Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-08-08

good relations between the United States
OF America n the family of peoples
included within what is none too accur-
ately called the British empire. Hitherto
those relations have been disturbed by
certain memories Of the past; but senti-
ment appears now to be improving, and
II we have trouble in the future IL will
he due not to u history but to ourselves.
On the MISUNDERSTANDING of the last $50
years. i Will only a q few words. No
effective franchise came into force in
Britain until 1884. Errors committed be-
fore that date were therefore due, not
to the peoples folly but to the folly Of
their rulers. That franchise was extended
i'll 1865 and again in 1884, and in this pres
ent year the electorate will be doubled
by the inclusion of 5000, 600 women. With
freedom thus slowly broadening down,
Britain has drawn nearer to America.
During your civil war, her governing
classes took the side of the south. but
the newspapers which I here represent,
the Daily News, founded by Charles
Dickens. consistently supported Lincoln.
education even began in Britain. when
schools and universities developed, so did
honor and reverence for George Washing
ton and Abraham Lincoln and the Ameri-
can ideal.
Until the year 1900. the British court
a Gee'ki IA CLOSC dllldIlCG with Germany.
That association covered two whole GEN.
turtles. and it was responsible for the
diplomacy which. ineta,ned by Burke,
threw us h~eiter-skelter against the French
revolution. For that profound blunder,
which provoked the caesarism OF Napo-
leon. Britain is now undergoing expia-
tion. But What was IT that in 1900, broke
the spell? 1t was the discovery that
Germany. having once wrecked our SYM
pathies with Lafayette and Mirabeau,
wished to ennbroil us with Mckinley and
Cleveland and Roosevelt, and thus destroy
the Monroe doctrine. The incidents Of
Venezuela and the Spanish war convinced
and Washington. We did not hesitate,
and from nal moment the German navy
began to grow into rivalry with ours.
The decision to stand by France has
cost Britain dearly. Germany has struck
us very hard ind$ed. If the war con-
tinues TN next March. then 1t wou APP
pear that we shall have m%ortgaged by
accumulated debt ene-half of what your
bankers estimate % LAY been our total
resources in times of peace.
Our money market Will have. and indeed
has already lost itc prominence. Our
carrying trade will be surpassed. very
likely. by yours. so also will our ship
building. Germany is therefore destroy
Ing much of which shs has been Jealous.
But instead Of winning the legacy for
herself, she finds that destiny has ap-
portioned 1t to the new world. She has
but accelerated a movement of the bal
ance of trade and finance westwards
The center OF gravity has crossed the
ocean. with the American securities
which we have returned q the vaults
of your banks.
In diplomacy. also. there has been a
somewhat similar transfereiace. Before
ttN> - 49, ia --.-s--
with America In that theologians call
"schism.' Today. the British empire con
tinues solely on a basis of consent, and
anyone leave US who wants. At q
critical iuncture, India. with O,0o0.e coo
natives. was garrisoned by snly 1900
white troops. The English speaking
regions OF control are thus in tn melting
pot and from the confusion there energies
as the keystone of the whole structure
the American republic. When President
Wilson speaks, he speaks for us oil. His
views of Ireland, of Japan. of Austria
Hungary, Of military unificatida, must
prevail. insofar as he thinks it wise to
press them. That establishes q moMentous
precedent. 1t goes far deeper han the
technique of sovereignty.
Great Britain has never forgotten the
lesson taught her in 1776. She sealizes
that she can only lead high spirited coun-
tries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand
1Aia ~ OJ OlA0Clll6 lick dutIOI.
ity. If America is to lead the English
speaking world. she must be NOT less
careful to veil her privilege with regard
for others feelings. Every country has
imperialists. The imperialists of Great
Britain have some material for Boosting.
Make it easy for them to assimilate their
pride with a broader vision of the future.
Do not challenge the lingo within the
British bosom. Remember that we turn
the age. blotted with blood and tears,
and so close a not inglorious chapter. For
US. the dawn of the new day is gray and
chill. We cannot quite forget all that
must now be shared with others who
have been in the past not slow to criticize
us.
Bear In mind, also, hat our experience
OF affairs has a value. You want a kague
of nations, and so do we. Are you entirely
certain that a league of nations will best
he maintained by q rigid written consti-
tuition? You are aware that an unwritten
constitution, in the main, directs the Brit
tsh empire, which after all Is the greatest
league of nations actually in being. Is
not q league of nations evolving itself
out of the alliance against Germany?
Surely. that Is so. Look then for growth,
adaptation, development. rather than for
rules and formulas. Let the formulas
confirm the facts instead of anticipating
them.
Moreover. do not suppose hat every
country wants exactly your way Of being
governed. You are a land of presidents.
England happens to be a LAM Of cabinets
and committees. Doubtless your method
is the best. But ours has not been with
out substantial results. o think that
everything h to be run by a g~eneraissi-
mo. by unified control and that kind of
thing. Sometimes diversified control Is
an advantage, and In any case the best
control IL hat which people concerned
believe to be best. The cleverest general
in the world is powerless unless he in
spires confidence. m force methods
unless you are sure that you have really