ALL HUNGRY FOR TRADE AND NEW ELECTRIC RAILROAD PROJECT

Walter Wellman.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, July 16, 1897.

ALL HUNGRY FOR TRADE.

The Struggle Among Great Nations of the Earth.

WHY GERMANY FEELS UNFRIENDLY.

Colonization Policies Are Mere Public Subsidies For Trade—The Monroe Doctrine and Interference With Germany's Ambitious Plans—A Grave Question of Policy.

   WASHINGTON. July 16.—(Special.)—The attitude of the German emperor and of the inspired German press concerning the foreign policy of the United States, as reported by cable, has attracted wide attention in Washington. Emperor William is represented as saying that the danger to the peace of Europe lies not in anarchy, nor in the ambitions of sovereigns, but in the aggressiveness of the United States. At first it was doubted if Emperor William had said any such thing. Members of the Washington cabinet scouted the idea when the report was first made public, but later, when it became known that the German newspapers which usually represent the government's views were talking in the same strain, our public men pricked up their ears and said there might be something in this sudden turn of Germany against the United States.

   For some time the relations between Germany as a government and this country have been rather unpleasant. The commercial war, the high tariff on this side, German exclusion of our meat products, the German charge that this country had acted in bad faith, really violating the treaty by refusal to abate the tax on German bounty paid beet sugar, the life insurance trouble, in which Germany sought to restrict the operations of American life insurance companies in that country—all these things have combined to produce a great deal of unpleasant feeling. Between the people of the two countries, of course, there are warm ties, because such a large and welcome part of our population is of German blood, but just now the German press is filled with abuse of the United States. Nothing that is done in our country pleases our critics across the water.

Germany's Designs.

   Germany, I am told by state department officials, feels much piqued because the United States proposes to go ahead with the annexation of Hawaii. The Germans have interests in Hawaii, and they are cultivating trade in that direction. They little relish the thought that all this is to come under the control of the United States. It may not be that Germany has had designs of her own upon the Sandwich group, but it is certain that if the Hawaiians had ever proposed annexation to fatherland there would have been no delay in acceptance at Berlin. German politicians are represented as very angry because the United States proposes to interfere in Cuba. If Spain finds any ally in Europe, it must be in Germany. No one here believes Germany will ever do anything more than to give a sort of diplomatic support to Spain. Of course if the United States and Spain come to blows, as it is not impossible they will, and Germany were to take sides with force against us, that would create a most serious situation. Probably that would lead also to England's intervention on our side, and thus a great European war might be brought on, but it is highly improbable.

Feelers For Commerce.

   German dislike for the United States is a commercial pain. The expressions of the emperor and of his organs indicate unerringly that Germany fears American competition. The whole incident serves to emphasize the fact that today all the nations of the world—the great nations—are engaged in a fierce struggle for commercial and political power. They are all land hungry, all trade hungry. Their colonization policies, backed up by great fleets and armies, are mere public subsidies for trade. They are feelers for commerce thrown out by the mighty arm of the state. Four-fifths of all their diplomacy and of all their armament on sea and land have special reference to their colonial policies. Without their colonies, which mean markets, England would sink to a fourth rate power, Germany to a second rate, and France would lose prestige almost in like proportion. They are all struggling to widen these markets and to keep them for their very own.

   If the United States awakens to a realization of the fact that in this day and generation the nation which stands still really goes backward, and that unless we stand out for our proper share of this commercial and political power we shall be in danger of retrogression, perhaps the words of Emperor William will be in some measure justified, but he is wrong in supposing, if he does suppose, that this country has any designs upon the peace of Europe. We have nothing to do with the politics or policies of Europe save as they involve America. If this country goes in for colonization or for spreading its prestige through annexation in Hawaii or protectoracy in Cuba, as we are very likely to do during the coming few years, all our efforts will be confined to the American hemisphere.

The Monroe Doctrine.

   Added to it is another American policy, now well known the world over, the Monroe doctrine. Under it the United States assumes responsibility as the first of western powers. In the family of nations upon this continent we are easily the most powerful, and power means leadership and responsibility. We should be foolish to incur responsibility under the Monroe doctrine without accepting its natural incident, and its incident is an extension of our prestige and our commerce throughout all America. If this interferes with Germany's ambitious plans in Hawaii or Cuba, or Central or South America, we cannot help it. Germany and the other great powers of Europe have overrun Africa and Asia and Australasia, they have reached out into the South Pacific and grabbed nearly everything in sight, and they surely should be willing to give the United States a little room for growth within our own neighborhood and upon the continent which our civilization so thoroughly dominates.

   I met the other day an old student of international affairs, a man of great experience and reputation, who predicted to me that the next great war in which the United States engages will be fought over the Monroe doctrine. Its issue will be whether that doctrine shall stand and so much of America as is unable to govern itself properly shall fall under the stars and stripes, or whether this continent will become subject to further European colonization. Upon the determination of this question, said he, depends whether or not the United States is going to be the first nation of the world or a second rate power.

   WALTER WELLMAN.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Consistent at Least.

   Russia's position relative to the Turkish question has been more consistent throughout than that of any of the other great powers of Europe. When Greece first proposed to annex Crete, the csar was the first to say "Don't."

   When the disappointed Greeks urged their government to make war upon

Turkey, Russia advised them to abstain from such a conflict, warning them that they would lose by it. For this the csar was most cordially abused by all Greek sympathizers, and he was openly charged with being in secret league with the sultan.  

   But events have proved that the Russian ruler was right, and he is now engaged in proving that his accusers were wrong. He is saying to the Turks in reference to Thessaly just what he said to the Greeks regarding Crete, and his "Don't" is likely to have more weight than all the protests of the other powers combined. No one doubts that Russia has taken a position against the dismemberment of Greece because it is to Russia's interests to prevent such dismemberment, but at the same time the consistency of that government's course throughout the entire series cannot well be denied.

A NEW PROJECT.

ELECTRIC RAILROAD THROUGH THE OTSELIC VALLEY.

From Binghamton to Georgetown, a Distance of Fifty Miles. Erie Railroad Company

 Said to Have Eyes on the Route—Plenty of Water at Willet.

   In these days of advanced civilization, it seems too bad that the beautiful Otselic valley should not have some railroad connection with the outside world. In that valley, nearly fifty miles in length, lies some of the most fertile farms of which the great state of New York can boast, and the residents also are among the most industrious and thrifty to be found. But the one drawback of this fertile and productive section has been the lack of railroad connection. The farmers are compelled to haul their produce overland, many of them ten and fifteen miles to reach a railroad. The merchants doing business in the beautiful and flourishing villages which are scattered on either side of the Otselic river are compelled to haul their wares from a distance.

   But a new project has been brought to light, which will, if carried to completion, give this valley such a boom as was never known, and place it on an equal with the rest of the world. This is the construction of an electric railroad from Binghamton to Georgetown, Madison county, a distance of about fifty miles, and it is stated on good authority that the owners of the New York, Lake Erie & Western railroad are about to consider such a project, or may have already given the matter their attention. It is a fact that one of the officials of the road who knows of the valley and its resources is favorably impressed with the scheme.

   The proposed line would of necessity parallel the D., L. & W. R. R. from Binghamton to Whitney Point, where it would turn to the northeast and follow the Otselic river, passing through Upper Lisle, Willet, Cincinnatus, Taylor, Pitcher, North Pitcher, South Otselic, and terminating at Georgetown, Madison county, a station on the Chenango Valley branch of the West Shore railroad. The project carries with it the suggestion of the utilization of water power at Willet and at Pitcher which could be secured at a nominal sum. In the hills east of Willet are two large reservoirs which are always well filled by streams. and from them the fall is so great that the power would, it is thought, be sufficient to run all the machinery necessary for the generating of the electricity needed for the line. At Pitcher also, considerable power might be obtained from the falls in the Otselic river.

   This line would open up a section of country unbounded in resources, and it is estimated would receive the traffic incident to an area of 600 square miles, and would prove to the Erie road a feeder of inestimable value. The residents along the line of the proposed road are said to be highly enthused over the prospects of a road, for they only can realize how great the benefit would be to them.

   If this is done it will probably end all prospects of either a steam or electric road from Cortland to Cincinnatus. Now is the time for some grand hustling on the part of the promoters of the Erie & Central N. Y. R. R., for if the latter should be built the electric line scheme from Binghamton would probably fall through and Cortland would be the gainer thereby.

4,000,000 Tons of Rain.

   During the afternoon shower at Rochester last Sunday the rainfall was 3.35 inches. The Rochester papers figure the weight of the rain in that city alone to have been 4,000,000 tons. Forty cars of the Rochester Street Railway company were hauled into the barns for repairs after the shower. The lightning would travel along the trolley wires and burn out the motors or brush holders, making it impossible for the cars to proceed. A car on the Allen-st. line was thrown off the track and badly damaged.

Adjudged Insane.

   Miss Almira Carlow, a resident of Texas Valley, 78 years of age, was examined yesterday by Drs. Dana and Bennett of Cortland, and was declared insane. Today County Judge J. E. Eggleston made an order committing her to the Binghamton state hospital, and she will probably be taken there to-morrow. She was at one time about a dozen years ago an inmate of the asylum at Utica.

Cortland Park.

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—A. S. Burgess, Hot Weather Goods, page 4 .

   —Admission to all parts of the park tomorrow on the occasion of the annual picnic of St. Mary's church will be free.

   —The Sunday-school of the First M. E. church is picnicking at the park to-day. Some went over this morning to remain all day and others went this afternoon.

   —A load of hay at Willow Glen was set on fire and burned up the other day and it is supposed that the fire was caused by a wheel rubbing on an iron on part of the hay rack.

   —There will be a band concert at the park to-morrow night at 7:30 o'clock.

Dancing will occur in the pavilion after the show and music will be furnished by McDermott's full orchestra. The dancing will be free.

   —When the Auburn baseball team wins a game the dailies of that city devote about two columns to the account of the contest. When their club is defeated three or four inches suffice to tell the tale.—Moravia Republican.

Elm Stump.

   ELM STUMP, July 14.—Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hakes of Cortland were guests of Mr. and Mrs. George Sherman over Sunday.

   Miss Lynch of the Cortland Fair store was a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Lang over Sunday.

   Miss Lena Price, who has been seriously ill with appendicitis, is improving under the skillful direction of Dr. F. D. Reese of Cortland.

   Mr. and Mrs. Earl Johnson of Marathon are helping Mr. and Mrs. Jay Wooden through haying and harvesting.

   Miss Ida Livermore of Cortland was a guest at Mr. Charles Stoddard's yesterday.

   Mr. David Ross of Cortland has engaged to help Mr. Irving Price through

Haying and harvesting.

   Miss Jennie Corwin, Miss Gertrude Doherty and Mr. Wilbur Corwin of Cortland called at Miss Lena Price's last evening.

   Mr. Robert Adams of Virgil has been engaged to help the Misses Coligan through haying and harvesting.