New-York tribune., 1882-03-03
FOREIGN POLICY OF THE UNITED STATE.

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBl Nj
WAsnINGToN, March 2.-Thc taking up by the
House to-day of the Consular aud Diplomatic bill
was the signal for the beginning of a long and, in
some respects, interesting discussion, After Mr.
Burrows of Michigan, who has charge of the bill,
had explained it's provisions in clear and business
like wav he yielded to the desire that there might
he an opportunity for some general debate. Mr.
Whitthornc delivered the speech outlined III lIIE
TRIBUNE of to-day 1t attracted general attention.
and many features of it were warmly commended
by members on both sides of the House. Mr.. Whit
thorncs approval Of the policy adopted by
President Garfclds Administration and
continued until recently by that Of
President Arthur did not evoke any
expressions of dissent from his party associates, but
on the contrary was privately indorscd ny many OF
them. Mr. Kassons criticism, later in the day, Of
that portion Of Mr. Whithorus speech in which
he expressed regret that the South American policy
embodied in Secretary Blaines dispatches had been
in q measure dlsowned or reversed by Secretary
Frelinghuyscn was In turn sharply criticised by
Mr. NcLauc n Democratic member from Mary
land.
The criticism of Mr.. KassOn was couchod in adrOit
and Diplomatic language and might be construed
in two ways. He said in substance, that when
Mr. Frcinghuysen came into the Cabinet he found
n rollcy in force which he feared if pressed
might hc the precursor of war between the United
STATES and sister American Republic He not
familiar with the question in all its bearings, and
desired time to study and weigh the subject and
carefully to read the secret correspondence bearing
upon it. halt had, therefore, been called, but this
did not necessarily imply that the policy Initiated
while Mr. Blaine was Secretary of state was to be
reversed or that President Arthur had changed his
mind II had been deemed wise stop and consider
IL. a,,fit AM Ri ,crl
member of the House in commenting on this part
Of Mr. Kasson's speech tonight, said 1t
ma, be that Mr.. KassOn is in the confidence
Of the Administration, and that his purpos3 was to
Indicate that u change ofpocy might, after more
thorough and prudent reflection, be wise and defen
sibe. But am more inclined to believe, especially
m ne is so strongly in favor of the assertion Of the
Monroe doctrine. AMI Of a vigorous American pol
lev that Mr. kas;on is in the confidence or Mr.
Blaine. and that his dcsign was TO make it easy for
Mr.. Frcinghuvsen to say after awhile that the
polirv adopted byNlr Blanc's advice WAS the cor
rect one, and proceed to enforce It,
Mr. Kasson spoke with much force and coquencc
and was listened TO with marked attention 10y mem-
Der, on both sides of the House. He said that no sub
iect ctapprarcd to him of moro importance or enlisted
his feelings more warmly, than that Of establishing
and maintaining the commercial supremacy OF the
United StItc, the American NouiIli'ul anu III
tbc most remote countries Of the Pacific. and he IN
t,matcd that on a resolution soon to be reported
from the Committee on Foreign Affairs ho should
enter into fuller discussion OF the matters IN
Volvcd.
Mr.. McLanc. of Maryland, delivered an excellent
srcecb taking strong ground in favor of vigorous
poIitical and commercial policy on the American
Continent, aud after giving his constitution OF the
lir,itotion and meaning of the Clay ytOn-Bulwer
Trcatv. declared that it bugbcar which
ought not to interfere in anywse with tho asser-
tion of any policy which the United states might
dccui il cxprdicnt or wise to pursue IN regard to
Central or South American affairs.
Abram 5. Hewitt made a long and vigorous
speceh. mainly devoted to an attempt to show that
70 the democratic party belongs the credit of haY-
ing fixed the policy Of the Government IN regard to
the rinbt of expiration and the protection Of nat
urolizcd citizens Of the United states in foreign
countries For this purpose Mr.. Hewitt rected the
roliiral history OF the United States in regard to
thoso questions from the war Of 1872 down to the
present tiIae, and to William L. Robinson oil