New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-03
p4RALLEL With A POINT.

The action of the Administration III protect
ing American rights on the lsthmus has Deen
heartily commended in these columns. sec
Rotary Whitney took a broad view OF the oDll-
cations of the Government to MAINTAIN freedom
of transit and displayed courage and sagacity
in dealing with the insuTTectlonary FORCES anu
the Colombian authorities. Secretary bayaru
threatened at one time to be meddlesOme
marnlot in the affair." but with the adventlt Gus
aid of favoring circumstances the Admlnistra-
ton has emerged from its first diplomatic con-
troversy with flying colors. AS Re
publican journal The TRIBUNE has not
besitated to accord TO the Democratic Cabinet
the credit it deserves for energetic and
natriotic action. 1t is the duty of the party IN
opposition to commend the course OF the AL
ministration whenever 1t can do so without
reservation, and especially In matters OF foreign
policy This is a patriotic obligation from
which we have no disposition to swerve.
But we cannot resist the temptation to remind
the partisans of the Administration that they
were not equally cODsiderate and patriotic
when Mr.. Blaine was upholding the dignity
of the American people as the paclnc
arbiter of the deStinies OF this CONT
nent. When the Colombian Republic proposed
to European Powers an international guarantee
of the proposed Panama Canal, he took occa-
sion to proclaim the exclusive rights, including
freedom of transit, which the United States
had secured by a special compact with the
country TO be traversed by that waterway. lie
also proposed to the British Government mod
ification of all provisions of the Clayton But
wer treaty which were not in accord with the
privileges and guarantees cOvenanted Tor In the
special compact with the Colombian Republic.
He upheld in diplomatic correspondence the
same principles which the marines have been
sent to the Isthmus to maintain by force OF
arms. Subsequently in his dealings with
Chill and Peru, and in issuing invitations
TO Pan American Congress, he exerted the IN
fuence of a powerful nation for pacific and
benefcent ends. What was the consequence I
The Democratic press united In denounclng
him as the author of new and dangerous
policy of adventure that would inevitably IN
voIve the nation in Improbable war, besides
rendering it ridiculous in the sight OF mankind.
We have no desire to recur to the violence
and malignant ferOeity with which RepuD-
lican Secretary was assailed not only by pollt-
zeal Opponents, but by censorious critics and
envious partisans in his own party.
For no greater crime than the MAIN
tenance of the chief canon of American
diplomacy, the Monroe Doctrine he was pur-
sued with malevolent hatred by the same
critics and partsans who to-day are applauding
the Democratic Administration that has i0l-
lowed closely in his wake. Those who four
years ago saw men az trees walking have
to-day clear perception of the obligations and
rights of the American Government on the
Isthmus. How binding Is the force of preju-
dice in American politics Who does not
know that if Mr.. Blaine bad been President and
the marines had been sent to Panama to do
precisely what they have done under Demo-
cratic Administrations stale charges brought
against his diplomacy when Secretary of State
would have been revived with envenomed ma
iOnltY