New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-29
FRANCE AND THE CANAL.
Her Especial Interest an ISthmiaa
Route-HegemOny of Nations.


To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: The advocates OF the Nicaragua route seem
10 be preparing for a last rally. IL is always d
pity TO see energy wasted on a hopeless cause
while so many hopeful languish for lack Of
energy II may lessen The amount OF such waste
IN the present instance b b. be pointed out that the
continued advocacy OF tre Nicaragua route at che
present stage involves not merely a decided I'M
policy. but also injury the nation with whom
we have especial reasons at the present moment to
be on friendly terms. Tor the sake Of movement
which promises the greatest benefits 20 all man
kind.
The fact is this: II Nicaragua be chosen. the
French ration Will lose s40.o00Ooo.
Now. OF course cannot shape our policy by
considerations for the financial benefit OF other
nations. Al the time. such considerations
may well be allowed some weight in cases where
the arguments OF self-interest are about equally
balanced To most people these arguments in the
present seem not merely equally balanced
but 10 show a decided preponderance in favor OF
Panama. To OF these it may be an aodi-
tional qualification and stimulus to know that an
other nation viii share the benefit especially as
this nation is France
The Is that France. having for ia years
been the leader o. humanity toward liberty and
equality is devoting her attention TO the third
part OF her original progrsmme-fraternity among
nations Hence. all well wishers Of that noblest OF
causes must desire her prosperity, both as a re-
ward for her generous endeavor and as an en-
coursgenent 70 further effort Without undervalu-
;ng the labors Of English workers is but just to
say that the present friendship between England
and France. eliminating in the arbitration treaty
which future generations viii look upon the
Brightest beacon light the twentieth century, is
mainly the fruit Of efforts originating in France
The Combes- Lansdowne treaty might with equal
propr1ety be called the dE1stournelles de Constant
F1nct treaty. Even before that treaty was signed
preparations already IN progress for similar
treaties with Italy and the United States. The
Friendship between France and Spain. OF which the
United States was the ''innocent' cause. has been
growing ever since tin the OF their alliance is
daily expected. The Pyrenees no longer exist"
may be sai6 truthfully than in 100. for it
new expresses the WILL not Of despot. but OF two
peoples
LEADERSHIP OF FRANCE.
II has been suggested, especially in Germany that
Nh this determination has selfish motive; that II
simply represents the ole desire for hegemony, to
be attained this time not by force OF arms but by
oiplsmacy. Whoever has studied the characters
OF the Leaders OF this movement viii know that
nothing could be further from the truth than this
assertion The phenomenon simply shows that
France has become democratic to the bone. and is
merely trying to follow out the logic Of democracy
which naturally tends TO obterate artificial diyl-
sions among civilized men. In this matter, as in
many others. fortune has favored France by en-
trusting her with the leadership in movement
which IL takes but little prophetic gift must
eventually embrace the globe At present. doubt,
ns.ionalism is the order Of the day. Our esteemed
President his success largely TO his ''Ameri-
canisn-" The "Alldeutsche Verband" deides every
thing that is 'fDeutsch' Since this is the current
OF the times. the OF common sense Will swim
with Il, long be knows that il carries him in
the desired direction.
To many people love OF country is at present the
stimulus TO the highest effort, and hence 50 long
il works mischief TO humanity at large. IL
is worthy Of all encouragement But perhaps the
ve--y vehemence with which nationalsm asserts it,
self at the present day is due TO the fact that il
feels its foundations slipping away The sympathy
OF the logical man goes out TO all amiable people
and is withdraw from all unamiable people, with
out regard to political boundaries; and be-
come more educated they become more logical
slowly indeed. but inevitably our little planet Is
getting small for US that everybody must SCOT
recognize the absurdity Of drawing arbitrary lines
its sUrface-or rather. accepting arbitrary lines
drawn by God knows whom-and saying. Within
these lines viii confine my sympathy" You car
hardly mention spot on the globe nowadays but
some one OF your acQuaintances has been there
Every prominent has relations with people IL
al the five continents.
CLOSER UNION OF NATIONS.
With closer and closer network Of such rela-
tons permeatng all civilized nations the time
must soon come when civilized humanity Will
simply be one large organism, in which the original
divisions viii be imperceptible as are the out
lines OF the iron filings that have been converted
into a solid block by hydraulic pressure Three
hundred years ago Englishmen and spaniards
hooked upon each other outlaws. Considering
the rate at which this opinion has been changing,
II might not De- safe TO predict that three hundred
years hence they VIII still form two different ma
lions Thus " hie approving OF the incentive Of sa-
uenalism hong serves TO stimulate progress
me man whose vision ls somewhat WiCeT than the
average length OF mortgage viii reserve has
foremost esteem and sympathy FOR those ten
oenciesA both more generous and more logical
which aim 20 hasten the approach OF the time
when no artificial barriers shall interpose 10 lessen
1ne oellght OF intimacy among the best Of man.
Nnc; and be ~tI gladly pay the tribute OF his
highest admiration 20 the nation whose fine instinct
taught her thar this Is safe path ia which 10
LEAD. because humanity IS sure 10 follow.
II this be hegemony IL is that has long
been open 10 all great nations. We ourselves had
the chance and we threw il away. Perhaps our
rivals by wide stretches OF ocean might not have
meant much II is so easy for to bc peace adj
rocates. Far more impressive is the example Of a
nation with her rivals at elbows. nation with
ton long regarded the most aggressive in tho
world fsimply because she had opportunities BY
which others would have been only too glad to
profit. II they had come TO them).
ANOTHER TREATY OF ARBITRATION
Having thrown away cur best opportunity. let us
grasp the next best TIE honor and abet to the best
Ct our power the nation that was wise enough Il
90 what declined 10 DO. The year 1904 Will prob
ably not be far advanced before treaty similar "a
The Combes- Lansdowne Treaty viii be Land before
the people OF France ana OF the United States It's
acceptanc by the two great republics would be the
II Is eninently desra bic that both nations should
spproach this question IN the frlerGliest