The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-19
OIR FOREIGN FRIENDS.

The statement made by United State
Ambassador White as TO the attitude
of Germany toward this country during
zhe war comes at an opportune time.
The people Of the United States have
been reluctant To believe anything Of
an unfriendly character on the part Of
been pretty severely tried on more than
one occasion. and incidents have &C.
CURED In which Germany took a differ
ent stand from other powers. although
they also professed 10 b. acting from
friendly motives.
The truth will be found. as usual.
about midway between two extremes.
one extreme Is that taken by persons
who are too ready to take offense al
any course pursued by Germany. and
the other extreme Is reached by cor
respondent whose communication is
published in another column. His
preJudices peep out through every line,
and In his over-zeaiousness TO defend
guage not justified by the circum-
stances nor usual among self-respect-
ing men.
Our correspondent particularly OBJ
jects 10 the statement made by writer
who says: In the revolutionary war
the Americans had no allies but few
Frenchmen and some friendly Indians,
while the English had the Hessians as
their allies. purchased to help subdue
the American forces" Our correspond
ent says that the Hessiaps were neither
English allies nor bought by the En-
glisn. but were simply soldiers sent 10
fight against the Americans. the same
as thousands Of Irishmen and Ger
T. ans were shipped TO Cuba To fight
against the Spanish.
This is dising enuouc statement Of the
case. The Germans ana Irishmen who
went 10 Cuba were fighting for their
adopted country. The Hessians were
mercenarieg who were fighting u coun-
try against which they had no grew
auce, On behalf OF one in which they
had no interest except for the pay they
received. The British cabinet had af-
piled to Russia for the service Of auxil-
iarics. but Empress Catherine refused
them. with hardly concealed scorn.
Treaties were then signed with the
Landgraye OF Hess for taking into Brit
ish pay 1900 OF his men ana with the
Duke Of Brunswick and other petty pa
tentates OF Germany for 5000 more Ac-
coriing 10 Mahon's History of England.
these little princes. seeing the need OF
England insisted upon obtaining and
did obtain most usurious terms The
began To march and the subsidy vas
continued q year after the close of the
war and the troops had returned To
their homes Mahon admits that they
were brave men. but adds that the dis
grace Of this transaction TO the Ger
man princes who engaged in II requires
little comment.
What our corre apondent says about
Russia Is true. There was an impress
sion that the price paid fer Alaska was.
as a matter Of fact. not for what was
regarded IS an almost worthless terri
tory. bat that the purchase was merely
to cover the price OF the services Of
certain Russian war vessels in case
they were required. This story created
the iinrF ssion that Russia Was very
friendly 10 rs. bat cur friendship has
only been In words. The sale Of Alaska
was t. oar advantage. but Russia go;
ria az great annoyance for what then
seemed Ike a fair price.
We are placing ourselves in position
where there is likely t. be a kecnsr
competition FOR cur friendship