Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1900 — Let Us Not Be Ungrateful. [ARTICLE]

Let Us Not Be Ungrateful.

As The Republican has heretofore pointed out the same nations of Europe which so strongly and openly sympathized with Spain, as against us, in 1898, are now just as outspoken though not quite so threatening in their sympathies with the Boers in their war with England. Jealously of Anglo Saxon supremacy is at the bottom of it all. We commend to our readers the following from a communication to the Chicago Tribune: In these days of stress and trial for the British nations it might be well even for those of us who criticise her motives for entering upon this war to remember our own days of trial in 1898. France openly sympathized with Spain, and our most thougtful.citizens did not feel comfortable at the animus displayed by Germany. The presence of the German fleet at Manila and Admiral Diederichs’s unwarrantable meddling in our affairs there were felt to be an affront. There is no doubt the German Emperor was itching to insert his fingers in our pie. What restrained him? Nothing but the attitude of England, who stood by and gave us a moral support that we should never forget. Ingratitude is an odious trait. Let us not as a nation, be guilty of it. Let us not forget the gratitude we felt toward England eighteen months ago, and the reason we had for feeling it.