The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-05-01
AsToRIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
OUR WAR THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.

OUR WAR THAT DID NUT HAPPEN
There is striking similarity between the feelings
Of the Russians toward Americans at the present
time and the sentiments of Frenchmen 100 years ago.
'sUngrateful Americans, the Russians call us. The
Frenchmen used harder names.
For what France did for us in the war of the
revolution our gratitude always was and always has
been profound but it was perfectly well understood
that Frances larger part in American affairs at that
time was due very materially to desire for revenge
upon the British.
And right well did the plan work. STILL it was
a good thing for America that France took hand In
the game Frenchmen helped to win Yorktown.
But gratitude however sincere and generous, can
never keep down those mere sturdy promptlngs OF
the heart Genet their first minister, came over
tried to drag us into another war with Great Britain
and acted as if he owned the country 1t was quite
Necessary that he should go back home. Then, when
this government made the Jay treaty with Great
Britain, France expressed her anger ordered our
minister to leave and began to capture American
vessels Our commissioners, sent to Paris were ap-
preached with requests for brbes. The correspond
ence with the French officials this subject, after
ward published in full, carried very high the popu-
lar cry, Mons for defense, not one cent for trib-
ute' Indeed matters went SO far that an army was
raised; Washington, then IS, came forth and com
manded it; warships were built and Truxton cap
tured two French frigates, all of which led to bet
ter understanding in which France did the proper
thing and ceased her hgh-handed proceedings.
Frenchmen have never quite excused this chapter
in American history, and few of them are inclined
to call it American ngratitude, forgetting that any
other course on the part of the people would have
been the surrender of their manlinesS and ndepend
ence Fortunately, the strain between the United
States and Russia is nothing like so strong as thai
between the United States and France, but because
Russia gave the union moral support in the civi
war her statesmen conceive it to be our duty t
sympathize with her in her present trouble.
Unfortunately, they do not understand that oul
president and secretary Of state and congress- anC
all our other bodies have not influence enough, o.
law enough or authority enough to control that IN
defnable but potent something called public sentl
ment, even if they so desired.
1t has been interesting to watch the expression o.
this sentiment in America since the war began. A
first it seemed to be largely the feeling that goes
the little fellow in he fight. Then Japan's success
and Russia's unpreparedness had something to d.
with its increase and the outburst of the paragraph
ers, who undoubtedly WELD an influence upon tn
surface though and conversation of the day. But a
the war has settled down to business there has beel
a calmer canvass of the situation, and on the who'll
Russia has small cause to complain of America fair
ness Indeed, the warmest hope among our peopl
seems to be that this government shall not get int
any part of the quarrel Saturday Evening Post.