Evening star., 1915-12-05

ence at Lake Mohonk, this diplomatlst
was moved to speak strongly on the
subject.
"To put 1t bluntly." he said. "the idea
of the A. B. c., as it has been put for
ward in this country, is undemocratic
and hence un-American. 1t is abso-
lutely condemned in south american
countries, for it is an effort to intro
duce in this hemisphere the dangerous
European policies of privileged ma
tions, with the right to lord over the
smaller ones.
'aThe idea of a combination of powers
in an alliance to preserve the equilib-
rum of a continent or a group of po-
litical units is precisely the cause OF
the great tragedy being enacted in
Europe today. When one nation or one
group of nations sets itself up as su-
perior to other nations or groups OF
nations, arrogatlng to itself privileges
and assuming responsibilities, II s
seeking to establish an aristocracy
in the society of nations.
Opposed to this the true principle Of
democracy maintains that one natioh
is as good as another.
Among the forty-eight states of this
country no one thinks of trying 10
create by alpha betical designations
it's federal relations is just as good
as New York. 1t has its two senators
in Congress and New York has no
more. 1t has the same rights ana priv
ileges as New York. In the same way
with the republics of South America,
there is no political distinction or
rank or power between them.
when Argentina, Brazil and Chile
enter into a compact not TO attack
one another what are the other Latin
uvh
of the compact to think? Are they not
justified in asking: Does this mean
that any one of the three is free TO
attack US, perhaps to wrest cur terri
tory from us?
"And when the United States is set
forth as being the presumptive ally OF
the A 3. c. powers may not the sus-
picion arise that she is not the any OF
the other Latin American countries?
That is what / mean when say that
the popular view of the A. B. e. as held
in the United States is mischievous.
There is no justice and no democracy IN
the thought that a group OF american
MOVERS by reason of their bulk and
wealth, have right to exercise sur
veillance over the rest of US, to assume
a responsibility for our conduct.
gear in mind that the small nation
of today is the big nation of tomorrow.
What IL the United States. In its forma-
tive period, with a population of only
1000 900 had then had as a neighbor a
more powerful nation which sought to
lord it over the infant republic? That
fact would certainly hamper its devel-
opment The United States would have
died or 1t would have had to submit to
an exterior control.
The growth and development OF a
e.
smilation of heterogeneous elements In
OF more land. but on the development
among its people of harmonious sentt-
ments and tendencies. For example.
should the United States seek to ex-
pand to the south and to take in the
countries to the Panama canal. as some
few jingoes have advocated. this ex-
pertinent in empire building would fall.
as all experiments in empire building
by republics have failed.
1t would constitute meal that I'm
Gle Sam could not digest. Economical
ly II would cost the United States tre-
mendously, and what would be the re-
turn? Only possible new markets. How
much better to acquire those markets
without cost by remaining true to the
democratic ideal and acknowledging
the right of every national and every
people to individual life and liberty.
1T Is in this fne democratic and fra
ternal spirit that the American repub-
lies have dealt with Mexico. AZ ! said
at the meeting Of the governing board
of the pan-Americans. when the Mexi-
can matter was before us, that action