BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-09-30
SAN JUAN, SEPTEMBER 80
After-Dinner
World Politics.

AlIGI- -IllIIICl =
World Politics. {
Minister Pelletau's extraordinary ha-
rangue from the northern tip OF French
Africa was taken seriously, so far as can
be learned, only by one newepap per
which sapiently observed that war had
been made on less matter than this
braggart speech, and implied that the
affair might become the subject OF dl-
plomatic correspondence.
The cham pagne speech has, as a
matter of fact been received with 1ll-
concealed amusement by the press OF
the aggrieved nations. But the speech
was certainly calculated to impose upon
anybody who did not recognize the dit-
ference between responsible politics ana
after-dinner spotiting. The French
Minister of Marine took in from his
vantage point at Bizerta the whole OF
the Mediterranean, preached the holy
war of France against any or all Pow
ers, declared that the open door "a
matter OF two hundred nautical mites
between the fortresses of AJacco II
Corsica and Bizerta could be held
against all coners, bade his hearers, IN
view of the brutality of all other ma
tions, g 10 keep intact that focus OF JUS
tics and light-Ffench genius, ilnally
with bslated modesty hoped that ne
has not said too much.
This address has all the style
marks of -prandial world politics.
But since there has beel some mistn-
derstanding in SO plain an instance, It
may be well to explain definitely how
YOU can recognize this kind Of deliver
mood ofthe hilarious round-table where
talk is llnconfaed, the bounds Of time,
space, and probability ruled out of or
der and the superheated imagination
free to work and to credit its own crea-
ton. sThe mood, if one must discrinll-
nate minutely, is somewhat less ironical
and benevolent than that of corner
grocery politics given, in short, to
violent suspicious and strange enInltles.
The malady, in its virulent form, rarely
affects any other class of men than cab
met ministers and journalists
The ma kim. /" By their fruits ye sliall
know them fails utterly in this case,
for this sort Of statesman produces no
fruit. He would indignantly repudlate
the idea that his prophecies should be
brought to the test of historical fact,
present utility, or eventual probability.
He wanders in warning worlds t1nrea-
lized, and discerns bloodless victory and
defeat in the postprandial fumes.
Hence you must know him by his style.
Nj Il
miles of sea bssween Corsica and TIL
mis- as an open door = guarded by
France. What is little thing like
two hundred miles between friends, or
enemies Again. he aspires to keep a
focus intact. Here we come very
near that epic style which MAJ be stu
died in its perfection in the speeches Of
Senator Beveridge 'pasiin Things
are never called by their names. You
never speak Of an island rather Of a
key, a pearl Z, Stepping stone ::
M. Pelletat1's focus s also recalls the
inordinate love of geometry which in
feets this class Of prophets. They ne
yer speak of ssdistances, but they deter.
mine .radii, with which they describe
vast 9 circumference" and ascertain
g spheres of influence
But rather than delay upon Ehetor-
ical facts we will present a very
perfect example of the style and rea-
soning of the afteis-dinner school from
Mr.. Henry Norman's latest book "Al)
the Russias' Speaking of the Angie
Russian estangicment about the Persian
Gulf he asks
If the open door ii China justifes an
American Secretary of State in sending.
a strong dispatch to all tlae European
governments. and to Japan, why does
not the Open Door iD Persia (laark
the why does not Il is very ear
mark of the style IN logic, lHere-
fore, note the passage from a, sheer
assumption tea therefose as well as.
in the pursuit of legitimate. and inpe-,
rative national interests 8hich remain
tllas 9ecifed) fad to see Why the
United States should decline to be- d
party to a iaultizlste raj the geonle4
trica1 olsession uhich we have already
marked cement vim great ges
graphical and t1ausit advantages ii
Persia 10 the ower which most desifes
and needs Them, Id return for safl
equality III trade fiof all the world here.
Sinilal ce6sidefation s1ould bring
aboi1t the Addiction Of France ffaly,s1
and Japan I.pnpis Ger many ete etc.
The uhole ex !1ael Ifona she Why
does not 70 the psrein tory slenizl of'
md dtera alVa11t ageS 10 Glnl&1lg
IS ali * sil1 p1al 1t the or;Icllaf s. Vie 81
afterz5liQner hale as IT e.