the
South has equal sinister Significance; al
though the suppression of the free ballot by
violence or fraud or constitutional devices
is not so far bruited as is the corrupt gov
eminent of our great cities and the rule OF
bosses in our empire States.
So for good reasons or bad we must prob
ably submit for some years to be no longer
the most popular, but one of the most I'M
popular of nations. We are strong enough
so that we need not fear the enmity of for
eign states; but it is our first international
duty to see our own serious faults and to
plane of honor and courtesy. We need not
lions to understand our good qualities when
SO shrewd an observer of European affairs
as President Washburn of Constantinople.
tells us that 1--WE were never so heartily
hated by the people of Europe as we are
to-day