The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-06
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lutionists did not insist upon the old
alliance. but proposed. almost de-
manded. a new and broader alliance.
James Monroe, the American Minister.
was folded in a fraternal embrace by
the President of the National Assem-
bly, and Citizen Genet was sent to
America with the proposal of a fam
lily compact" between the two repub-
lies which then stood alone in a
monarchical or oligarchical world. and
which ought to fight side by side to
defend the empire of liberty" every
where.
Such universal propaganda did
not appeal to The sober judgment of
Washington. Few men ever have made
a more momentous decision than the
Father of His Country when he de-
cided to cut loose entirely from his
old ally in the Revolution and from
Europe as a whole. For had he linked
the destiny of the United States with
that of the French revolution. the
two republics might have gone down
together and each become the treas
ure trove of "a man on horseback"
An Unwrittcn Law.
In place of the French alliance.
Washington gave n new law to the
nation in his farewell address. where
in he admonished his countrymen that
the great rule of conduct for us In
regard to foreign nations is, in ex-
tending our commercial relations, to
have with them as little political con-
nection as possible" since Europe
has a set of primary interests which
to us have none or a very remote re-
lation Hence, therefore, 1t must
be unwise in US to implicate ourselves
by artificial ties In the ordinary vicis-
situdes of her politics or the ordinary
combinations and collisions Of her friend
ships and enmities.
Why" he asked, by Intervening
our destiny with that of any part OF
Europe. entangle our peace and pros
perity in the tolls Of European ambi-
ton, rivalship. interest. honor or ca
price? Taking care always to keep our
selves by suitable establishments on
respectable defensive posture. we may
safely trust to temporary ADVANCES Tor
extraordinary emergencies"
Unwritten laws always are the strong
est They can be neither appealed nor
repealed. They are no mere scraps or
paper which may be tossed In the fire
Of momentary passion.
The unwritten law against foreign al
liances has been strengthened rather
than weakened by time and is more Wig
orou, and unqualified than Washington's
own expression OF II. The very word.
alliance, has become a national bugbear.
at the sound of which every American
hair stands on end.
The new principle. and 1t was new to
the history OF nations. brought on the
desultory. little war administration of
John Adams To vindicate the right of
the United States to be neutral in
the European war and to be treated by
France as an equal and Independent ma
ton. Washington himself emerged from
his retirement and drew his sword once
more.
The second President was no less
svcrse to alliance than the first. you
are afraid OF being made the tool Of Eu-
rope" an Enxlishman had said to Adams
long before his Presidency. Indeed. I
am" Adams confessed. what Powers?''
Oswald inquired. '.All Of them" the
America1 replied. "All the Powers will
be coptinnally maneuvering with rs to
work M into their real or Imaginary bal.
anes Of power.