Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-06-18
n Disgracefui Foreign Policy

We have often alluded in the HERALD
to the contemplate position our govern
ment occupies in the eyes OF the people
of other nations. For years and years,
under Republican rule, the United States
have tailed to protect their citizens in
foreign lands, so that on this account we
have become by-word aud repreach;
while our navy, despite the immense ap.
preparations for its benefit during and
since the war, has shrunk to such utter
iusigniticanee as to have become the
laughing stock of the seas This navy
business, and the stupendous frauds com.
mitted in that department, will be one
of the principal things to investigate,
rectify, purify and reform when the
Democrats get into power. Heretofore,
as a rule, only Democratic papers have
touched on this great national shame; but
it is becoming too Objectionable for even
the leathery mucous membranes of the
stomachs of Republicans themselves.
The last number of the San Francisco
Argoaaut-a great Blaine organ-has
the following to say of our Government
foreign policy and its cowardly disregard
of its citizens in other countries, which
could not be truly asserted of the coun.
try during Democratic supremacy:
There is not an American citizen in
this broad land whose blood has not
boiled within his veins at the timorous,
the vacillating, and the cowardly foreign
policy of our Government. There has
been no protection on the high seas or
in foreign lands for the life and liberty
of an American citizen, such is the con.
tempt i'll which our iag is held by for.
eigners. The writer remembers how.
when but boy, his Indignation was
stirred by an account of the contemplat.
ed execution OF some American prisoners
in Cuba. 1t was during one OF the numer.
Gus revolutions in that lever faithful
isle, aud some travelling Americans were
seized by Spanish commander, tried
by a drumhead court martial, convicted
as spies, and sentenced to be shot. The
American consul heard OF it, and hurried
to the place of execution. Fortunately,
he had requested the British consul to
accompany him. Had it beenotherwise,
his errand were boutless. The uuforuu.
ate prisoners were ranged against wall
looking their last upon the blue sky and
the tropical sun. Before them was drawn
up file ot Spanish soldiers, who were
Just bringing their pieces to the shoulder
The American consul rushed forward, and
hastily spread our flag over the bodies OF
the doomed men. 1t was of no avail.
The pieces Were cooked aud the signal
was about to be given In another mo.
ment the balls would have rent the flag
and riddled the bodies of the uapless
prisoners, when the British consul threw
hs nag over them. Through this the
Spanish officer did not dare to iire. The
execution was postponed, and further
inquiry resulted in the establishing of
the prisoners innocence. They were
freeZtheir lives were saved-but they
will carry to their graves the awful
shame of that day when foreign nau
was needed to save them from u bloody
grave. This, then, was the estimation
III which our flag was held years ago.
This is the estimation in which it is held
to-day. Scores of American. lie rotting
in the common iails OF Mexico today
Americans imprisoned for trivial ofieuses,
or no oifenses at all, awaiting that jus.
tice which is always tardy to the limo,
cent man, but which in those Spanish.
American countries sometimes never
comes. This is the condition Of affairs
which all free.born Americans would see
changed. The flag of which We are all
no proud must be respected on land and
sea.