The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-10
A WORD OF CAUTION.

In the present day apotheosis Of
peace and arbitration, an opposition
voice occasionally will do no harm, and
may tend to bring current thought back
TO a solid and practical basis that may
perhaps be lost sight of in the current
that flows so strongly toward arbitra-
tion and peace. The evident drawback
toward general arbitration, so far as
the United States is concerned, is found
in the fact that, wherever we might
submit any questions on arbitration, we
submit it to an unfriendly tribunal All
Of the European powers, and the gem
eral trend of European sentiment, are
hostile in sentiment toward the United
States. This is primarily because of
envy and jealousy. The United States
is so prosperous, so wealthy, so strong,
that our position evokes hate and re-
prisals wherever possible. lf we would
submit any question to arbitration,
even at The Hague tribunal, that ques-
tion would be passed upon by those
who have an underlying, if not an
outspoken and pronounced, hostility
against the United States.
We have gone over this ground re
peatedly, and everything that comes to
the front with respect to the relations
between this country and the powers
of Europe forces one anew to the con-
clusion that the United States would
be in the hands of its enemies when
ever it submitted any question to ar
bitration in Europe. A phase of this
general hostility toward and distrnst
of the United States is thus set forth
fairly and strongly in the Portland
Oregonian:
If the United States makes an arbl
ira ton agreement with Great Britain,
for the determination OF all questions be-
tween them. Germany Will not be en-
tirely happy. and will go right on build
noughts, drilling and feeding. her i'm
mense army. keeping her powder masa-
zines fun and dry, and surrounding her
self with bristllng guns and embattled
rortreSses, Germany likes us we'll enough.
and likes England well enough. but not
well enough to slow down or falter in the
great race for International supremacy.
Great Britain strikes hands with us
because we are a powerful and indis
pensabe ally, and for no other reason,
Blood is thicker than water; but so il
was "A hundred years ago when II flowed
freer than water,
Japan looks upon us as n possible and
even probable foe: and maintains a strong
military and naval organization for any
emergency. No one really knows what
Japan will do, not even Japan.
Canada makes reciprocity agree
ment with us because Canada thinks II
Is a good thing for Canada. but howls
with rage al the very thought of annex
alton. Does Canada really love us?
Mexico is all stirred up over the pros
pect OF American intervention. and
angriy rises TO inquire why those troops
are down on the Mexican border. Does
Mexico really regard us with affection
and confidence?
Every little South American republic
hates us or has a feeling for us that
approaches actual detestation. Why?
China has reason 10 remember our
humiliatins treatment OF the Chinese.
Russia has not forgotten how we threw
our hats IN the air and shouted with JOY
when Port Arthur fell. Spain has rea-
son TO remember the not remote past.
France regards us as barbarians and In
dians Italy and Austria are more or
less Indifferent.
dave we any friends except ourselves2
Has any nation friends? Yet We talk OF
disarmament