The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-05-31
AMERICA, THE
GOOD SAMARITAN
(RUBY O. CAPPLEMANl

The true altruistic feeling of SYM
pathy for others in distress is the most
noblest feeling that can dominate a
nation and one which should rule man
kind America has always possessed
the germ of altruism, but unlike 9TH
er nations, she has cultivated it and
tried to emulate the example OF the
Good Samaritan" She well deserves
the title of angle of Mercy" for in
nearly all cases out of her boundless
wealth and sympathy, she has given
without stint to people who are desti-
quakes. floods, crop failures and va
rious other calamities. In the suffer
ing districts following the earthquake
of Martinique, Jamaica and Italy,
American ships were the very first
to land with aid.
Many disasters. have befallen the
people of our own country. In 1871
there occurred in Chicago the great
fire which practically swept away the
entire business section besides de-
stroying many residences. In 1900
a mighty flood swept over Galveston
destroying about S1S,000,0O0 worth of
property and over 5000 lives. The
foods of the Mississippi and the Ohio
rivers have occurred almost annually
and kept the people in a constant
state of peril In each case much
sympathy was shown by people all
over the country, and money, supplies
and other aid were Immediately dis
patched to the suffering parts In
1906 the people of San francisco were
left homeless and destitute on account
of the mighty earthquake and des-
tructive fire which followed The
news quickly spread throughout the
country and touched the hearts of all
and aroused a sympathetic response.
Soon there poured into the stricken
districts contributions of provisions
to relieve the suffering and money to
nificant structures.
America has always avoided war
when possible, not because she is
afraid to fight or because she might
lose property by so doing, but to save
humanity from suffering. She has al
ways been a leader in the effort to
have courts of arbitration settle the
disputes of nations and make the hor-
rors of cruel warfare a thing of the
past. In many questions she has been
known to yild more than her part to
the disputing party in order to carry
out the principle of arbitration. Take
for instance, the treaty of Washington.
One phrase of this treaty ''The Alaba-
ma Claims" had aroused the indigna-
ton of the Americans, still they did
not allow their anger to sway their
minds and fight it out with Great Brit
ain but consented to leave the settle
ment to court of arbitrators.
Other nations have rarely ever been
known to show any mercy to con-
quered foe. They have seemed to act
on the policy ITO the victor belongs
the spoils," and the spoils we're what
ever of the territory and wealth of the
vanquished the victor desired. Many
of their wars have been for conquest,
rapine and plumber and their treaties
have been exacting and Mnfeeling.
This is not so with the United States.
In several instances she has been in
suited and injured by weaker powers
and would have been justified by Gus
tom in making war on the offender,
but she has been patient and her de-
mands for apology and indemnity have
been considerate. In two instances
where she has gone to war to right or
wrong that could not be settled other
wise, she completely vanquished her
foes and could have taken whatever
she desired without further cost but
she has paid literally for whatever
territory of the enemy she felt was
necessary to her peace and safety.
At the end of the Mexican war, Mex
leo was as helpless as an infant in the
hands of a giant-now, was America,
the victor, tyrannical and voracious?
No. for she acquired only a small
strip of land, in return for which she
paid the gracious amount of approx
mately $20,000,000. Then again at the
end of the Spanish-American war,
Spain was at the mercy of the United
States and again she did not take ad-
vantage of this fact. Had she asked
for Porto Rico, Hayti, the Philippines
or any of SPANS possessions and had
Spain refused. she could have fought
until the very doors of the Spanish
peninsula opened unto her. She re-
cognized the fact that Spain was q
fallen foe, had compassion on her and
only asked for Cuba and the Philip
pines because she thought it was the
best thing for them. She gave S2O,-
100000 to Spain as a compensation.
Nor did she take these provinces as