The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-07-30
Need Of a Firm Foreign Policy.

Transpring events show theneed of
o more determined foreign policy on the
part of this country. Word comes to us
from Minititlan, Mexico, of the prose-
cution and imprisonment of one How
ard G. Walker, an American citizen.
He was employed as stevedore by o
firm transacting business at the point
mentioned, and was arrested on 3
charge of having loaded mahogany be-
longing to a Mexican firm into q Nor
wegian vessel with the intention of
stealing it. This happened about a
year ago, and although ne.of the ma
hogany was found on the vessel Walker
was thrown into filthy and crowded
iail at Minititlan and. detained four
months without q particle Of evidence
to warrant his incarceration. He was
finally released on heavy bonds, but the
authorities soon caused his rearTest,
and he was q second time thrown
into prison. The severity of the con-
finement broke down his health, and
he was released the second time on %
DOCTORS certificate. with the under
standing that with recovery OF health
his Imprisonment will be resumed. The
Mexican Government refuses to give
Walker trial, and the United States
Minister to Mexico does not interfere,
although the case has been brought to
his attention. News Of another charac-
ter, but involving the rights and prop
erty of American citizens, reashes us
from Cahao. A railroad in Northern
Peru, belonging to American stocshold-
ers, has been ordered to be seized for
conliscation by the lglesias Government
In this case the American Minister, MIR.
Gibbs, entered protest. and while the
Peruyians hesitate for moment TO
carry ont their purpose there is feel
ing of insecurity among American own
ers of other railway property in Peru.
These are fresh cases OF foreign impO-
sition on American citizens and we cite
them in support of the proposition that
we need n more vigorous foreign pol
icy. The Mexican case has yet TO be
brought to the attention OF our State
Department, and the conduct Of the Pc
ruYian Government cannot be noticed
at Washington until an overt act is
committed in the seizure OF the Oroya
Railroad. But when complaints reach
Washington what more can our Govern
ment do than protest orresort to diplo-
macyP This country is inno condition to
back demand on foreign governments
for indemnity on account OF violated
rights. We have no navy wherewith TO
enforce respect for the rights and safety
of American citizens, and our Govern
ment must run the risk of being
snubbed by the most Insignificant OF
powers, because the latter have the
means at command to either lay our
seaboard cities under contribution or a
mass Of ruins. Even the miserablo.lit-
tie Chillian Republic was able TO cast in
salt into our teeth and defy resentment
on our part, simply because there was
nothing to prevent her ironclads from
playing havoc with American property
on the Pacific coast. For this humiliat-
ing state of affairs the country is in
dobted to the Democratic party. The
Democrats, with the exception OF the
NLYlI Congress, have controlled tho
National purse-strings since March /,
1878. At first their plea against rein
forcing the navy was that little or
nothing could be done until the oE-
psrimental knowledge Of Europe
should settle the relative positions
Of armor and heavy guns. The pas,
nine years have pretty eGectually dis
posed Of the question, and now, when
Democratic House is asked 10 vote
money for war-ships and heavy guns
for sea coast defense, the re1uo ot is met
with point blank refusal As party
the Democrats are content 10 have
American citizens maltreatei in foreign
countries and their property taken
away. They know that the Govern
ment is powerless to act except in the
way of protesting. and that II It's pro-
tests are unheedcd American dignity
is insulted. If the people Of the United
States hope 70 have their dag cover aud
protect American citizens on foreign
soil they must send with it armored
ships and batteries OF heavy guns. This
can not be done while Democrats are
permitted TO block the way. II, then,
the people of the United States hope for
a more vigorous foreign policy in tho
future they must see TO it that a Repub-
lican Executive is sustained by q Re-
publican Congress. - Cleveland Lealer.