New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-07
PREsIDETT oRAVrs FRONTIER POLICY

PRESIDENT CHANTS FRONTIER POLICY.
i The message of President Grant
though rather lengthy for hasty reating,
can not fail to interest the intelligent
part of the people II shows very in
innate knowledge on the part Of the
writer Of all the details of the Executive
branch Of the government. Its recon-
mendations of new measures mark we'll
settled policy on the part Of the Presi-
dent, an affirmative policy, which for
several years has been wanting in the
message
It has been supposed for: some time that
the President .entertains very decided
views upon the subject of American influ-
ence upon this continent. The idea is an
old one and originated with the statesmen
who helped to build up the government.
President Monroe's name is permanently
associated with it. John Quincy Adams
and Mr.. Clay enlarged upon it. and the lat
ter popularized it. But no emergency
arose to test the practical disadvantages of
foreign control on our frontiers, until the
war Of the rebellion. Canada, Cuba.
Mexico and the New Providence Islands
afforded secure retreats for the organiza-
ton of hostile schemes. The enemies of
the Union were treated with cordial hos
pitality, while our accredited officers and
ships of war were merely tolerated. To-
ronto, Montreal, Quebec, Nassau, Havana,
Kingston, Vera Cruz, Matamoros and other
towns and cities in the vicinity Of the
United States, were all during the war
semi-hostile ports and furnished open and
undisguised aid to the insurgents.
During the time these acts of hostility
were committed we had too much else to
attend to to punish our covert enemies.
But deep settled conviction settled upon
the minds Of Union men, that an oppor
tunity should be embraced at all early
day to render repetition of the hostile
acts of contiguous and quasi friendly ma
tons impossible. The President most
truly represented this sentiment in his
San Domingo treaty, which failed to OBJ
tain the consent of two-thirds Of the Sen
ate. It is barely possible that the bad
trades made by Seward in the purchase of
Alaska and the bargain for the island of
St. Thomas, the last of which is yet I'M
may have had some in
luence in causing the rejection of the San
Domingo treaty. But the Senate did not |
fully represent the sentiment Of the peo-
pie upon the principle Of protecting our
domestic interests. Some of our states
men,, while holding the affirmative, are
disposed to await further developments,
FULLY believing the tendency of these
territories to gravitate to-
ward us.
1t is evident, however, that SO long as
Canada remains in her present political
position we shall have constant disputes |
with her, growing out of questions which |
The government of the Dominion either |
mas not the power or the disposition to
settle. Canada is fully capable OF COM
hitting acts of aggression, but hopelessly
weak in making reparation, And the oc-
currences of the past six or eight years
nave tended to widen the breach natu-
rally existing between the two peoples.
The undisguised sympathy with the re-
Dellion has not been forgiven by the
Americans on the frontier, while the Ca
nadians no doubt have good reason to re-
the aid given to the ill-conceived,
hair-brained Fenian expeditions which |
have on several occasions thrown them |
INTO paroxysms of alarm. The difficulty |
S greatly aggravated by the fact that no |
government exists in Canada,
,r any of the American British provinces.
The old fishery troubles begin again to be-
come threatening, and unless rules for |
he government of fishermen satisfactory |
o our people are made we shall soon hear
# demand for Canadian conquest.
The space devoted to our relations with
Janada, in the message, shows that the
President recognizes the existence of actu-
.lities, and is willing to assume decided
position. He sees the republic surrounded
N all sides by natural enemies of our in
titutions, who await favorable moment,
vhen we are weak, to infict injury upon
Is. 1t is the part of prudence to make
hem harmless while We have the power
o do so. Even Independent republics
governed by enlightened people, would be
preferable to the semi-civilized Mexicans
r the irresponsible colonial governments
f the British provinces and Cuba. It
ooks as though Young Americas idea of
he expansion of our territory was about
0 become the vital political question in
be next presidential campaign.
PARTISAN SENTIMENT AND DUTY.
/