New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-13
GEORGE TOE SKAL. OF "NEW-YORK-
Err STAATS-ZEITUNG." POINTS
OFT THE FALLACT OF NR.
BTGELOW'S PROPHECY.
BY GEORGE Won SKAL.

prophecies he mikes facts and fancies in such
peculiar way that it is hard to follow him 1t
may. however, do some good to point out the
fallacies contained in his article although this
will probably not cause him to discontinue his
campaign against Germany.
The statement that German sympathy with
the Roer cause is the consequence of a wish to
expand and acquire colonies is entirely erro-
neous The causes very simple and easily
discernibe, II the observer is not blinded by a
desire to prove preeoneeived theory. There
Is no doubt that the German people a whole
hate the British bitterly. The causes of this
feeling are equally plain, but it would take too
much space TO state them here. In addition to
this, both the Jameson raid and the way in
which England started the deeply offended
The Germans inherent love of justice, while at
the same time his sentimental nature made him
take the part Of the weaker side There is
nothing mysterious about these motives
It is true that at the outbreak of the Spanish
war Germany sent an unnecessarily large naval
force TO Manila. But proof has ever been
furnished that this done to obstruct the
operations Of the American navy army. 1t is
easily explained when consider the EN-
peror's character and his infatuation for his
navy. He could not let the chance go by to
make show and to let Of his ships wit
ness real war That the sending of such a
large feet was a mistake is admitted
frankly by the German authorities who would
willingly go a great way to wipe out what they
are in the habit of calling that unfortunate
Manila incident
II is quite true that at the beginning Of the
Spanish war the sympathies of the German peo-
ple were with SPAIN but it may well be asked. in
the light of recent information. whether single
one Of the European nations felt really friendly
toward the United States. And If the German
press charged the American army with "all
manner Of shortcomings as Mr.. Bigelow says,
Il was easily distanced by him, for 1t certainly
never uttered a scathing condemnation
than Mr. Bigelow did after he had safely left
Tampa.
The statement that anybody in Germany ever
seriously considered the possibility of concen-
trating the German population in the United
States in certain localities to form nucleus for
q Germany in America is false and utterly
ridiculous. Such schemes have been frequently
propounded but always by dreamers and vision
aries. I venture TO say that the German Gov
eminent is better informed on the political ideas
Of Communications than great many Amer
leans Mr. Poultney Bigelow not excepted He
mentions the -Preussische Jahrbucher' as a
journal which has published articles favoring the
plan This is true, but the "Jahrbucher' is a
magazine on the plan of THE North American
Review" and frequently publishes articles be-
cause they are Interesting. without committing
itself TO the views expressed.
The so-called Pan-German agitation is limited
to a few sheets and has party behind It, nor
Is IL favored by even a respectable minority OF
the people. The visit Of Prince Henry had GER
tainly no connection with similar dreams, for
before his arrival the representatives of Ger
many in thu United States had been instructed
to prevent all demonstrations which might have
been construed favoring Pan-Germanism.
The Prince himself never failed to exhort the
German-A rnericans he met to remain good
American citizens, and he was told on every
occasion that the Germans in this country had
nothing but love and gratitude to offer to the
Fatherland but that their allegiance belonged
to the country Of their choice. All this was
known in Germany beforehand, and the pres
ence Of millions Of Germans in the United States
far from being an inducement for the Prince
to visit America but was rather considered in
the light Of difficulty and danger
Mr.. Bigelow's references to the sinister de-
signs Of the German Government have been so
often contradicted that it is about time they
were laughed out Of court. The facts are that
the German settlements in Brazil slowly but
surely dwindling away. They cannot exert any
political influence, and cannot increase or even
remain large as they are at present without
assistance from Germany. This they do not
receive.
If the German Government really wanted to
use them as an entering wedge to plant itself
on the American continent, it would not turn
a deaf to the entreaties Of the Pan-Ger-
mans, who have importuned it for years to as
sist at least ia the building OF railroads which
the colonsts need badly to bring their products
TO market. The government has positively and |
decidedly refused to do anything in the interest
Of the settlements. A glance at the emigration
statistics OF the empire shows that there is not
the slightest foundation for the dangers Mr.
bigelow paints in such awful colors. During |
1901 22073 emigrants left the German Empire;
of these nearly 10000 came TO the United States
and only 400 went to Brazil
AS TO the Monroe Doctrine know that not
single European government would consider II
binding IL 1t had the power to transgress it. In
MS last message President Roosevelt stated that |
The Monroe Doctrine had been formally recog- |
rized by the Peace Conference The Hague, |
but this rather an optimistic view of the |
facts The doctrine viii be respected as long |
as We are able to uphold it, and not one day !
iohger. Napoleon III attempted to disregard It, |
Ano was applauded by every government In |
Europe When the Civil War finished and |
tie United States concluded that it was time to |
uriSe the French out of Mexico, they went very |
quickly, without the slightest attempt at re- |
sistance
me opposition to the doctrine is not stronger |
u Germany than in any other European coun- /
NY few weeks ago one Of the foremost Ber- |
IN papers printed an exhaustive treatise on the |
origin and the development of the Monroe Doc |
1rihe, in which the fact strongly emphasized |
NiidI whatever European peoples or govern
uients might think Of the Doctrine. they ought /!
TO know that 1t had become part OF the po- |
htical creed Of the American people, and that |
any attempt to transgress it would find the |