nd hold
strong enemies away. Not always consistent, not always able, not
always honest, our diplomacy maintained a certain unity, kept us aloof
from European quarrels, guarded us from threatened intervention during
the Civil War crisis, warned Europe against the conquest of Latin
America, and above all--permitted us to grow. From 1815 to 1898 our
population increased from eight to seventy-two millions, while that of
the United Kingdom increased only from some twenty to forty-one
millions and that of France from twenty-nine to thirty-nine millions.
Our wealth increased at a more rapid rate than that of any other nation.

Small wonder that in the last decades of this period our diplomacy sank
to the lowest level of incapacity. Having grown strong without
Europe's aid or hindrance, having reached that pleasant degree of
independence in which {44} diplomacy seemed a mere international
formality, we came to believe that the best diplomacy was none at all.
We did not require in our ambassadors knowledge or astuteness; any fool
would do. Our diplomats were often despised, but since we were not
dependent upon Europe's favour, it did not matter. Economic forces,
stronger than the diplomats of all the world, were making for peace
between America and Europe.

But even while we were sending political adventurers to some of the
great capitals of Europe, a change was impending. All at once the
United States found itself at war with a European power, and, a few
months later, in surprised, not to say embarrassed, possession of
tropical Asiatic Islands. Suddenly we discovered that we were feared
and disliked; that there were points of controversy between us and
various European countries; that Europe somehow did not regard the
Monroe Doctrine as a divine dispensation, which it would be impious to
oppose. We heard talk of international competition, World Power, "the
American Menace." Beneath the surface there appeared indications that
our long mutuality of economic interest with Europe was no longer
complete. The easy instinctive peace which had enabled us to attain
our ends without considering Europe seemed about to end.

{45}

CHAPTER IV

AN UNRIPE IMPERIALISM

It was in the year 1898 that the United States made its earliest plunge
into imperialism. Then for the first time we secured "dominions beyond
the sea"; dominions too thickly populated to be adapted for purposes of
colonisation. By our earlier conquests