New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-02
GERMAN RELATIONS

Tho latest DEVELOPMENT of German American
workmanship must be regarded as at once highly
innortant and highly gratifying. II may be a
trNo surprising 10 the few who have been mis-
Len nv recent in1udcious talk about German
hostility 10 the United States II VIII seem
entirely natural 10 all who have taken sane
view Of the case That Germany should deip-
ero+olv assume an attitude of enmity toward
and nrovoke n forclble conflict with the United
States has all along appeared to US not only
most improbable but practically Impossible
Apart from any moral or sentimental consid-
erations. and from all questions Of right ana
iretice the simplest selfshness would restrain
hor from such course. nation that has re-
cord for its own welfare and no nation has
that in higher degree than Germany-does
not voluntarily engage in an enterprise in which
II vould have everything to lose and nothing
to gain.
So long as the ultimate disposition Of the
Philppjnes was 10 any degree in doubt. and
thc status Of the Peace Treaty rosembled that
Of Mahomet's coffin. the German Government
was naturally and properly SOLICITORS for the
safety of its subjects at Manila and elsewhere
in the islands II would have been unworthy
Of the name Of a Government if it had not
hppn.
NOT the most numerous Of all foreigners there
and their property and commercial interests
not the greatest. To protect even n single cit-
zen or subject the whole power Of a Govern
ment should If necessary, he made available.
Perhaps some Of the German Government )
WAYS were not as our ways Perhaps some ~
It's agents transercssed the laws Of propriety.
We re inclined TO think they did for they
Io,o a,1 mo Ia n
authority. Nevertheless. it IS entirely reason
able to suppose that they erred through excess
of zeal for Germany and not through gratui-
tous enmlty toward the United States. If we
recollect Alright, one Captain Wilkes, Of the
United States steamer San Iacinto, once erred
Aacrantly against the law of nations. in An
incident which has become historic as the
Trent Affair" He was tremendously lionized
by the people Of the United States for his or
ror hut the Government of the United States
confessed that II was an error. and made
| amends for II.
| Now that the Peace Treaty has been ratified
bv our Government and is about 10 be by
Spain. and the United States has in an effec-
tive and energetic manner assumed actual con-
troll of the Philippines the German Government
recognizes and accepts the accomplished fact
| II withdraws its warships from Philippine
waters and intrusts its subjects and their prop
ertv TO the care OF the United States. just as
il does in NewYork. Perhaps It needs its ship:
| elsewhere. at Kiao-Chau Tien-Tsin. From
current news We are led TO think II does
Nevertheless It is simply inconcelvable that Il
should withdraw them from Manila unless i
was convinced Of and fully recognized Tho
legitimacy and the effectiveness Of tniteC
States sovereignty. II should not escape oh
seryation in this country that this step OF Ger
many. while highly gratifying emphasizes tn
responsibilities we have assumed IN the Phllp
pines and emphasizes. too, the urgent need o
rising to the occasion as great Nation should
We are to-day under obligations not merely L
ourselves and 20 the Filipinos. bur to Germany
and all the world With such obligations there
must be no paltering.
80 less significant is the news concerning