The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-12-13
SINCE WESTINGHOUSE TIME

SINCE WASHINGTON'S TIME.
On December IA, 1899, the Fa-
Their of his Country gave up his
soul into the hands of God. In
the short space Of one hundred
and twenty years the thirteen
original colonies have expanded
into the most powerful and one
Of the largest nations Oh the earth.
Boastful, in way, Of its great
ness, as is wont with all peoples,
it remained for titanic struggle
to convince the world that Amer
lea s claims were not mere
"bluff,'' but that they rested
upon a foundation Of reality.
The immortal Washington left
his paternal advice to his children
of the nation. He warned them
that the world would look with en-
vious eyes on this new experiment
in government. He recalled how
the peoples Of earth had been
downtrodden for so many ages
that imperial power would do it's
worst in the endeavor to over
throw a government Of the mere
people. With far-seeing gaze he
penetrated the possibilities Of the
future and warned against alli-
ances with the monarchical ma
tons Of Europe. So hateful was
imperialism in his eyes that he
called all such possible relations,
entangling. Through his super
human efforts and the bravery of
his people he had succeeded in
disentangling this nation from
the meshes of European intrigue
and power. Now on his bed of
death would he leave the solemn
warning to eschew the danger of
once more entering the coils of the
foreign serpent.
The recent war seems to have
changed the policy of this gov
eminent. They apparently have
forgotten the injunction of Wash
ington and the reason thereof,
namely, that European nations are
bound up by centuries of intimate
relation either Of friendship or of
hatred; that their every move is
toward the realization Of their ma
tional ambitions; that an outsider
is welcome only in SO much as he
is able to help them achieve those
ambitions; that, in a word, Amer
lea and other extra-European
countries must stand or fall on
their own efforts without the GER,
tainty of assistance from Europe
when there is question Of settling
old scores among those ages-old
enemies.
1t is not at all certain what
Washington would advise in cir.
cumstances like the present
Whether he would advocate a
league Of peoples is problematical
Doubtless his influence would be
ON the side of universal peace
were that feasible. Under the
present conditions, however, there
seems little doubt to a thinking
mind that he would spurn q
a league Of any kind where the
interests Of this country are
placed more or less at the bidding
of foreign governments. One cal
scarcely imagine George Wash
ington calmly agreeing to have
our troops sent to the ends Of the
earth just because Siberians OF
Bulgars or Persians or Turks can
not agree among themselves
America seeks no acquisitions oil
territory, she is opposed to impe
rialism at home and abroad, anc
the moment American troops SCI
foot on a foreign soil, simply t.
settle a foreign mess, at that mo
ment the first meshes Of the ALI
ance web are being formed.
!. The value Of such alliances
moreover, is more than doubtful
it is positively Indispensable
This was shown conclusively il
the past few years. Italy had al
iron-bound treaty with Germany
but Italy quickly spurned tina
agreement when her own inter
ests seemed to suggest it. Ger
many forgot her treaty toward
Belgium. Japan did absolutel.
nothing to help England during
, the big struggle, though japan
had signed treaty to help; Will
England herself seems to have for
gotten the whipping she received
from this country one hundret
years ago for searching American
vessels, and she now, according t,
reports, insists on searching GU
vessels that enter Irish ports
Thus does history, even in ou
Town day, prove just how stronI