New-York tribune., 1885-07-24
FOREIGN RELATIONS-FNAYCES.

y Undoubtedly the brightest pages In the history
of President Grants administration those Of the
foreign relations of the United States and of the Prssi
& dents opposition to the inhat.on movements The
4 foreign relations were conducted with great skill
by Secretary Fish. The chief incident among those
was the Geneva Arbitration held under the Wash.
4 ngton Treaty OF 1871. The treaty provided
chiefly for the appointment Of tribunal Of arbi.
! tration to decide the dispute between the United
states and Great Britain growing ont Of the failure
of Great Britain to prevent the construction and
ittng out Of Confederate cruisers in her ports, In
violation of neutrality laws. Tho tlbunal met at
! Geneva in December, 1871, and on September IL.
1872, the decision was rendered that Great Britain
had failed In her duty O neutral in the cases of
he Alabama Florida aad Shenandoah aud their
tenders. The United States awarded damages
tho sum OF S15,00O,0 900 in gold, which was
promptly paid by Great Britain. This successful
application OF peaceful arbitration to dispute
which might easily have carried two great nations
nto war was Justly hailed an event npon which
II mankind, In sense. was 10 bo congratu ated
there other credit lie results in the diplomatic
administration. Spain was made to deliver up the
irginius seized under the United States flag aud
pay $50 900 for the relief of the families Of those
,illed when tho vessel seized. In the Bancroft
resty Germany for the first time recognized = the
light aud conceded the changed allegiance of
ierman subjects who had become naturalzcd az
itizens of tho United States
The chief bluuder In the foreign policy was an
.ttempt TO annex tho island OF Santo Domingo. In
s7l President Grant nrged this upon Congress IN
his second annual message. Treaties were signed.
and a commission made report favorable to
annexation, but tho Senate did not confirm the
treaties An incident connected with the foreign
policy was the removal. by the Presidents friends
the Senate. OF Charles sumner from the chair
nanship OF tho Foreign Relations Committee
because OF his opposition to the Santo Domingo
busnoss
rhe finances occupied large share Of tho atten-
ton OF Congress and the Government during
General Grants two terms, and the Presidents
course WAS wholly IN accordance with the best
Judgment of the country, lie signed the Pubic
Credit Act Of 1850 aud the Resumption Act of 1878
under which spocIe !pay yments wero safely and
resumed. During his two terms the
National debt was reduced by $435, 100000. When )
he panic OF 1873 startled the cDuntry the Pre-i
dent came 10 NewYoyk aad was consulted by the
Loading business men. many OF whom urged that
the Ooycrnment should nae its power to relieve
tho stringeacy Of tho money market. lo Was urged
10 allow the Sii0O0,O00 reserve Of gresnbachs IN
tho Trsanry ~ DO loaned on security. This
clearly illegal propoJltcn he declined to cntert,iu
but he decided that tho Government wolld buy
bonds TO any amount. On Sentember rs. 1873 IN
,etter to II; b. Clahiu and Charles L. Anthony h.
reserve In readneec for use, II necessity required
4 tue banks would do their share ia relieving the
'TnBsnoy. ihis was regretted ut the time as
'artal surrender OF tue admirable position already
skop. The Presidents earned and received the 8
htnks OF the whole country, however. in the u
Glowing year by vetoing the Imitation bill which J
congress had passed In obedience to ignorant z
iamor for an expansion of the currency.
The political troubles in the South occupied 81
arge share OF President Grants time from the q
,eginningof his administration to the very end Of It,
'-iore General Grants Inauguration the secret S
rider of tho ku-Klux. formed for the purpose Of y
eterring negroes, by midnight whippings and mur H
tS n m ust
4 tbe Southern States. Tho outrages upon the q
'iaeks were carried to such extent that Con- ~
ress passed. tho enforcement Act May 81, 1S7O) II
mi the ku-Klux Act April 20, 1870. President h
rants energetic policy in dealing with the Ku- n
lux and the publicity given to their by the q
Investigation we're the means of the
owntall OF the organization. The stories of the a
roubies in Louisiana. South Carolina, Mississippi e
rksnsas and Texas bave bson told 80 many times e
hat tho country grow tired Of them, and tho n
ntAls need not be repeated hero. 1t need only q
Q said that President Grant, believing that the
onhtYy bad grown tirod Of seeing State Govern "a
'snts held mp by FSdsral baysnets at last refused 8
, allow troops do more than preserve the peace. D