The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-10-18
An Aggressive Foreign Policy.

AttUHtQ COIStIuttOH.
An Aggressive Foreign Policy.
It has been put forward as an argu-
ment in favor of Blaine election thai
if in power he would give us some new
and startling revelations in the way Of
foreign policy. What he would do, or
what he could do, in this particular
line we are not told, but the general
impression is conveyed that in some EN-,
tirely original manner he would startle
the world, shake the American banner,
we suppose, over the effete monarchieA
Of Europe and cause our bird of freedom
to scream defiance in the ears of our
enemies. All of this kind of talk NAV
safely be classed with other campaign
nonsense but if it be really tended to
influence votes, it indicates a curious ig-
norance of the spirit and ideas of the
majority of our people. There always
is and always will be. certain restless
and reckless element thirsty for excite
ment and commotion in foreign as in
home affairs, but it has never come any
where near controlling the country.
and it will be very bad day for us
when it does. 1t comedies with the an
archie, communist;c element that even
in free, popular government finds
some excuse for existence and that loves
an explosion because it thrives best
among ruins. 1t is a new idea in poll
tics if the wishes and views of this class
are to be employed as an argument to
influence an election, which is really
what this talk about Blaine's foreign
policy means.
But perhaps some of Blaine's ad,
mirers may say that what they are
after is an original and aggressive for
eign policy, and not empty indulgence
OF National vanity. The reply to this
is, that neither originality nor ag
gressivencss is needed in our foreign
policy at present. We are getting
along very nicely by minding our own
business. and any other course tn n this
would surely result in National injury.
The idea that we need aggressiyeness
in this direction is mistake. We ara
differently situated from any other
great Nation in the world. We have
no colonial possessions; we have ample
space to expand in: we have no dreams
pact and contiguous. Our foreign poll
icy has been and should always be de-
voted to taking care of our own Nation
than in interfering with the business OF
other people, and we have quite enough
to do In this direction without PLAYING
quixotic experiments for the gratifica-
ton of National vanity. We are not
quite~a '.Nation of shopkeepers," but
we have a great deal of stuff of one
kind or another to sell, and our pros.
perity largely depends upon domestic
tranquility and commercial develop
ment and energy.
As to the restoration of our National
prestige, if we have lost it, which is by
no means quite certain, no aggressive
ideas touching foreign policy on the
part of our President can do us much
good. What we really have suffered
from are evils resulting from the rule
of the Republican party in the affairs Of
the country during a long period. A
poor navy, consisting of a few wooden
ships, is an injury to our National
name. A loss of commercial repre-
sentatives on the high seas. with q
broken up foreign commerce, is also an
injury, and so with other matters. No
change in our foreign policy in respect
to England. Germany or other Nations
can obliterate these National failures.
What we want is change-a sweeping
change in the Government, and trans
fer of power from unworthy and incom-
pctent hands to hands that are clean
and vigorous in the discharge of duty.
We are well aware that the eleme nts
of disorder, of wild schemes and venal
methods in both parties are favorable
to the election of Blaine. We arc salts
fed that it should be so. There is some
thing in Mr.. Blaine to attract these elo-
ments to his support, and we are quite
willing to go before the tribunal of the
people with the issues made up in this
wav. It can never be true that the
thoughtful and industrious citizen of the
United States will support man for the
Presidency because he is rash and dan
gerous in character, or that they will
ever be willing to have our foreign pol
icy dictated by any other considera-
tons save dignity and honor and de-
cent respect for the opinions of man.
kind.-Sk Louis Republican.