按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
during our Spanish War that the Emperor was personally against
us。 It is not unlikely that he may have felt sympathy for that
forlorn； widowed Queen Regent of Spain； making so desperate a
struggle to save the kingdom for her young son； if so； he but
shared a feeling common to a very large part of humanity； for
certainly there have been few more pathetic situations； but that
he really cared anything for the success of Spain is exceedingly
doubtful。 The Hohenzollern common sense in him must have been for
years vexed at the folly and fatuity of Spanish policy。 He
probably inherits the feeling of his father； who； when visiting
the late Spanish monarch some years before his death； showed a
most kindly personal feeling toward Spain and its ruler； and an
intense interest in various phases of art developed in the
Spanish peninsula； but； in his diary； let fall remarks which show
his feeling toward the whole existing Spanish system。 One of
these I recall especially。 Passing a noted Spanish town； he
remarks： 〃Here are ten churches； twenty monasteries； and not a
single school。〃 No Hohenzollern is likely to waste much sympathy
on a nation which brings on its fate by preferring monasticism to
education； and never during the Spanish War did he or his
government； to my knowledge； show the slightest leaning toward
our enemies。 Certain it is that when sundry hysterical publicists
and meddlesome statesmen of the Continent proposed measures
against what they thought the dangerous encroachments of our
Republic； he quietly； but resolutely and effectually； put his
foot upon them。
Another complaint sometimes heard in America really amounts to
this： that the Emperor is pushing German interests in all parts
of the world； and is not giving himself much trouble about the
interests of other countries。 There is truth in this； but the
complainants evidently never stop to consider that every thinking
man in every nation would despise him were it otherwise。
Yet another grievance； a little time since； was that； apparently
with his approval； his ships of war handled sundry Venezuelans
with decided roughness。 This was true enough and ought to warm
every honest man's heart。
The main facts in the case were these： a petty equatorial
〃republic；〃 after a long series of revolutions；one hundred and
four in seventy years； Lord Lansdowne tells us； was enjoying
peace and the beginnings of prosperity。 Thanks to the United
States； it had received from an international tribunal the
territory to which it was entitled； was free from disturbance at
home or annoyance abroad； and was under a regular government
sanctioned by its people。 Suddenly； an individual started another
so…called 〃revolution。〃 He was the champion of no reform；
principle； or idea； he simply represented the greed of himself
and a pack of confederates whose ideal was that of a gang of
burglars。 With their aid he killed； plundered； or terrorized
until he got control of the governmentor； rather； became
himself the government。 Under the name of a 〃republic〃 he erected
a despotism and usurped powers such as no Russian autocrat would
dare claim。 Like the men of his sort who so often afflict
republics in the equatorial regions of South America； he had no
hesitation in confiscating the property and taking the lives； not
only of such of his fellow…citizens as he thought dangerous to
himself； but also of those whom he thought likely to become so。
He made the public treasury his own； and doubtless prepared the
way； as so many other patriots of his sort in such 〃republics〃
have done； for retirement into a palace at Paris； with ample
funds for enjoying the pleasures of that capital； after he； like
so many others； shall have been； in turn； kicked out of his
country by some new bandit stronger than he。
So far so good。 If the citizens of Venezuela like or permit that
sort of thing； outside nations have no call to interfere； but
this petty despot； having robbed； maltreated； and even murdered
citizens of his own country； proceeded to maltreat and rob
citizens of other countries and； among them； those of the German
Empire。 He was at first asked in diplomatic fashion to desist and
to make amends； but for such appeals he simply showed contempt。
His purpose was evidently to plunder all German subjects within
his reach； and to cheat all German creditors beyond his reach。 At
this the German Government； as every government in similar
circumstances is bound to do； demanded redress and sent ships to
enforce the demand。 This was perfectly legitimate； but
immediately there arose in the United States an outcry against a
〃violation of the Monroe Doctrine。〃 As a matter of fact； the
Monroe Doctrine was no more concerned in the matter than was the
doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints； but there was enough
to start an outcry against Germany； and so it began to spread。
The Germans were careful to observe the best precedents in
international law； yet every step they took was exhibited in
sundry American papers as a menace to the United States。 There
was no more menace to the United States than to the planet
Saturn。 The conduct of the German Government was in the interest
of the United States as well as of every other decent government。
Finally； the soldiers in a Venezuelan fort wantonly fired upon a
German war vesselwhereupon the commander of the ship； acting
entirely in accordance； not only with international law； but with
natural right； defended himself； and knocked the fort about the
ears of those who occupied it； thus giving the creatures who
directed them a lesson which ought to rejoice every thinking
American。 At this the storm on paper against Germany； both in
America and Great Britain； broke out with renewed violence； and
there was more talk about dangers to the Monroe Doctrine。 As one
who； at The Hague Conference； was able to do something for
recognition of the Monroe Doctrine by European powers； and who；
as a member of the Venezuelan Commission； did what was possible
to secure justice to Venezuela； I take this opportunity to
express the opinion that the time has come for plain speaking in
this matter。 Even with those of us who believe in the Monroe
Doctrine there begins to arise a question as to which are nearest
the interests and the hearts of Americans；the sort of 〃dumb
driven cattle〃 who allow themselves to be governed by such men as
now control Venezuela； or the people of Germany and other
civilized parts of Europe； as well as those of the better South
American republics； like Chile； the Argentine Republic； Brazil；
and others； whose interests； aspirations； ideals； and feelings
are so much more closely akin to our own。
Occasionally； too； there have arisen plaintive declarations that
the Emperor does not love the United States or admire its
institutions。 As to that I never saw or heard of anything showing
dislike to our country； but； after all； he is a free man； and
there is nothing in international law or international comity
requiring him to love the United States； it is sufficient that he
respects what is respectable in our government and people； and we
may fairly allow to him his opinion on sundry noxious and
nauseous developments among us which we hope may prove temporary。
As to admiring our institutions； he is probably not fascinated by
our lax administration of criminal justice； which leaves at large
more unpunished criminals； and especially murderers； than are to
be found in any other part of the civilized world； save；
possibly； some districts of lower Italy and Sicily。 He probably
does not admire Tammany Hall or the Philadelphia Ring； and has
his own opinion of cities which submit to such tyranny； quite
likely he has not been favorably impressed by the reckless waste
and sordid jobbery recently revealed at St。 Louis and
Minneapolis； it is exceedingly doubtful whether he admires some
of the speeches on national affairs made for the 〃Buncombe
district〃 and the galleries； but that he admires and respects the
men in the United States who do things worth doing； and say
things worth saying； that he takes a deep interest in those
features of our policy； or achievements of our people； which are
to our credit； that he enjoys the best of our literature； that he
respects every true American soldier and sailor； every American
statesman or scholar or writer or worker of any sort