The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-13
THE AMERICAN POLICY.
An Insurmountable Difficulty in Presl.
dent Wilson's Way.

To THE EDIroR OF THE suN--sir. step
ping aside from the current Of world
hysteria. may l not call your readers
attention TO the great reply OF Secretary
Seward, "after having taken the In
structions OF the President" to the re-
quest OF tho Emperor OF France in 1868
that the United States join with Austria,
Great Britain and France in representa-
lions to Russia in reference to the
struggle of Poland for independence?
After the usual polite formalltles. Mr..
Seward says:
Observation-Disclosures, however. the favor
with which We thus regard the sugges-
ton of the Emperor Of the French. this
Government flnds an insurmountable
difficulty in the way of any active CO.
operation with the Governments OF
France. Austria and Great Britain to
which 1t Is thus invited.
"Our invaluable Constitution had
hardly been established when Il became
necessary for the Government OF the
United States to consider to what ex-
tent It could with propriety, safety and
benefcence interfere. either by alliances
or concerted action with friendly
Powers or otherwise. in the political
affairs of foreign States An urgent ap-
peal for such aid and sympathy was
made In behalf OF France, and the APP
peal was sanctioned and enforced by
the treaty then existing of mutual
alliance and defence "a treaty without
which, II may even now be confessed
to the honor OF France, our own sover-
eighty and independence could hot have
been so early securely. So deeply did
this appeal touch the heart Of the
American people that only the difference
they cherished to the counsels OF the
Father OF Our Country, who then was
ct the fulness Of his unapproa enable
moral greatness. reconclled them TO the
stern decision that. in view OF the loca-
ton OF our republic. the characters,
habits and sentiments Of It's constituent
parts. and especially its complex yet
unique and popular Constitution. the
American people must be content to
recommend the cause of human progress
by the wisdom with which they should
exercise the powers of self government.
fcrbearing at all times, and In every
way. from foreign alliances, interven-
ton and interference.
"Since that period occasions have fire.
quently happened which presented Sc
ductions TO our departure from what,
superfcialiy viewed. seemed a course
OF isolation and indifference. II Is
scarcely necessary to recur 10 them.
One was an invitation to q congress OF
newly emancipated Spanish American
States; another, an urgent appeal TO aid
Hungary in a revolution aimed at the
restoration OF her ancient and illustrious
independence another. the project Of a
Joint guarantee of cuba TO Spain in
concurrence with France and Great
Britain: and. more recently. an invita-
ton to a cooperative denomination with
Spain. France and Great Britain In
Mexico; and, still later, suggestions by
some of the Spanish American States
for a common council Of the republican
States situated upon the American con-
tinent.
These suggestions we're successfully
dsallowed by the Government, and its
decision was approved in each case by
| the deliberate Judgment OF the Aneri-
can people. Our policy OF non-interven-
ton. straight. absolute and peculiar as
! II may seem to other nations. has thus
become a traditional one, which could
not be abandoned without the most
urgent occasion, amounting to mani
| fest necessity.
The President will not allow HIM
| self TO think for a single moment that
the Emperor Of the French will see
anything but respect and friendship for
himself and the people Of France. with
good wishes for the preservation OF
peace and order. and the progress OF
| humanity in Europe. in the adherence
OF the United states upon this occasion
to the policy which they have thus far
pursued with safety. and not without
| advantage. as they think, TO the inter
ests OF mankind"
Is there any doubt that Senator Lodge
and his Republican associates are voic-
| ing the deliberate judgment Of the
| American people; that they are stand
| ing for the principles on which the Re
publican party is founded
1t is the American policY-the de
clared policy of the Republican party
as voiced by Lincoln and Seward In
! their official acts that 80, forbear "at
|
| eign alliances, intervention and inter
! ference" Languagecan hardly be more
comprehensive n nation and party
cannot be more clearly committed &c
the policy thus announced. Either Sena
tor Lodge and the Republicans asso
ciated with him are right in their oppo'
stion to the League Of Nations. or al
American craftsmanship has beer
founded on wrong principles from Wash
ington to Wilson. and only the latter I:
right. 1t is possible that one man may
be right as against all men Of all time
hut the proba abilities are against it; the
burden Of proof is upon him who asserts
! such . doctrine RENJAMIN S. DEAN.
JAMESTOWN, May IL.