Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-15
AMERICA A "woRLD POWER"
Europe Might as Well Admit It and
Look Pleasant.

From the London Spectator
To deny to America the right to enforce
compensation for injuries caused by Turk
ish misrule Is, therefore, to exclude her
from the benefit Of the general rules ap-
piled to all other great civilized states,
and, In fact to deny her right to be includ-
ed in that honorable list. Upon what prin-
ciple is such a denial to be based? America
Is as populous, as powerful and as civilized
a state there is in the world, and her
geographical position has nothing whatever
to do with the matter. Or rather, II has
this TO do with il, that as she does not
want, and could not want, territory in Eu-
rope, she is much more likely to be disn-
terested and impartial than any other pow
er. With any of the European powers, hui
mainly, or an individual quarrel, might be
a pretext for aggression; but America cam
not even wish to agrees, and may be
trusted, if she demands any change. to
desire that change because of the motive
assigned
1t is said indeed, in some quarters that
America being so distant a power can have
no good reason for interference; but that,
surely, is matter for her own decision, not
the decision of Europe. She has as much
right to. her own ambitions. her own pur-
poses and her own complaints any other
power, the fact that her ambitions cannot
be territorial being in her favor not
against her 1t Is true that, being COM
paratively new power she is not aided
or hampered by volumes of old treaties, to
De quoted or OlSreRarQed as occasion
serves, but that fact renders her more free,
not less free, to act upon general and civ
iliZed principles.
There is in reality no case against AmerI-
can interference" except the reluctance OF
diplomatists trained to consider Europe
their world, to admit that a new state has
arrived at such a position In population,
wealth and all attributes of civilization
that 1t must be consulted when 1T wishes
to be, and has as much right to plead the
general interests of mankind as any other
state. That she will be consulted is pretty
clear. for. after all. diplomatists, like all
other politicians have to deal with facts.
No state Is now so strong that unless COM
PEELED, II will declare war on the Union,
and a combination of states against her is
barred by the refusal of Great Britain to
allow any such attempt Seated on two
oceans, with unlimited wealth, and a popu.
lation possibly more patriotic than that Of
any white state, her weight must be felt
in every corner of the world. The trend
of events too, If In her favor. For tho
next half-century the struggle OF the civil
lied mankind will be for dominance on the
Pacific, and while the Union is already
strong In that vast ocean, from the mo-
ment the Panama canal is cut she will DO
the strongest state upon it's shores Alone
or In alliance with Japan, she could debar
Europe from the trade Of the future or
from expansion in the far east.
To talk, therefore, If any one has talked.
of her being an intruder in European poll
tics is positively foolish, the only wise
course for the diplomatists being to admit
her at once before they must, to all Eu-
ropean councils, and to treat her In all mat
tiers, whether OF Importance or only of
ceremonial, an honored member of that
great European family which claims the
primacy of the world, and certainly dis
poses of the greater portion of its strength
and wealth. America is no longer an out
slider, and the attempt to treat her as one
does but turn valuable friendship into Bit
terness.