Evening star., 1898-05-14
European Nations Fail to Appreciate
Americas Motives.
THEY DISfRUSf OUR EVERY MOVE
Foolish to Expect Assistance From
France or Russia.
WHY THIS IS SO


harm than good will follow II we continue
to blind ourselves to the actual facts in
the case.
Our foreign policy having been hitherto
non-aggressive and conservative, we can
not now understand why our motives in
the war with Spain, a brave and tenacious
but notably cruel and treacherous nation,
should be misunderstood or derided by for
eignerS. Hence, also, we declared war Oh
the impossible assumption that our benevo-
lent efforts in favor of the Cubans would
be at least appreciated If not hailed with
wild enthusiasm. The President and a
majority of the government, people and
press undoubtedly advocated hostilities
with humanitarian motives. The peculiar
ity of the situation lies in the fact of our
being 80 unsophisticated as to dream that
the foreign powers would regard our pro-
fesSions as aught but a cloak for a new
and mysterious policy of conquest Many
or the English, whom we naturally resem-
ole more than other peoples, accept our
avowed motives, and their polite govern
ment decides to act on this presumption
for the present. 1t is to be hoped that this
pleasant and mutually advantageous en-
tente Will continue and increase But
throughout the wide world there is no one
else who believes that we are sincere
OF cad grin of incredulity may be said to
extend from Paris to Pekin
Nor should we blame these good foreigners
100 hastily for result SO unexpected Since
cam slew Abel no great nation has ever
before risked it's treasure or the lives of
its its people out OF pure unadulterated char
i.y ior another people. Plausible but self
Ish pretexts have ever impelled the ag-
gressor, and continue to do So in these
Cnristian, enlightened days. Aesop's fable
OF the wolf and the lamb will apply to
most modern wars. Every one understands
thlt religious zeal for oppressed co-reli-
gionists has offered one of many fiimsy
preteXts for Russia to pursue the aims of
her sleepless ambition; that the trif1ing an
noyances of barbarians In Siam or NADIA
sascar are weak excuses for France to add
a couple of hundred thousand SQUARE miles
10 her colonies that reparation for riot
against missionaries who ought really to
rely on their faith and not on powder and
guns Tor protection, is rapturously seized
by Germany as a reason for gaining foot
hoid IN the far east, and the petty hostili-
ties OF hill tribes furnish Great Britain an
excuse for enlarging her vast possessions
That civilization is perhaps extended by
the rivalry and advance of the Christian
powers does not alter the main fact that
IN every case the pretext put forward is
deceptive and insncere, and is SO under
stood by the world.
Naturally Suspicious.
Such. then. being the time-honored
method of opening hostilities between ma
tons, 1t is not unreasonable that the
European powers should conclude that the
United States is now pursuing exactly the
same course, ana that they should jealous
ly watch her movements
But surely many Americans will think
and say. I'VE can depend on the confidence
good faith and friendship of Russia and
France, with whom we have been on e.,-
pecially cordial terms these many years
This Is the sheerest Illusion and humbug
A prominent Russian told me that up to
the Crimean war Russia has felt a genuine
raj 11oft
ing their customs and ideas, esteeming
their literature, and the like. But the
coalition of several against her in that
war, and the coldness of others had opened
her eyes to the fact that disinterested
friendship does not exist among nations
From that day she resolved on isolation
and an entirely Independent policy; she
would eschew International sentiment and
make no alliance. that did not bring her
substantial advantages. Another promi-
nent Russian said to me, THE power that
crosses Russia's interests is from that
hour her enemy"
These bald statements simply formulate
the foreign policy Of all nations, excepting
perhaps our own. 1t is to the credit of our
hearts, but not Of our intelligence that we
assumed that the world can distinguish ma
tional altruism from hypocrisy, or that we
have cherished a sincere gratitude toward
the two great powers which inclined to-
ward us at the two most critical periods of
our history. But as our foreign relations
grow more extended and complex we shall
find it money in our pockets and peace on
our frontiers to drop diplomatic optimism to
act as pessimists and to frankly accept the
1act that In International relations senti-
ment is merely the glttering polish over
lying the cold, hard steel beneath
Friendly or InimicaI.
The nations that may be friendly or
inimical to us now represent four races.
The British Anglo-Saxon, progenitor of
our republic has already been alluded to-
After this comes the Teuton;c race, whose
knowledge of us is respectable, but whose
arrogance has been increased by con-
sciousIess of intellectual power recent
military successes and mighty armies and
whose disgraceful and ridiculous jealousy
Of us is stimuIat ed by the fact that Ger
many Is seeking to become a naval power
Is entering on Q colonial career, and de-
sizes no more rivals in those fields. But
this curious enmity from a source from
which We had reason to expect other SEN
timents will not take the form of action
held in check as 1t is by the brilliant au-
toeratic emperor, as long as he sees no
ground for hostile interference, but no
longer.
Then there is the Slavic race, represented
chiefly by Russia. That empire did us a
great service in our civil war. for selfish
motives, of course. She saw with charac-
teristic shrewdness, that the north would
win, If let alone. and vas anxious for the
continued integrity of the United States as
q iiNdl " iIHSIdHu anu q possible ally IN
the event of war with that power Still we
benefited by this policy, and have always
properly recognized the fact. Aside from
this there has been a pleasant cordiality
between the two nations, as being the two
coming powers of the world. struggling to
emerge from the righteousness of youth to
the Titanic maturity Of their ultimate
destiny. and able to respect each other
without jealousy because their aims and
interests have followed separate lines
But we shall make a prodigious mistake
if We assume that this friendship would
continue minute after the interests of
Russia are menaced by the plans and pro-
gress of the United States She has at
last reached an advantageous point dap
pui on the Pacific, ard is on the eve of a
new era In her vast destinies; it must
therefore be clearly understood that she
win watch with keen vigilance every move
that we make, either II this war or any
future enterprise beyond seas whether
commercial or military, OF any closer
entente with England or Japan.
Latins md Austrians.
But 1T is to the fourth race, the Lain,
that we must look probably for the first
signs Of whatever international dificulties.
if any. may grow gut Of our war with
-, -