New-York tribune., 1909-02-25
PARKER ON WASHINGTON.

Mr. Alton B. Parker's exposition of Washing
| tons Farewell Address and his homily upon the
Iniquties of our so-called world power activi-
ties can scarcely be regarded as felicitous or
| convincing, either when he describes that ad-
| dress as a warning against our becoming i'm
/ pcated in the vicisSitudes of world politics. or
when he observes that until perhaps these last
! few years this country has closely adhered to
! the rule Of avoiding ''entangling foreign alli-
ances." Students of Washington will recall that
instead of bidding us not TO be led into politi-
/ cal connection with foreign Countries as Judge
! Parker suggests he recognized the inevitable
necessity of some diplomatic relationships and
merely advised that we "have little political
connection as possible with Europe Instead OF
warning us against becoming implicated in the
vicissitudes of world politics." he pointed out
| that it would be "unwise to inplcate ourselves.
by artificial ties. in the ordinary vicissitudeS
! "of her [EurOpesl politics, or the ordinary com
| ~binatiOnS and collisions of her friendships and
| 'enmties." Instead Of urging the "avoidance of
entangling foreign alliances he declared 1t TO
be true policy ito steer clear of permanent
alliances, since we might safely trust TO tenn
porary alliances for extraordinary emergencies -
Between what Washington said and what Judge
Parker appears to think he said or meant there
is in each case a distinction with a difference
Concerning also our alleged avoidance Of
world politics. until perhaps these last few
years." American history does not seem 20 bear
out Judge Parker's view Washington's neu-
trality proclamation of 1893 was not profes
sion of isolation, but rather q notice to the
world that our course toward other nations
whether peaceful or bellgerent would be de-
telmined by our own interest and not by the
interest desire of any other power; and on
that principle Genet was rebuked in 1893. Jaws
treaty made in 1874 advantage was taken
of Spain's extremity TO wrest from her an ad-
vantageous treaty in 1876, war was waged
against France in 179S campaigns were under
taken against the Barbary States in 1902 and
Louisiana was purchased in alternative to war
and conquest in 1903. But in none OF those in
cidents we perceive that scrupulous avoid
ance of participation In world politics which
Judge Parker vainly seeks to attribute 10 our
government until perhaps these last few years,
Indeed, it was much further back than these
| last few years" that, in 1895, our government
announced TO the world that il would not assent
TO the transfer OF colony in the Western Hemi-
sphere from one European power to another;
that in 1910 il explicitly established a military
and naval protectorate over the territory of one
European power to protect 1t from its European
neighbors that in 1S41 il protested against n
pronOuncement Of the concert of Europe; that
In 1S4S il sent n commission TO investigate Ans
tro-Hmgarian affairs and determine the fitness
of Hungary for Independent recognition: that in
1870 it read the riot act TO Austria and made
the Clayten-Bulwer treaty; that in 1851 it es-
tablished a virtual protectorate over Hawaii
against Europe; that in 1854 it Opened Japan
and made reciprocity treaty with Canada. and
that-not TO stretch the line out to the crack of
doom-in 1857 it took the lead in the movement
10 require Denmark to remit the tolls on naviga-
ton in the Sound.
It would be highly interesting 10 know in
what respect 10 what extent in these last
few years" OF wicked Republican expansion"
this country has Shown any greater inclination
toward ''entangling alliances" than did Wash
ington when. In 1T96 he explicitly recommended
resort 10 temporary alliances whenever our in
tereSt demanded them. or than did Jefferson
author Of the phrase-when, in 1902 he specifi
cally urged permanent offensive and defensive
alliance with England for the purpose Of wagira
war against France for. the perpetual repression
Of the latter. The fact is that instead of de-
nyiRg or deprecating our status as a world
power which, of course. were in his dav
as truly as In the present-Washington vol
coined and exuitetl in 4. urged that we shoul.l
assume our position rs such. aud exhorted his
fellow countrgmen 10 accept and loyalty an1
fearlessly TO discharge the duties which were