The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-02
Germany and the United States.

The G G be has never been one of
those newspapers ready to detect in
every reported bit OF gossip from Ma
Mia, Berlin or Washington some evil
dence of purpose on the part of the
imperial government of Germany to
excite hostility between that country
and the United States The total alb
sence of cause afforded the strongest
Justification for such a view.
The controversies over the introduce
ton of our meat products into Ger
many were based. first. on the whole
someness of their quality, and, second
ly, upon commercial expediency; but
in neither instance did the questions
involved attain any larger degree of
Importance than the treatment of the
same subject by France in the closing
eighties and the early nineties. Where
protective tariffs exist between two eX
porting countries. it Is natural that
each should maintain a close watch
over it's respective interests. So far as
our national fresh meat products are
concerned, recent revelations at home
have had the effect of notifying any
sentiment that might previously have
obtained against Germany, on our part
with respect to her official condemna-
ton OF certain American exports to
that country.
There was, perhaps, some bumptious-
ness manifested by the kaiser in the
early history of our war with Spain.
At any rate, incidents did occur in that
crisis which. as related in the cable
dispatches, did not reflect quite so
strong official friendship as Americans
would have liked from the Fatherland
so strongly represented among the best
citizens of this country. But our Ger
man-American friends We're always
ready to smile at the imperial demon
stratiCns and never for a moment re-
garded them as possessed of any seri-
Gus meaning.
1t was said that Prince Henry, the
younger brother of the kaiser, was not
quite so respectful to Commodore
Dewey upon a certain occasion at
Hong Kong, previous to the Manila
affair, as the American officer thought
was due to him as the representative
Of the United States navy Then;
again. Admiral Diedrichs. seemed dis
posed to become a little troublesome
at Manila, but the Yankee and the
British commanders only had to wink
| across the bay at one another to bring
about a better understanding all
around.
The announcement from Berlin Tues
day of the purpose on the part of Ger
| many to withdraw her fleet from the
Philippines and commit the protection
of imperial interests there to the United
States forces was simply a culmina-
| ton of the sentiment which has long
| been known to exist in Berlin. The
| German foreign secretary of state,
Baron Won Bulow, a fortnight ago,
made certain illusions to this country
which We're unmistakable in their
| friendly quality. There was some dis
position also, in certain quarters, to
create the impression that the Bis
marck interest was hostile to this
| country. A correspondent of the New
| York Times. Edward Breck, writing
| from Berlin, under date Of Feb IA,
says:
Prince Herbert Bismarck ranges himself
on the side of those Germans who see only
the United States.
Il cannot think he said, '.that the
| Americans. with their old English traditions
| OF fair play. will prove disloyal to this ira
| dition. l cannot believe that of nation
| that at home Is so fond of Justice and Sc
highly cultured. My official relations with
American statesmen were always pleasant in
the highest degree"
Prince Herbert called to mind the many
expressions of goodwill on the part of his
father toward America who often took &C.
casion to praise Americas sympathy for
Germany, especially during the Franco
German war Prince Herbert concluded with
| the words:
Il shall be glad to learn from the foreign
minister that our relations with the United
| States unruffied. 1 cannot see how thev
| could be otherwise. AS early as 1876 Prince
Bismarck declared himself against reprisaIs. j
There has never existed anv ground
for hostility between Germany and the
| United States. Even the recent Sa
mean incident, involving the action of
| the American head of the supreme
court in Samoa. cannot possibly attain
| larger significance than that of a mere
point of diplomacy easily adjusted in
| the routine conduct of the respective
| departments of state
| Germany's course towards this coun-
try has in no sense been marked by a
| governmental belligerent tendency
She has been less demonstrative of
| friendship than England, a fact large
| ly due to native temperament. The
! late announcement should put to rest
| all cause for aDDrehepSioo Of tro,1bIo