New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-01

greed aud Its own htlpiesSness anu io'i'' "
did not try the right thing, nor did he DO ths
wrong thing IN the right way, but his Impulse
TO do something was natural and credltaole.
In disciplining him Mr. Frelinghuysen ought 10
have remembered that he himself has SHOWN
neither vigor nor intelligence in giving direc-
ton to the activities of his subOrdinates IN
South America He has left them to follow
their own caprices. So far as there Das oeeh
any action whatever on the part OF the repre-
seutatives of the United States IN spanish
America since Mr.. Trescufs return, it has peeh
spasmodic and Irresponsible There have peen
no concerted efforts, no dominant IDEAS III
American diplomacy in that quarter. Inc Mi"-
listers have not known what they were eA-
pected 10 do in a mOmentOus crisis, and' SO ''''
as they have ventured to do or say anythihg'
have acted independently and without author-
ty. ,no
When Secretary Frelinghuysen entered tho
Cabinet he found that the Government was
honorably committed to a positive poncy ID
Soutb America. Mr.. Trescot and Mr.. walker
Blaine had been sent to Chlil ana re'u WIZ"
definite instructions to pursue certain hAeu i'o'
of policy and to perform delicate anu 'npo'
tant diplomatic duty and an lnvitati"n hnu
been sent out to various States on tins c"h.i-
nent to attend Congress to be held under tue
ausoices of the United States in the interests OF
oeace. Without making the slightest eiIor' I"
maintain continuity of action, the new Secre-
tary couptermanded Mr.. Trescots Instructions
leaving him 70 learn the news from the CHILEAN
Foreign Office, and subsequently, abandoned
the Peace Congress. Having IN this way COM
promised he honor and dignity OF the Govern
ment. which had sought to play the part OF ar
bitrator mt the close of disastrous war ana To
educate the minor States in the principles OF
peace, Secretary Frelinghuysen was under pc
culiar obligations to substitute some policy oil
his own for that which he had reversed with
such indecent haste Has he done this iav-
ing blurted out all the diplomatic secrets ana
exaggerated the differences between his own
views and Mr.. Blaines, has he succeeded III re-
storing the diplomatic influence Of the United
States in South America by any positive
achievement, by any display of firmneso Dig
nifty ana sagacityi Has he emerged at any
time from the low level Of ignoble lnactionf
The Monroe Doctrine implies something more
than policy of passive abstention from Euro
Dean alliances. As originally proclaimed, sixty
wears ago it was declaration that the United
States should not become entangled III the
alliances of Europe. nor suffer European Pow
ers I" to extend their.systcm to any portion oil
this hemisphere Now France, Great Britain
and Italy would not "extend their system to
Chill and Peru by joining the United States in
an attempt TO bring the war to a close. But the
Monroe Doctrine, as construed in recent Presi-
Dental messages and Congressional action re-
latng to the Panama Canal, is more compre-
hensive than President MOnrOes phrase i'm
plies. 1t assumes that the United States VIII
undertake any work of commanding impor-
lance which is to be done on this continent.
Secretary Frelinghuysen will not listen to Min
lister Partridge's scheme of European American
mediation. He is right But let him recognize
his own responsibility. The United states bv
Grmness of acton, by a vigorous and enlight-
ened craftsmanship, must do the work which
other Governments are not allowed to do.
The Monroe Doctrine is poor morality If 1t ex-
G. udes European peace-making, and at the
same time demonstrates the impotence oil
| American diplomacy.