Our Foreign Relations in 1999.
Having clearly set forth in our earlier chapters the splendid
proportions and the commanding position on this globe held by the
United States of the Americas in 1999, it now becomes necessary in
order to determine the position of the great American Republic in its
international relations, to review, in brief, the condition of Europe,
and, more particularly that of England, in the twentieth century.
In the year 1999 the British and American flags protected over one-half
of the human family and before the close of the twenty-first century it
appeared certain that English would become the universal language. The
population of the world in 1999 figured at a trifle over 2,000,000,000
souls. The population of the United States of the Americas in 1999 was
rated at 531,000,000, while that of the British possessions figured
at about an equal amount, making a grand total population of over
1,000,000,000 people under the flags of the two nations. It is easy
to comprehend how, under two thoroughly enlightened governments,
[English the Universal Language.] with a good system of education,
free schools, and an enterprising press, English rapidly came to
the front as the universal language, and in the year 1999 it became
obvious and clear to all candid minds that the Anglo-Saxon race
already dominated the world.
The Arbitration Treaty between England and America was signed on
the 6th day of June 1910. By the provisions of this document it was
agreed that in the event of any dispute between the two countries
Arbitration as a settlement for all difficulties would be resorted
to. Public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic was sternly opposed
to any resort to war between England and the Americas. The Arbitration
Treaty was signed by her gracious Majesty, Queen Victoria, who was
still seated on the British throne and was enjoying a fair measure
of health in 1910 at the venerable age of 92 years. This marvelous
and well-preserved lady still retained the homage and respect of
the entire world, and the indications pointed to a grand celebration
of her Majesty's centennial anniversary in 1918. But the world was
denied that privilege and honor. In the year 1912, the Duke of York,
(Victoria's grandson,) succeeded to the British throne, assuming the
title of Alexander I.
In 1999 radical changes had taken place in the map of Europe. The long
international [France Gobbled Up by Germany.] feud and bitterness
existing between France and Germany had been twice weighed in
the scales of war. The wound caused to French national pride by
the fall of Sedan, Metz and Paris, rancored long in the breasts
of all Frenchmen. It was a grief silently borne, but none the less
keen. In 1907 the French military party again shouted the battle cry,
"A Berlin," and in the brief but disastrous war that followed again
were the proud eagles of France trailed in the dust. France lost more
of her territory in the Franco-German war of 1907 and Germany saddled
on her an enormous war indemnity in the shape of $3,000,000,000.
This was a hard blow to French national pride. Russia, her ally,
proved false to her promises of aid and France was left alone to
determine the issue with Germany.
The terrible disaster of 1907 only added oil to the French fire of
hatred, and in 1935 France, for some imaginary cause, again entered
into another war of revenge, (guerre de revanche,) against Germany. As
a result of the war of 1935 France utterly collapsed. At the close
of that war Germany took possession of Paris and maintained German
garrisons in all of the forts surrounding that city for a period of
[Germans Hold Paris for Ten Years.] ten years, or until the year
1945. Germany determined, while holding possession of Paris, to reduce
the enormous military establishment of France, the maintenance of
which had greatly impoverished both countries. In order to suppress
and crush France, German garrisons were maintained in every province
of France. In this manner Germany kept her mailed grasp upon France,
ready at any moment to stifle her upon the least show of resistance. In
1999 France became practically reduced to the condition of a German
province.
Those who lived in the year 1899 will recollect only too well the
crying injustice [The Wrongs of Poor Dreyfus.] perpetrated upon the
person of an innocent French officer, Dreyfus, who suffered and was
humiliated in a manner which, fortunately, seldom falls to the lot of
man. France's lack of moral courage to grant justice to Capt. Dreyfus
for so many years, proved to the world that "la belle France," after
all, was merely a Dead Sea apple,--beautiful to the eye but rotten
to the core.
It is then no cause for surprise that France, the moral coward,
in 1935, had been transformed into a German province.
In 1999 Spain and Turkey had both been carved up, banqueted upon
and digested by [Adieu Spain and Turkey.] the political cannibals
of Europe. In the partition that took place in the twentieth century
England had been careful to secure for herself some of Spain's choice
side-cuts and joints and also secured her slice of Turkey.
Turkey had been an invalid for many long years, and its obliteration
from the map of Europe was merely a question of time. These
semi-civilized and blood-thirsty Turks with a hideous history
drenched in innocent blood, champions of lust and rapine, oppressors
of Armenia and violators of chastity, were finally driven out of
Europe in 1920, hurled back once more into the dens of Asia Minor
from whence they came.
Russia had long held a first mortgage upon the Turkish vagabond's
estate in Europe and possessed herself of a large share of the
vacated territory. But Russia, strange to relate, was kept out
of Constantinople in 1999. England, Germany, and what was left of
France, as well as Italy, were still fully determined that Russia
should never command the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. The European
Powers were ready, as of old, to smash Russia and defeat her ambition
in that direction. They knew only too well that once firmly [Shut Out
of Constantinople.] planted in the Ottoman capital Russia would then
become the absolute master of Europe. In 1999 the Turkish territory
about Constantinople, on both banks of the Bosphorus, was recognized
as a neutral zone and was held in trust by the united nations of
Europe. No war vessels were permitted to anchor in the Dardanelles
under any pretence whatsoever.