New-York tribune., 1899-12-08

ments would be friendly in tone was ~ oe %
pected. But what are we to say OF those Oh 'he
German press and Of German public men y,
commanding rank? None could be more coruiai
and sympathetic. Indeed we are incineo "
think that II an American writer or speaker
were 10 adopt such tone toward Germany ne
would be criticised by some OF bis friends ior
being too effusve. Such criticism we Wouiu
not. however make In this case; for on neltner
side Is the effusiveness Of friendly expression
likely to surpass, II indeed it equals. the depior
able and unwarraned bitterness OF hostile eN-
preston not long ngo indulged In on D0th siueS'
The salient aud essential feature or the case IL
well set forth by the semi-official Berhher
Post" when II says that-after all our expansion
and drawing closer to Great Britain and al the
rest of the things so dreadful to the eyes OF the
modern Jeremlahs-'the relations between the
United States and the German Empire are OF
"the most cordial character" Against that
statement not single German voice of real a'l-
thority IS raised I'm dissent.
Nor are expressions elsewhere less satlsfac-
tory In France approval Of the Presidents
Message is as pronounced ms In Germany. One
important journal, indeed deplores It's Opportlih-
lst tone. as though Gambetta and Ferry had
never been at the head Of French affairs. But
the general view official and journalistic Is that
relations between the two great republics are
most friendly and that the Presidents Mes
sage is eminently agreeable TO France; which
latter fact is entirely compatible with the other
most obvious fact, that the Message contains
IAN honest, outspoken American policy for es-
sentaly American interests" OF a truth, then,
I'm what age do we live? and In what land do
we dwell? Only the other day the barest sug-
gestOn of a vigorous American policy put
forward by, let us say, that 'bad man, Blaine
was enough to throw our Little Americans Into
spasms of reprobaton and despair. Why It
would be certain to embroil us with all the ma
tOns Of the world, Yet, here Is one Of the
greatest Of foreign nations explicitly approving
our present policy on the very ground that 1t IS
a vigorous American policy, "of which the full
"est development can never meet with any OBJ
''stacles the part of France"
There are also some words, In both Germany
and France, on the subject Of alliances Some,
in the United States and elsewhere, have
seemed to think that friendship necessarily i'm
piled hard and fast written bond Of offensive
and defensive alliance; and that because we
had ceased to twist the British Lions tall" and
to call the German Emperor bad names, the
United States was pledged by treaty to furnish
men and ships and money to assist those Powers
in any wars in which they might be involved.
Such assumptions were, OF course, asinine. But
since they were put forth, with vast pother OF
dolcful braying, II is well that, even at risk Of
overdlgnifylng them they should be rebuked
bv these straightforward European recogntions
Of the truth of the case. The German papers
which most rejoice In the friendship between
Republic and Empire also rejoice I'm the fact
that no alliance has been made by us on any
hand. The French papers Of most light and
leading similarly see and declare that the "out-
spoken American policy" IS free from en-
tangllng alliances" And indeed, the European
Powers themselves have learned that there Is
something stronger than written alliance
Neither Dual League nor Triple Alliance will
ever restrain one Of its members from playing
a partner false by making secret compact
with some outside Power whenever such ac-
ton will serve its ends. But community of IN
terests Is bond that does not fall. That Is
the fact which the Powers OF Europe recognize,
and which Americans should he at least equally
| prompt 10 recognize and to make the basis OF
| action. The Presidents Message records
| great extension OF American interests through
| out the world Proceeding in harmony with the
| interests OF other civilized Powers. that eX-
| tension should and will make. not for entangle-
| ments and animOsites but for peace and good
will among the nations OF the world