New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-11
WHERE AMERICA rs.

There Is some reason for impotence Mt this
talk Of England with her back 10 the wall.
What nation attacks. or In existing crcum-
stances wants to attack. the ruler Of the
wave? 1t has been a great many years since
the mghtiest French ruler that ever lived
thought OF assang England. and he did not.
Talk Of alliances there has been by the wagon
load, but it never moved n regiment or n gun
boat Trritatlons there have been by the MILL
ION: mosquitoes swarm when a man lies down
TO sleep in peaceful summer. What excuse $
there for saying that the British Ambassador
spoke at Paris too strongly? He said what the
abest and best men Of France have said OF
their own national course. He spoke as Anglo
Saxons always should. what they think and
mean. A nation which marks with pin-pricks
its path to glory ought TO hear the fact stated
without shame and the inevitable end suG-
gested without surprise.
In this the Ambassador was right. 1t is not
the way Of Engllshspeakng nations to say
my brother" with n dagger hunting the
brothers fifth RIB. 1t Is not an Ango-Saxon
boast that its diplomacy can cheat anybody.
Americans Mt Paris have stated the wishes or
their Government, and Spain has been some
months finding out that its will was exactly
what il was ready to fight for If necessary.
SO discovering tardily, Spain has made her
choice Neither Is il the diplomacy OF the
strong against the weak as puerile critics say.
Great Britain was not weak nor the unlteu
States strong when the judgment of this coun'
try about Venezuela WAS stated. The straignt
Anglc-SaXon way Is to say what one means
prepared to face results British history has
countless ser ;ences Of that sort and Americans
love above all things a square" man.
When Great Britain has her back to the
wall the world Will be Older. Not this year
nor next can any alliance ne formed that VIII
care to begin war with Great Britain, and with
\ right cause Great Britain will not be lonely.
Americans do not believe that the Great Brit
ain Of this generation can be rushed Into an
unjust or foolish war, but they are In the mind
to Judge for themselves. When they find the
occasion not unjust nor foolish, other Powers
will probably learn that the Western Republic
wishes to express rs opinion In the interest CT
peace and civilization. and Il Is always easier
TO hear than 70 refuse.
"Arbiter Of nators:' Not any. Americans
are not likely to get much stirred up in any
matter which has not passed the point or ar
bitrat!on. and do not want TO arbtrate where
questions OF humanity and absolute right are
involved II there is nothing OF that sort IN
the question. Americans are at peace ana mucn
encrossed in business. If that KIND OF ques-
ton Is involved. Americans are not arOtrat!ng
at all. bnt are likely TO state what they thnK
IS right II Is free 70 anybody else 10 object
as il was when America stated It's opinion
about Cuba If Great Britain happens 10 he
the party plainly in the right 'hon American
and British influence. such as It Is. VIII prob
ably be In the same scale. There is some roa-
son TO hope that will insure peace and justice.
On the side of the United States nobody wants
war The function OF a civilized nation is -
live ot peace. 10 thrive by industry, and to sell
Goods 70 people who want them. But the func-
t,on Of Anglo-Saxons Is also 70 enter n pro-
test II things tend toward wrong and injustice.
and II may always help toward peace In The
future # that fact IS appreciated.