The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-10-18
Wanted-A Foreign Policy.

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The failure of Secretary Frelinghuysen's eff
fort to accomplish Il peace between Chilli and
Peru by pure ''moral suason," recalls Il sgniti-
cant passage in the recent brochure entitled
"'S4. \ Political Revelation" This work.
while put forth mainly Il prophecy, deals
with past and current political history. After
characterizing the foreign policy of the present
administration as amenably weak. the writer
says Il nder the preceding administration.
Secretary Of State Blaine had inaugurated pol
icy calculated to secure for the American flag
admiration at home and respect abroad.
Blaine, with profound >agacty, had looked
ahead and anticipated the danger that would
result from foreign nations obtaining prepon-
dcrlnce of power in North America; and. to
maintain the influence of the Republic had be-
gun negotiations with the South American ma
tons, looking to concerted action on the part of
the ruling powers of the Western continent.
These negotiations were pending when Secre-
taly Frelmshuysen was called upon to assume
office as Baine's successor. Frelinghuysen
made haste to humiiiate the American flag in
South America by causing the properly accred-
ted diplomatic representatives to be laughed at
as persons who did not know their instructions.
and thus directly reversed the policy of his pre-
dccc>Sor.
Secretary Frelinghuysen might well have re-
called, in this connection. President LincoIn's
pregnant remark about swapping horses when
crossing Il river; but he did not, and AS the New
York Herald remarks his policy has failed in
gori0usly. The United States is left out and,
as usual, Peru is the chief practical sufferer"
y Lima correspondent of the same paper sums
UP full report of the negotiations and dplo-
matte movements as follows:
Its net results were ID the Indictment of the
. Pcruyans to redoubled hatred of the United
States rs their betrayer under the guise of II
friend; (2) the assurance of the Chileans that
they might disemboWel their conquered adyer-
>arlc> if they pleased without fear of any inter
vention from the Great Republic" except by
verbal remonstrance; (3) the censure of both Of
the chief moral persuaders' by their home
governments; () the exposure of the ope of
them who had done all the hard work Minister
Logan. by the pique and negligence OF the 9th
er, to the unmerited reproach of having sold
out TO Chill, and 90 the recourse of that other
Minister Partridge to Great Britain, France
and Italy, TO reinforce the moral influence" of
the United States with their carnal weapons,
his own country possessing no navy TO speak Of.
Aside from the fact that Il weak and vacilla-
ting foreign policy is more likely to make us
enemies than friends abroad, and that it brings
the republic into contempt, there is a practical
side 10 the question well worthy of attention.
Our commercial interests suffer thereby, and
our flag does not furnish the protection it should
TO Americans in foreign countries. The evil is
of long standing. Secretary Blaine had grasp
ed the sit uation but the assassin's bullet which
laid Garfield low also gave the death blow to Il
policy that would have secured for the United
States its proper place among nations and estab-
ishcd the fact that it was ''the one sole power
that controlled the desiDies of the Western con-
tinent." OF course it is not expected, or desir-
ed, that this country should commit aggressions,
or resort to bullying. Not at all. But it is due
to itself that it should not be inundated; that
it should stand upon its rights, and that its flag
should be respected wherever it floats and en-
sure protection to its citizens in all ports and
climes. This was the American policy Secre-
tary Blaine bad inaugurated, and it is Il pity it
could not have been carried out