AMERICAN POLITICAL-IDEAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4408, 30 December 1875, Page 1 (Supplement)

AMERICAN POLITICAL-IDEAS.

OP THE FOREIGN POLICY OF THE ' UNITED STATES. Letter X. [FBOK OUR SAN VBjLKCISCO special,] The fact that the Continent of America is so far removed from other continents, in itself necessitates a foreign policy peculiar to the country, and differing widely with the policy of European Governments. The cankering jealousies that keep Europe in an ever-fitful fever are unknown in this new world. The arrogance of rulers cannot call millions of their subjects from their peaceful and legitimate employment to take up arms and destroy each the other, and under the gaudy banner ©f glory, and in the hollow name of honor. There are no Rhine boundaries to be fixed, no sick empires to be sliced up, no bitter animosities to be fanned into a flame at the convenience or whim of a monarch. From all the disturbing elements which periodically involve European States in murderous assaults upon each other, America is free. Cut off by the sword from the nation which gave her birth, she yet remembers the pain of the wound, and is not disposed to waste sentimert upon the parent stock; and, because of that fact, she is free to form an approximately just estimate of all the nations of Europe, and of the world generally. In other words, America is a nation without foreign prejudices or traditions. The fundamental principle of the foreign policy of America is that as every man is free to do as he pleases so long &3 he does no evil to anyone else, so nations, being but aggregates of men, are entitled to the same rights. To maintain this principle, the American policy says, " peace and friendship with all nations, but entangling alliances with none." America makes no aggressive war. She seeks commercial alliances with every nation of the world. She compels the respect of nations not by vast armies and navies, but by the greatness of her progressive movements and vastness of her enterprises. In turn she respects, and shews her respect, to all nations worthy of it, but abstains from all political connections with any of them. She has frequently added large territories to her already vast empire, but these additions have always been made by purchase, and the rights of the people of these territories have always been faithfully conserved. In 1803 all the territory extending from the Mississippi River t» the Pacific Ocean was purchased from the French, who had given the name Louisiana to the whole district. This purchase was made for 15,000,000 dollars, and by it a war with Napoleon was evaded. In 1818 Florida was purchased from Spain for 5,000,000 dollars, and another . war avoided by this purchase-diplomacy. In 1845 Texas was annexed by her own desire, the Federal Government assuming her debt of 10,000,000 dollars. This transaction was not as fortunate in its results as the others, for it led to a war with Mexico. The Mexicans were defeated. The American Government, however, true to its policy, abandoned their legal rights as conquerors, and paid the Mexican Government for the land about which they had gone to war. The prime dispute was about a, portion of Texas which Mexico claimed. This was paid for; and in addition, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado were purchased. These transactions cost the American Government 18,000,900 dollars. The inhabitants of the several purchased countries were guaranteed their liberty and property, the right of self-government and citizenship. This conquest, and subsequent purchase of the conquered country is unique in the history of nations or of victories. In 1854 the Mesilla Valley and Arizona Territory were purchased from Mexico at an expenditure of 10,000,000 dollars. In 186S Alaska was purchased from Russia for 7,000,000 dollars. In this way America has consolidated her empire. Except in the one instance arising out of the Texan difficulty, and in which a war was thrußt upon her, all territorial acquirements have been made by peaceful and. equitable arrangements. In every instance the people of the territory purchased have been greatly benefited by the transfer.

America has not been without her boundary difficulties, which have frequently very nearly proved casus belli. In 1842 the north-east boundary of Maine and the troubles about the fisheries were settled by Mr. Webster and Lord Ashburton. In 1846 what at first seemed likely to lead to endless trouble was amicably settled by an interchange of territory, when Oregon and Washington territory was transferred to the States in consideration of their withdrawal of all olaims to lands lying north of latitude 49 deg. Again, in 1871 a difficulty arose in reference to the ownership of San Juan Island, which was settied by the Emperor of Germany, as arbitrator, in favour of tho United States. The purchase principle has also been applied in securing lands from the Indians. It is the boast of the American people that they have followed the advice of Washington in his farewell address, when he spoke as follows: "Observe good faith and justice towards all nations. Cultivate peace aad harmony toward all. Religion and morality enjoin this conduct; and can it be that good policy does not equally enjoin it ? It will be worthy of a free, enlightened, and at no distant period a e;reat nation, to give to mankind the magnanimous and too moral example of a people always guided by an exalted justice and benevolence. Who can doubt that in the course of time and things, the fruits of ,iuch a plan would richly repay any temporary advantages which might be lost by a steady adherence to it ? Can it be that Provic.ence has not connected the permanent felicity of a nation with its virtue ? The experiment, at least, is recommended by every sentiment which ennobles human nature." Thus wTote "the Father of the People." Have his hopes been fulfilled? Let political economists answer. The teachings of the political schools of America all point to Europe as a vast theatre where the grand dramas of the past have been played for the special benefit of the new world that was to be. The great soldier and the brilliant diplomatist are, in tho eyes of America, simply in the one case licensed butchers, and in the other elegant thieves. "War and diplomacy have been the curse of Europe,—America will have none of them. Beginning with Sesostris of Egypt, she holds up all the great ones of the past as simply so many highwaymen —who stole their neighbours' land under the polite fiction of glory. Cyrus and Darius of Persia were accomplished bullies, Alexander of Macedon was an overgrown boy tyrant, who cried because he could not eat all the plumpudding in the world. Alaric and Attila were barbaric road agents, who bailed up nations as Claude Duval did individuals. Charlemagne was an astuto robber, who cut throats in a rery polite form. Tam«rlane, Genghis Khan, were of the same class. William the Conqueror, (Charles V. of Germany, Ferdinand And Isabella of Spain, Louis the XTV. of France, Charles XIL of Sweden, Federick the Great of Prnssia, Marlborough, Napoleon, were all merely chiefs of rings who stole on a large scale. All these men added vast territories to the country of which they were sovereigns, but cone of them either believed or admitted that the conquered nations had any rights which they were bound to consider. In fact, nations and countries were mere counters, to be used in tho vast game of ambition, which was the chief pleasure of these crowned gamblers. In the old world, under th e old sy Btem, war and land stealing were as natural to the times and people as whist is to every coterie of ancient spiustern in every town in England. The early settlers of America brought with them many of the of the old worldj: but'mdst of 1 them had carried with them a holy horror of

1 the.system.that. had.deluged the,fairest fields, of Europe with blood. Brute power, the law that made the strong man the right man, that gave to the successful thief the name of hero, and surrounded his crimes with a halo of glory that dimmed the vision of the .inquirer and blinded the eyes of the doubter—was not to be a law in the- New World. There peace, indastiy, progress, freedom should be the inheritance of all men, and there happiness and virtue should j be personified. This was the dream of the j new nation; this their ambition. Could I there be a nobler one 1