Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-20

HAMILTON ON NEUTRALITY.

situation involving neutrality and preparedness '
similar in many respects to that which conronts tne
United States at this time is referred to in an article IN
the New York Post Saturday Magazine In 1872 shortly
after the United States launched out as an independent
nation and before European nations were quite recon
ced to the fact that there the world an mdepel-
dent nation outside of Europe France and England began
a war which lasted until 1857 During 1893 and lI94
France passing through the reign OF terror and this
together with the fact that the Americans had not yet
overcome their bitterness toward England, combined to
make for French sympathy in this country There were
many who also contended that because OF the which
France gave this country during the revolution the
United States in honor bound if not to render active
assistance least to aid France in every possible
short of sending troops or men-ot-War washington
looked at the question in different light and backed by
Alexander Hamilton proclaimed the neutrality of this
country.
The French very DESTROYS of retaining the good opinion
of America through their ambassador Genet began al
publicity campaign not unlike that which Dumba lately
ambassador from Austria Hungary, and Demburg, the
German propagandist began in this country last year
Genet went to such lengths that his government was
finally requested to send for him. and he left the country
for the same that Ambassador Dumba did But,
France Immediately appointed successor, Adet who
had hardly become established here before he tried to in
fuence the election of 1876 and severely repmanded
and threatened with deportation To his appeaso Amer
lean citizens violate their policy of neutrality Hamilton
made in these words: owe have acted right hh
ero laying down principle not to suffer ourselves
to be drawn into the of Europe and if must have
hope will be for refusing to depart from that prn
ciple.'
On the subject of preparedness Hamilton also
pressed opinions which apply to certain extent to the
present situation. In 1894 it seemed for time if
there would certainly be between this country and
Great Britain. Hamilton that the United States
unprepared for and proposed the mission of Jay to
England, which resulted in the Jay treaty and peace In
letter to Washington, written in April 1874, Tlamil
ton advised the following of conduct toward Great
Britain:
deao by effort Deso"on
suffer demarheton line conduct to the future
that experiment all measures of nature
do the justice to which entitled and the
dignity If this experiment fails them and not till
to rerrisas and
Again in 1897 when relations between the United
States and France strained almost to the breaking
point Hamilton wrote to Washington:
with France is known and It
that honorable expedient for
b omi
where with Great Britain when Mr. Jay
and
o
specto a @
o Will
From these extracts it is evident that Hamilton viewed
the subject of the foreign relations to warning nations
statesmen today have to view it, and that President
Wilson pursuing policy which proved sound the out
set of this nations existence independent power
And as final word preparedness Hamilton said in
the Federas ga nation despcable by its weakness
folfets the privilege of being neutral
REBUILDING EUROPE
Further indication that European nations begin
ming to consider the problems of reconstruction il
the announcement that exposition of an unusual type
to be held in the garden of the Tuileres in Paris, during