Our Unpopularity Abroad

In a talk at the State Millers' banquet, recently, on "The New Relations of Our Nation to Europe," President Angell said that we as a people were most cordially disliked in Europe at the beginning of the Spanish war; that the feeling was one of extreme disapprobation and contempt; that England was the only country that expressed sympathy; that on the continent, especially in France, Germany and Italy, the Spaniard was more popular than the American. Why should this have been the case? That it was a surprise to Americans generally is undoubtedly a fact. Our astonishing victories wrought a considerable change in this feeling and largely increased our prestige, still the fact remains that the American personality is unpopular over there. The view of our closer relations with Europe were to follow as a result of (the late war, it may be well to inquire what the graver criticisms are that the better class of Europeans make upon us. It is proper that we should have abiding faith in the American, character, but this should not preclude the possibility of recognition of our shortcomings and a willingness to benefit by just criticism. Francis Bellamy in writing of the nonpopularity of Americans abroad and the graver criticisms the more thinking Europeans make says: "They say that we disappoint them. The United States came forward as the nation of ideals. Our country started n business by turning away from the artificality and the inequality of the old nations, and proclaiming itself free from fetters on mind or action.. But instead of keeping up to those professions, Europeans see, in even the better class of American visitors abroad, ;in forsaking of proper ideals, and a chasing after some of the least worthy of the Old World customs and traditions. They observe that our toady to titles, instead of adhering, like Benjamin Franklin, to the simple republican dignity of character which once fascinated France. They notice that "when they talk with us we often seem to feel we should apologize for the distinctive characteristics which grow out of our democratic institutions. They secure their American acquaintances of not looking at things in the large way which such principles as our republic professes should suggest. Worst of all, they declare that, as far as they have observed, we are not true to our national doctrine of equality. " The Dodge commission which has been investigating the legion of charges and counter charges growing out of the war is about ready to make its report. 'Forecasts of the report, from nobody knows what sources, allege that it will be a masterful job of whitewashing. There has been a lingering suspicion from the organization of the commission that this was its object. We shall soon know. The Army and Navy Register which is very careful in all it says, remarks as follows about the commission : "If any observer be besieged with grievous doubts that the war investigating commission is a fair minded, unbiased board of inquiry, be has not to read certain extracts of the reports of the proceedings of that body during the past eight or nine days to come to the opinion that the commission has outlived its purpose. lts course is an sample of arbitrary, prejudiced and unwarranted investigation, that savors of partisan inquisition. lts methods are arrogant where they are not grotesque. lts product, in the shape of testimony elicited, is nullified and discouraged whenever it does not suit prematurely acquired views of leaders in this peculiar pursuit. lts results ire destined to be valueless, begotten in bigority and developed in prejudice. " Trades-unionism is on trial for its life in England. It has responded to the challenge of the" employers, who adopted the principle of combination against strikes, by a meeting at Manchester in which the representatives of the various branches of labor adopted a plan of federated trade-unionism almost, on the lines of the employers' league. This organization will in time, probably, result in an offensive and defensive alliance between all the comrades of Great Britain. Out of this union of employers on the one aide and organized trades on the other may yet grow a gigantic war of capital against labor. It said that the federated union starts with a membership of 600,000 and a yearly revenue of $300,600. Generally in contests between capital and labor, employers by means of their greater capital and greater political influence succeed in placing the men at the losing end of the game. But if this centralization scheme prove a success, the men will stand a better chance of success through the power of numbers. This is an age of combination and centralization. These are the principles of all the gigantic trusts which practically control the great commercial undertakings of the present time. They may not necessarily be evils in themselves, but the great power which they exercise invariably results in oppression and wrong. There is apparently no way of preventing them, however, without overthrowing the existing basis of commercial activity. But there should be some way of controlling them after the combination is formed and making thein amenable to the welfare of society in general. German papers are quoting General Miles as high authority in support of their contention as to the bad quality of American canned meats. This has greatly alarmed and worried the Honorable John A. Kasson, special reciprocity commissioner who fears the facts about the "embalmed beef" which was furnished our soldiers will hurt our export trade. He says: "I think that it is high time for the American people to learn that if they must wash soiled linen it should be done behind a screen. Such public agitation is taken advantage of by the agrarian interests on the other side and by people who have selfish motives in opposing policies rather than justice and right.  In other words, it is a matter of small concern that the brave fellows who responded to their country's call and risked everything for their country's welfare, should have had their lives endangered for the financial benefit of dishonest and rascally contractors, but it is a very serious thing to have these facts become public and be talked about, for the reason that it may deprive some of these same sharks of a portion of their foreign patronage, by causing foreigners to be suspicious of our meats. We have altogether too many of that kind of patriots in this country, as has been demonstrated by the "embalmed beef" scandals, patriots, who without a twinge of conscience, take advantage of the government's necessities and the weakness or worse of high officials, to work off a stock of spoiled and worthless goods. But, thank heaven, public discussion of the infamy cannot be stopped, even if it does make some of our European patrons suspicious. May the washing of the "soiled linen" go right on, and not behind a screen either, until those responsible for the "embalmed beef" are brought to book. The governor's suggestion of a constitutional amendment providing a salary of at least $750 a session for members of the legislature, without any other perquisites whatsoever, has much to commend it. It would do away with all unnecessary junketing and shorten the sessions. Under such a system of compensation, no member would think of proposing such a trip as that which was brought to shame Wednesday by the governor's message. There would be little attraction in it if it had to be paid for by those taking it. As every day's unnecessary extension of the session would be at the expense of the members, the state's business would be promptly done. If far less legislation was enacted than now, the state would be the gainer. Under existing conditions there is time enough wasted before the legislature settles down to business, to do all the legislating that is necessary. Fifty days are allowed for the introduction of bills and until the expiration of that time very little work is ever done. In Indiana the session is limited to 60 days, that is, if the session continues longer than that, the members serve without pay, and the work of the session is pretty nearly finished before our legislature gets down to business. There is no evidence, however, that the state is a loser by this limitation. Finally, it would raise the average of ability in the legislature, and secure better legislation. The court martial has found Commissary General Eagan guilty and sentenced him to dismissal from the military service of the United States with a recommendation for clemency. It is difficult to understand how any other verdict could have been reached. His offense was deliberate and premeditated. His language was studied and committed to writing. It was the language of the slums applied to the commanding general of the army. It was a disgrace to the uniform he wears and his only defense is to plead the baby act. The American people are habitually lenient in dealing with offenders, too lenient in fact, but to permit such an offense as Gen. Eagan's to go unpunished would be to deliberately abandon all discipline and clemency in the army. Whatever sympathy one may have for the man in his distress, that can in no wise be allowed to govern to the extent of relieving him of responsibility for his conduct. There is no defense for such conduct. Whatever the condition of mind might have been which invade this outbreak possible, it unfits the man for the position he occupies. The good of the service requires that it be protected from farther assaults from the same source. One of the members of Chicago's school board is said to have remarked : "That's right, we've all tried to get in our friends, bat couldn't. " The frankness of the statement is refreshing. This method of filling positions in the public schools is too general, but it is seldom so frankly acknowledged. A stronger endorsement of Supt. Andrews could not be made. This getting in friends of members of the board without due regard for fitness is one of the most serious difficulties that school superintendents have to meet. Our public service everywhere is so permeated with the spoils system that its efficiency is greatly lowered. It would seem that in educational matters, light at home, where the children of members of the board are the sufferers, self interest ought to be sufficient to prevent such things, but it is not. The schools will never attain to the efficiency they ought until members of school boards cease to make spoils of the positions under their control. With the tragic death of ex-Attorney General A. H. Garland yesterday, while arguing a case before the United States supreme court, there passes from the stage of life a man who has occupied a large place in his country's history. He was on the wrong side in the great civil contest, but his public career since has convinced everybody that he was honest and sincere. When the war was over he hastened to accept its results and gave his large talent and best efforts to the building up of his section on the new lives. As governor of Arkansas, United States senator and attorney general, he rendered good service to his reunited country. Our own Senator Palmer at the time he sat in the senate pronounced Garland one of its brainiest members. He was a great constitutional lawyer also, ranking with Geo. F. Edmunds. Governor Pingree's message to the legislature relative to the proposed big junket of the 100 members of the house to the upper peninsula, together with the caustic comments of the press on the proposed per diem and mileage steal, caused the house to execute a quick somersault. The members declared it was none of the governor's business, nevertheless they did not care to challenge public opinion any further on the issue. His excellency was on the right side of the question and nobody understood this any better than the members of the house. There was no necessity for the junket and there would have been no adequate return to the state for the expense incurred. All commercial agencies agree that the volume of business in this country is steadily increasing. Much is said about the excess of exports over imports and the statement is made that this excess is creating an indebtedness to the country of more than $2,000,000 a day. All this is probably true, but why do not these people who exploit the rising tide of prosperity explain the lack of profits and dullness in retail business? If there is the great increase in the volume of trade why are they not receiving their share? There is abundance of money lying idle in the banks and interest is low, but there seems to be none with sufficient courage to launch out in any new business undertaking.