The New York herald., 1875-11-20
The Foreign Policy OF tho United
Staaes.

to ascertain whether the people would in
dorse him in precipitating war with Spain.
If he cherished hopes Of supporting re-
sponse he was destined to disap-
pointment No part of the public press
has given him any encouragement. The
independent press and the opposition press
have declared their emphatic opinion that a
war would be inexcusable in present circum-
stances, and the press of his own party has
asserted that alarm on this score is ground
less because they discredited the prevailing
rumors. But he cannot be relieved from the
charge of imprudence in putting the question
and disturbing the public mind when there
was nothing to warrant it in the state
Of our relations with Spain. 1t is
evident now that the facts are
known, that there was no fresh reason for
Y buster, and that Spain has done nothing
new to provoke hostile demonstration.
What excuse, then, can President Grant give
for the recent unwonted activity in our navy
yards, which wore such an air of preparation
for active hostilities? What excuse for not
at once contradicting the disquieting
despatch sent from Washington by the Asso-
ciated Press on the eve of tue No
vember elections, which was at once
cabled to London and occasioned the
furry there? These things taken to-
gether, look like a studied attempt to
practice upon the public sensibilities and
ascertain how far he would be sup
ported if he should plunge the coun-
try into war with Spain. Such
man@uvres with such an object, are
quite indefensible. 1t is no valid apology
to say, when such an experiment. has failed,
that the country jumped to hasty conclu-
sions respecting the demands he has made
of Spain, and that the cause of all this com
motion was q very harmless note. What was
there, then, in an ordinary diplomatic COM
munication to justify him in making this
portentous stir in the navy yards and setting
the country agog with feyerish anxiety and
apprehension
When an occasion really comes for testing
the patriotism of our citizens they will not
be found wanting and so sacred and noble
feeling should never be trihed with or wan
tonly practised upon. To make such expert
ments in mere party or personal view is an
abuse Of that loyal public spirit which is
every ready to make sacrifices for the
national honor This deep and abiding
sentiment should not be appealed to
on trivial occasions II is always prepared
to support the government in just or neces-
sary war, and it is too respectable and sin
cere to be played upon for vulgar personal
or partisan objects. Attempts to arouse it
4 unnecessarily are as absurd as it would be to
subject young soldier to daily depletions
4 by opening his veins as a means Of training
him to shed his blood for his country on the
field of battle.
President Graht would seem to have a
great deal to learn respecting the diplomatic
action Of the government under his prede-
cessors, who seldom lacked occasions for a
foreign war if they had chosen to make ONE,
but who wisely preserved peace with foreign
nations, with only two exceptions, sihce
we achieved our independence. Since
the peace Of 1888 we have had one
short war with Great Britain and one
short war with Mexico, the affair with the
petty Barbary States not deserving mention
in this connection. There have been at least
dozen occasions when we had better pre-
texts for war than exist at present with re-
gard to Spain but the skill of our diplomacy,
under the guidance of able statesmen, saved
Us from this scourge except on two occa-
sions And yet our diplomacy acted un-
der greater disadvantages than any that
exist at present There has never been any
feebleness or pusillanimity in the attitude Of
our government toward foreign Powers but
firmness has been tempered with sagacity
and moderation and with a sincere desire to
maintain peace long as it could be done
with honor This was more difficult in
former periods than it is since we have be-
come one Of the three or four most
formidable nations on the globe. In
the earlier and weaker stages of our
national existence the demands and pro-
tests Of our government were not backed by
such tremendous power of enforcement as
we now possess. Negotiations are more
effective when they have great naval and
military force behind them. We have never
had precisely this advantage, for it has been
the policy Of our government not to burden
tne peOple viii BredJ HllIaTy tSIdD-
lishments but we have had what
is better-a high spirited, energetic
and patriotic people, ever ready to
rally and fight in just cause. Our mill
tary resources have always exceeded our
ornaments and our known resources,
J though dormant and requiring time to call
them into activity, have powerfully aided
! our diplomacy.
! The difference between President Grant
, and his predecessors is that they knew how
, to take advantage Of this great aid to diplo-
macy, while he does not 1t was smaller
under all his predecessors than it Is under
i. l.-AA 49, L.. IL