The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-03-30
The Dewey Incident.
German-American

America of Pennsylvania &yesterday
adopted resolutions severely condemning
Admiral Dewey for his remark that the
Caribbean sea maneuvers were IAN object
lesson to the kaiser more. than to any
other person.
While in his capacity of admiral of the
American navy, it was in exceedingly bad
taste and really very foolish for Dewey to
make such remark; everybody knows,
from the president down to the humblest
citizen who notices current events, that
the observation was true. 1t is not al
ways advisable, however, to volunteer the
utterance of blunt truth, especially when
there is no occasion for it.
Our German fellow citizens are very
sensitive, but they should recall that,
during the year past our own country has
been the object Of most bitter and hos
tile comment on the part Of the German
press, prominent statesmen and army and
naval officers. Since Dewey's interview.
the Berlin press has exceeded the bounds
of propriety in rank and offensive abuse
of Dewey and our country generally, and
our navy in particular. In Germany such
free comments by the press must be taken
as sapproved by. the kaiser, since he, if
he wanted to-, could easily apply the press
censorship. s- +-.
zEThe Venezuelan affair was. on the part
of Germany, a test of American fealty
TO the Monroe doctrine. The kaiser is
no doubt satisfied now that so far as
the Monroe doctrine could be applied to
the Venezuelan incident, it was applied.
He perceived that there is a limit to the
coercive collection Of debts, and he was
strongly reminded of those limitations by
our government and abstained from oc-
cupying any territory and abruptly ended
the Smelling process, under the pressure
of American influence looking to the or
derby adjustment of the foreign claims on
the Venezuelan government. The con-
gress of the United States concurrently
shove its sympathy with the presidents
view the semper paratus principle by
ordering three battleships Of 10000 tons
each and two Of $4,000 tons each to be
added to our heavy naval armament, SC
Keeping our place among the nations in
naval construction. We stand third in
tonnage, exceeding that of Germany by
over $4,000 tons; France stands second
and Great Britain first.
President Roosevelt, for apparently very
good reasons, declined the kaiser's invita-.
ton to send our North Atlantic squadron
to participate in the German naval re.
view at Kiel. This has caused ill-feeline
In Germany, but certainly we are not
obliged to consult Germanys wishes ir
everything we do, especially as that gov.
eminent, with loud professions OF ardent
friendship, countenances the blatant hos.
tility of the German press, which 70,
scurrility has no equal in Europe. ''
Our fellow citizens Of the German.
American alliance really should not be
80 ready to figure the champions o.
Gernanys interests. In their resolution.
they charge Dewey with exploiting hi
prejudices-social prejudices they put i
against Germans. This is unworthy tn,
Intelligence and patriotism Of the alliance
members. There exists no such socia
prejudice. It would, indeed be better i
the American citizens of German origi]
would call themselves Americans, withou
any special European nationality prefix
We are all American citizens and shout,
be bound irrevocably and indivisibly +
purely American interests.