New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-02

FOREIGN RELATIONS AND COMMERCE..
The Democrats in Congress, and the lnde-
pendent boilers out of Congress, appear to be
quite in accord upon the policy OF Opposing
whatever measures may tend to make the coun-
try safer. at home and stronger abroad. In the
House we see Democrats determined to main
tain the present defenceless condition of our
coasts. Elsewhere the public are being i'm
plurcd not to support Mr. Blaine for President,
lest he should endeavor TO obtain for the United
States abroad respect and recognition when
would be agreeable novelties. The argument
used to enforce the opposition to what Is called
turbulent" foreign policy is the assertion
that our business men want peace ana quiet
The faulty of this reference to the needs OIL
commerce should however, be apparent. For
what American commerce needs Is, not the KIND
of peace resulting from Chinese fccblcncss
and sluggishness, but the peace which rests on
a wcll-dencd appreciation of our ability and
readiness TO defend ourselves. to resent insults,
and TO protect American citizenship all over the
world.
England has long been n great commercial
country, and how has she fostcrcd, developed
and maintained her worldwide traffic Not
by ncglcctinglhcr dcicnccs, not by accepting the
counscls of John Bright and the Peace Associa'
ton, not by giving it To be understood That she
never would fight, no matter what the prOvoca-
ton but by being rcsouto to uphold the honor
of her ilag wherever II lpntpd. by always exact
INK icpatation when her citizens abroad were
wrongcd, by making IL understood everywhere
that her merchants would bc protected by their
Government, by backing IN all legitimate ways
commercial enterprise with the moral power OF
tho empire. when British merchants have
cssnycd to open new fields TO commerce. they
yonlwnys known that their interests would
be- guarded by the Government, aud this asstr-
aucc has been of great assistance 10 them. nut
all this can hc done without adopting !" tubu-
lent foreign policy and 1t Is all compatible
with prudence aud conservatism and non- inter
ference,
American commerce has nothing TO fear from
such policy; on the contrary, 1t has very much
to expect. 1t has long been notorious that
American citizens abroad, especially in Asiatic
countries, are helpless and without protection,
because the United States does not assert itself,
and because it is therefore treated with scarcely
disguised contempt Our merchants cannot
push their trade in new channels for the same
reason. They cannot rely upon their Govern
ment foI.. ANY good Offices abroad. They are al
ways at a disadvantage in competing with
British traders consequently. But no " turbu-
lent foreign policy is needed to correct this
state Of things. All that is required is what
every American citizen ought to insist upon,
namely, that this great and powerful Nation
shall henccforth be accorded its fit and proper
place among foreign Powers; that its real
weight and importance shall be represented in
its demands for respect and fair play to all its
citizens wherever they may roam that IT shall
no longer affect a peaccablencss which is simply
productive of msapprchension, wrong and in
suit; that it shall teach the world to respect its
flag by insisting OH due Difference to it.
If these propositions are calculated to alarm
any one especially any American merchant or
business man, they must not only have parted
with their patriotism, but they must also have
become blind to Ito own plainest interests.
In short, what is TO be expected from Mr.. Blaine
is neither more nor less than that foreign policy
which every American has perfect right to cx-
pect which is the natural ana inevitable ac
compartment of the National growth; which is
absolutely essential to the development OF our
commerce abroad and which is not less
requisite to the maintenance of our sclf-respcct