The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-05-27
PREJUDICE pIsARMEp.
The Action the Administration Took In
the Panama Troubles.

The Action the Administration Took In
the Panama Troubles.
The action OF the Administration in
protecting American rights on the
lsthmus has been heartily commended
In these columns. Secretary Whitney
took broad view of the obligations of
the Government to maintain freedom
OF transit and displayed courage and
sagacity in dealing with the insurrec-
tionary forces aud the Colombian au-
thorities. Secretary Bayard threatened
at one time to be a meddlesome marplot
in the affair, but with the adventitlous
aid of favoring circumstances the Ad-
ministration has emerged from its first
diplomatic controversy with flying
coiors. AS Republican journal the
Tribune has not hesitated to accord to
the Democratic Cabinet the credit it
deserves for energetic and patriotic ac-
ton. 1t is the duty of the party in OPP
position TO commend the course of the
Administration whenever it can do so
without reservation, and especially in
matters of foreign policy. This is q
patriotic obligation from which we have
no disposition to swerve.
But we can not resist the temptation
to remind the partisans of the Admins
tration that they were not equally con-
sidcrate and patriotic when Mr.. Blaine
was upholding the dignity ohthe Ameri-
can people as the pacific arbiter Of the
destinies of this continent. When the
Colombian Republic proposed to Euro
pean powers an International guarantee
Of the proposed Panama Canal, he took
occasion to proclaim the exclusive
rights, including freedom Of transit,
which the United States had secured by
special compact with the country to
be traversed by that waterway. He also
proposed to the British Government a
modification Of all provisions of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty which were not
in accord with the privileges and guar
antees covenanted for 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 main
tain by force of arms. Subsequently in
his dealings with Chilli and Peru, and in
issuing invitations for Pan-American
Congress, he exerted the influence Of a
powerful nation for pacific and bene-
ficent ends. What was the conse'
quenceP The Democratic press united
in denouncing him as the author of Q
new and dangerous policy Of adventure
that would inevitably involve the Ma
tion in Improbable wat, besides rem
dering it ridiculous in the sight Of man
kind.
We have no desire to recur Il
the violence and malignant ferocity
with which Republican Secretary wa,
assailed not only by political opponents
but by censorious critics and enyiou
partisans in his own party. For NJ
greater crime than the maintenance o
the chief canon of American diplomacy
the Monroe Doctrine, he was pursued
with marvellous hatred by the sam
critics and partisans who to-day ar,
applauding the Democratic Administra
ton that has followed closely in hi
wake. Those who four years ago "say
men as trees walking" have to-day
clear perception of the obligations an
rights of the American Government ol
the Isthmus. How binding is the fore
OF prejudice in American politics! VIII
does not know that II Mr.. Blaine ha,
been President and the marines ha,
been sent to Panama to do precisel
what they have done under a Demo
cratic Administration, the stale charge
brought against his diplomacy who
Secretary Of State would have been re
vived with envenomed malignityP-h
Y Tt.ib,ins