Evening star., 1901-05-25
TWO YEARS ABROAD
Observations of Ex-senator Mitchell
of Wisconsin.
CHANGED FEELING IN EUROPE
EngIishmen Think More of Us
Than Formerly.
GERMANS DON'T LIKE US

Ex-senator Mitchell Of Wisconsin Is In
the city. having returned here after two
years spent abroad with his family. The
special purpose of his visit is to see his son.
First Lieutenant Mitchell, who is stationed
at Fort Myer. Lieutenant Mitchell is but
twenty-one years of age. Three years ago
he entered the army as a private. and has
served in Cuba and the Philippines. He
was first promoted to be an officer in the
Signal Corps, and later was commissioned
first lieutenant in the regular army.
Ex-senator Mitchell reads and speaks
German and French fiuently. His trip
abroad was partly for the health of Mrs
Mitchell and partly to have his children
perfect their knowledge of German His
five children have for two years been at
school near Hamburg, Germany. two OF
them lately having been transferred to a
school in France, where they will improve
their knowledge of French. While abroad
Mr. Mitchell has continued to take an
active interest in politics, especially in the
foreign questions that involve the United
States. While in the Senate he was op-
posed to the policy of expansion so far as
it involved the annexation of settled terri
tory without the consent Of the people to
be annexed
Opposed to Annexing People.
Il am as thoroughly as ever opposed to
annexing people to our government without
their consent" said Mr.. Mitchell to a Star
reporter today. II do not find such power
given specifically in the Constitution. and
without the power specifically indicated
do not think we can do it. 1t is of no con-
sequence to refer to the land formerly an
neXed as an indication of what the fathers
thought Of such action. We formerly add
ed land. and necessary land, to our domain.
q yn1 n,NlA yryith th1,,t
their consent for the reason that very few
people occupied the. land annexed. In ad-
dition to that l do not see either political
or business sense in anneXing the Philip
pine Islands. The example Of Great Britain
and Germany can mean nothing to us, be-
cause the reasons that apply to those coun-
tries do not apply to us. We are recep-
tive nation. We had land before we an
neXed any island enough to support a popu-
laton three times the size of the population
we now have Germany is increasing her
population a million people a year, and
there is no place for them in Germany. We
can understand why Germany should have
a colonial policy. England has the same
problem. England has made a great sac
rifice in carrying on the war against the
Beers. yet when the Beers invaded British
territory we can understand why England
had no alternative. But their reasons do
not have any force in our case in consider
ing the need of colonial policy.
How People Abroad Regard Us.
Two tIlHSS are very evident TO an
American travelling abroad. One Is that
since the Spanish war Englishmen regard
Americans in a very different way from
that in which they regarded them previous
ly, and the second Is that the Germans
and French don't like us at all When 1
was abroad as a young man at school I
remember that the English were inclined
to look upon Americans and America as
something inferior to themselves That has
81 Nray hipfo ur1
for us. which is evidenced by many little
acts Of friendship. But during the two
years 1 have been abroad I have never
once seen an indication of friendship for
the United States in any German or French
newspaper, and have read them constant
ly. There is no denying that the Germans
gard us as their rivals and fear the effect
of our trade competition. The English
are bound to us by natural ties Of advan-
tage. We supply them with food, and many
trade conditions make them our friends
They realize that it is to their ADVANTAGE
to be on the closest terms of friendship
with us. But with the German it is differ
ent. He only regards us as a rival. The
Germans do not feel friendly toward the
German n-American. He regards him es un-
patriotic in breaking away from the coun-
try Of his birth.
The German Government.
Il like the Germans very much as peo-
pie. and the Germans in America are the
finest people in the world. But I do not
like the German government Politically,
Germany is autocracy, while socially it
is an aristocracy. Although the country has
a constitution, the emperor is practically a
dictator He does as he pleaSeS 1t Is
dangerous for a German or a foreigner to
criticise him In Germany. He regards him
self as something supernatural and Is con-
stantiy quoting God and his grandfather.
although he never refers to his father, who
was really very popular man in Germany.
The people have been so schooled that In
their minds an emperor is not to be Judged
by ordinary rules. If any public man in
this country were to give forth the kind of
talk that Emperor William INDUCES in he
would be relegated to private life in very
short time
"Did you not find some feeling OF resent
ment on the part of the German people
toward such condition." Senator Mitchell
asked.
LAS l said. they do not judge an emperor
by the rules that they judge other people.
And then what can they do with so large
an army at the disposal Of the emperor?
Some Of Germany's greatest statesmen to-
day have spent many Of their years in jail
because they talked about the emperor. A
German newspaper that criticises him will
find it's Office closed up
Emperor William.
"Is Emperor William really a man Of
great ability. in spite Of his peculiarities?'
"He is simply riding on the top wave OF
the tide that was set In motion by Bis
marck. The German nation was welded by
Bismarck and unity has given the people
courage and confidence in themselves.
They are a people Of great genius. and En-
peror William is in no way responsible for
their advancement. He keeps his ministry
busy denying things he says and in pre-
venting trouble from his course
Are the conditions such to threaten
trouble between this country and Ger
many
Il do not think that Is at all likely.
There will not be another war involving
this country for many years. I will never
see another war. I am quite certain, to
which the United States Is party"
Senator Mitchell will return to Europe
after short visit in this country. to re-
main away another year with his family.