Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-08-21
4 nual,lasiss ss.srass.

4 Hunlslasiug esnsrass.
Time was when the United |
states government had a distinc-
tive foreign policy and when we
asserted the majesty of this nation |
In all the waters OF the globe.
While our doctrine was nominally
non-interfsrencs In the affairs of
the outside world, our real fighting
attitude was based on the Mon
roe doctrine, which, In SUBJ
stance, said to foreign powers,
"hands of as respects the Ameri-
can continent Even as young
power, when we were hardly in
the pith Of national manhood, the
United States, In its Intercourse
With the rest of the world, was
pIucky and resolute. In our revo-
lutlon, John Paul Jones and his
gallant sailors carried terror to
the very mouth Of the Thames. In
the war Of 1872 We vindicated our
manhood and national snap, both
on land, ssa and lake. The achieve
ments OF Decatur on the high
seas, Of Commodore Perry on Lake
Erie, Of Gen. jackson, at New Or
leans, were all splendid attesta-
items Of eur purpose to keep our
national standard full high ad-
vancsd. Later we showed the
nose Of our cannon before Tripoli; /;
We rescued Kosta In full face of the
wrath Of the then powerful Austri-
an Empire; we showed our SYM
pathy with struggling Greece and
dared the consequences; eur shot
ted guns were ready to enforce oui
devotion to the doctrine of "forty.
four forty or fight" by which
spirited attitude we gained impor-
tAnt concessions of territory; we
stood to arms on the fishery con-
tr0yersy with Great Britain; Dem
ocratic statesmen at Ghent an
nounced the doctrine Of "manifest
destiny" we took hold of Mexico
and rearessed our grievances; and,
In every respect, We developed port
and majesty as a splendid, ag-
gfessive power, which was fully
determined to maintain its signifi.
GAUGE in the eyes of tile world.
In this brief sketch is the not
overdrawn picture of a young, ag-
xressive and epic nation. There is
hardly feature OF this glorious
national face which has not since
been "sicklied o'er with the pale
cast OF thought" We scarcely rec
ognize In the United States of to Il.
day the United States of thirty and
stxty years ago. We are now u
tWnguid nation, winch has ahdi-
cnted all interest In interna tional
effalrs.
This II the mere statement of
hard, positive facts; but, by con-
trast, they are far more discnurag-
ing than above outlined. Dar ing
the Schleswig Holstein controver-
sy Great Britain was supposed to
have sunk almost tp the rank of a
third-rate power. To-day she is the
Great Britain of the elder and the
younger Pitt resurrected. She
emsrges from the squabble OIL the
Eastern question with the Island
of Cyprus in the Mediterranean,
with y practical protectorate over
what remains OF Turkey, and with
the Island OF Soootrs in the Indian
ocean, lately seized and now being
fortified by her. 1t is no exaggera.
tion to say that her drum beats
may now be heard over the whole
civilized world. The sun never sets
on her dominions. When menaced
by war she has powerful navies at
her command. She eau supplement
her traditional lions roar with the
teeth aud strength and suppleness
OF the lion.
How Is 1t with US? Since 1851 we
have spent more money on our
navy than Great Britain has. We
have nourished tribe of gigantic
robbers as Secretaries of the
United States Navy, of whom
Robson is the most fragrant speci-
men. We are not now able to face
even u third rate power on the
high seas, although the American
Is the sailor, par excellence, of the
world. We allowed Spain TO
butcher the Americans whom she
wrongfully took from the Virgin
ius, and our diplomatic interposi-
tion was SO mild and lamb-like
that Spain promoted Burriel, the
butcher. We have seen England
grasp the dominion of continents,
and make people by the hundred
millions contribute to her power
and wealth, as Ia India, and we
have never caught the breath of
ambition.
During Republican administra.
ton of the government OF the
United States, we have voluntarily
selected an humble role. In fact,
such an attitude has been forced