The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-09-13
Wisdom of George Washington.

From the TACT that the United States
is lree from 'entaugling foreign ALI
ances,' the President Of the U1ltcd
States was enabled to get Russia and
Japan to come together to treat for
peace. Wien the conference was pro-
posed, there was casting about for q
place to held it, but it turned out that
Russia did not want it held IN Eng
land or AS and Japan would not
hear to its being convened in any
European city. The logical place was
the United States. and recent history
records the conclusion of tbs peace
treaty at Portsmouth, the result being
the termination of the worlds greatest
war and renown for an American Pres
ident. These thoughts we're suggested
by an editorial in the New York Times
from which we get the fol1owlng:
1--WE may look to see many editorial
articles appearing in the journals not
only OF this country but of Europe,
pointing out how the peacemaking at
Portsmouth marks. finally. the depart
ure of the United States from its ira
ditional policy Of isolation, it's formal
entry upon the field of world politics.
its rejection of the counsel of the
Farewell Address against 'entaDg-
ling alliances.
cit is worth pointing out that not
only is this not true, but the very re-
verse of it is true. The counsels OF
the Farewell Address and the pre-
cepts of Washington are vindicated by
the success of the President Of the
United Stats as peacemaker, after
the hugest war of modren times. 1t is
because we are in no concert, because
We have nothing to do with other
Powers in the way of making common
cause with them, that we have
brought two angry combatants to-
gether. 1t is because We have observ-
ed the great rule Of conduct with
respect to foreign nations in extending
our commercial relations. to have with
them as little political intercourse as
possible, it is because we have not.
'by Interviewing our destiny with that
of any part of Europe. entangled our
peace aud prosperity in the tolls OF
European ambition. rivalship. inter
est. humor. or caprice, that when the
President of the United States came
out as the spokesman of civilization
and humanity. both warning nations
took him at his word.
"Mr. Roosevelt is simply the only
Chief Magistrate in the world who
could have oone what be has Done,
and has been enabled to do it becanse
tn position of his country is unique
among the great nations of the world.
Let rybody imagine any ruler in
Europe making the identical words
employed by the President. His pro
fessions of good will and impartility
would have been disbelieved by one
party or the other. probably by
BOTH The Times editorial bears out
>the wisdom of George Washington.
and while this county is not, compara-
lively speaking, bound up in any en-
tangling alliances we are cutting
considerable figure in foreign affairs.
However, we can e nothing ln the
Portsmouth conference to- clear any
body about our getting mixed up IN
foreign affairs. The greatest danger
we see from the conference is any
formal statement" from President
Roosevelt. as has been promised, ccu-
cerning the results of the peace con-
ference. He may say in it something
that may either offend Russia or
japan, and if he will let the confer
ence 90 at what it has accomplished.
all will be we'll Wilmington Star.