Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-04
A WAR SCARE.

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A great deal Of space Is given by The
press TO comments on the speech Of
Secretary OF War Root, at the Grant
birthday dinner In New York He Is
considered 20 have sounded note OF
ALARM when he said no Intelligent
man can read the signs Of the times to-
day and not realize that the hour is
coming, and coming before many
years when we, the American people
VIII be forced either to abandon the
Monroe doctrine or else nght FOR g. Uu-
less greater wisdom and diligence IN
legislation Is displayed in the future
than In the past that time is likely to
arrive and find us In state OF unpre-
paredness. Should that happen. are we
going to abandon the Monroe doctrine?
Never We may have 20 nsht Tor st.
but We can never abandon Co.
There was no clear indication as to
how the peace Of this country is mem
aced, and It would seem idle TO throw
out surmlses. The Boston Transcript
however calls attention TO the fact that
the Germans who settle IN Brazil, prob
ably under Inspiration, preserve their
nationality and national sympathles to
such an extent, as to make Il possible
Tor the home government should occa-
sion arise TO assume a "protectorate'
over them. The Brazillans are said to
view with alarm the solidarity Of Ger
man colonists In the state Of Santa
Caterlna, and also the recent purchase
by Germans residing at home, Of large
tracts Of land IN the South American
republic
Another explanation Is that the
dispute with Turkey may possibly lead
to serious complications. II Is thought
that this country cannot gecede from
the position taken. that the sultan must
pay. according 60 the agreement made,
and that, n a squadron be sent to the
Mediterranean to collect the bill. It may
encounter the forces Of one or more
European powers blocking the way to
Turkish ports. It is supposed shat our
quarrel with the sultan Is OF such a
nature as TO justify US in resenting vlo-
lently any interference with our Turk
ish affairs.
It IS hardly probable that Secretary
Root had any OF these alternatives IN
his mind when uttering the winged
words OF alarm It will take Germany
a good many years, before her navy and
transport fleet are IN such condition
that war party could successfully
urge the government to open hostiities
with the United States on account OF
Brazilian immigrants. And even II
Germany We're equipped for such an UNI
dertaking. there would be no war be-
tween the two countries as long as a
possibility remained to settle the dis
pute by other means, which means
practically that the conflict would not
come off, the resources Of diplomacy
when peacefully disposed. being almost
unlimited.
The probability OF war with Turkey
for the sake OF the sum about which
the controversy turns. Is still more re-
mote. The sultan win pay, when there
Is no other alternative. In all proba-
bllity the European representatives. In
Constantnople will advise him to do
so. rather than to create an entirely
new issue 20 further entangle the puz-
zling question OF eastern Europe For
It Is evident that public opinion In
Europe misunderstands the entire
question. The Paris Figaro. for I'M
stance, wants to know III a foreign
power has a right to take executive
measures against Turkey without a
previous accord with the European
powers" and the Vienna Neue Freie
Presse thinks III win be a dlsagreeable
surprise 10 Russia to find in America a
new rival In a domain which Russia
has always regarded as her traditional
domain"
These quotations show how entirely
misunderstood is the dispute between
the two governments But the point is
that the European powers must feel
anxious to have the sultan settle up. II
they have any suspicion that the
United States entertain designs upon
Turkish territory.
In Europe u Is customary for the gov
eminent representatives to hold over
the nations threats Of war whenever
increased appropriations are wanted Tor
army and navy purposes. In this way
Germany has obtained means TO sup
port her immense military establish
ment II may be permissible TO ask
therefore. whether Secretary Root has
decided to adopt the tactics So success
fully employed by his colleagues
abroad. Such proceeding would be
unnecessary. The representatives Of
the American people viii furnish an the
means actually needed for the ade-
quate defense Of the country Any
thing beyond that cannot be wrung
from them by painting certain char
ucter on the wall no matter how cleyerly
the drawing is executed.