The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-12-24
OUR FRIENDS WHO
ARE ENEMIES

Richard Harding Davis says that
within the past year the old feeling
of friendship for the United States
in France has changed to contempt,
caused in part by some American
contractors sending France some
paper shoes and worthless shells, but
mostly because of our president $
proclamation of neutrality and be-
cause we did not fight when the Lusi-
tania was sunk.
Those impetuous people forget that
= one of the causes of their defeat by
the Germans in the Franco-Prussian
war was the worthless ammunition
supplied their army by their own
thieving contractors.
England, too, is sore toward US
because we do not openly espouse
the cause of the allies and ascribes
our position to love for the almighty
dollar Germany is disgruntled be-
cause she claims that we have favor
ed the allies to her disadvantage.
This means that they are all fear
fully wrecked by the war and would,
if they could, lay the blame for it
on other shoulders than their own.
At such time were it worth while
the United States might easily estab-
fish that in the past the United States
has a much higher and more honor
able record than any of her trans
Atlantic accusers.
Except for the steadfast sense of
justice of the English queen and the
invention of the little Monitor, our
republic would have had to fight both
Great Britain and France just when
it was fighting for life the southern
confedracy. In this connection, too,
the part that Russia played in pre-
venting England and France from
precipitating that war must never be
forgotten. AS 1t was the story OF the
Alabama from the time she, an Eng
lish ship, armed with English guns
and manned by an English crew went
out to prey upon American merchant
ships, until the final rescure of her
officers by an English yacht, when
the pirate ship was sent, splintered
and rent to it's ocean grave by the
Kearsarge, ought to paralyze every
English tongue when it prates about
the lack of honor on the part of our
government and people. When the
news of the sinking of the Maine
reached Berlin and was read, every
officer of the army staff, save only.
the emperor, expressed the belief
that the sinking of the ship was by
the Americans to supply an excuse
for stealing Cuba.
When, our government declared
war against Spain, Americans were
pushed from the sidewalks In both
Paris and Vienna and in other ways
insulted, while the press of southern
and western Europe, in unison ex-
ulted over the Anticipated short work
that Cervera's feet would make of
the paper navy of the United tSates.
AS to the American love for the
almighty dollar, udring the past 80
years American travellers must have
spent three and half billion dollars
in the resorts Of Great Britain, and
on the continent--in Great Britain,
France, Germany, Austria, Italy and
Switzerland. During the past year
they have spent tens of millions Of
dollars In charity in Belgium and
France and on every battle line In
Europe and Asia. IL the record does
not establish that the American peo-
Pile are higher and truer race than
any of their accusers, then facts
prove nothing.
In the fifties II matured horse
Ave years old was driven across the
plains to California, turned out poor