The citizen., 1902-02-28

felicity of a nation with its vir.
tue? The experiment, at least, is
recommended by every sentiment
which enn0bleS human nature.
Alas! is it rendered impossible by
its vices! y y
The great rule of conduct for
us in regard to foreign nations
is, in extending our commercial
relations to have with them as
little political connections as pos
Sible. SO far as we have already
formed engagements let them be
fulfilled with good faith. Here
let us stop.
Europe has set of primary
interests which to us have none or
very remote relation. Hence,
therefore, it must he unwise in
us to implicate ourselves by arti-
ticlal ties in the ordinary vieisSi
tudes of her politics or the Jrdi-
nary combinations and collisions
of her friendships or enmities.
Our detached and distant Situ-
alton invites and enables us TO
pursue a different course. If we
remain one people, under an eff.
clent government, the period is
not very far off when we may de-
fy material injury from external
annoyance; when we may take
such an attitude as will cause the
neutrality we may at any time re
solve upon to be scrupulously re.
spected; when belligerent nations,
under the impOssibility of max
ing acquisitions upon us, will not
lightly hazard the giving us prov.
ocatlon; when me may choose
peace or war, as our interest,
guided by justice, shall counsel.
Why fOregO the advantages of
so peculiar a situation? Why quit
our own to stand upon foreign
ground? Why, by Intervening
our destiny with that of any part
Of Europe, entangle our peace
and prosperity i'll the tolls of Eu.
rOpean ambition, rivalship, inter
ests, humor or caprice?
1t is our policy to steer clear of
permanent alliances with any
portion of the foreign world, so
far, | mean, as we are now at lib
ertp to do it; for let me not be
understood as capable of patron
izing intidelity to existing en-
gagements. | hold the maxim no
less applicable to public than to
private affairs that honesty is
always the best policy. l repeat,
therefore, let those engagements
be observed in their genuine
sense. But in my opinion it is
unnecessary and would be unwise
to extend them.
Harmony, liberal intercourse
with all nations are recommended
by policy, humanity, and inter
est. But even our commercial
policy should hold an equal and
impartial hand, neither seeking
nor granting exclusive favors OF
preferences; consulting the nat
ural course of things; ditfusing
and diversifying by gentle means
the streams of commerce, but
forcing nothing; establishing with
powers so disposed, in order to
give trade stable course, to de-
fine the rights of our merchants,
and to enable the government TO
support them, conventional rules
of intercourse, the best that
present circumstances and mutual
opinion will permit, but tempo
rary and liable to be from time
to time abandoned or varied as
experience and circumstances
shall dictate; constantly keeping
in view that it is folly in one
nation to look for disinterested
favors from another; that it must
pay with a portion of its inde-
pendence for whatever it may
accept under that character; that
by such acceptance it may place
itself in the condition of having
given equivalents for nominal
favors, and yet of being re-
preached with ingratitude for not
giving more. There can be no
greater error than to expect or
calculate upon real favOrs from
nation to nation. 1t is an illu-
sion which experience must cure,
which a just pride ought to dis
card.