Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-23
Our Foreign Relations and ths
Democracy.

oOowOCh coChOtoiy DnynAu duu tuo UP
lomatic authorities of Germany concern
ing the Samoan Islands it clearly
appears that the dignity of the govern.
ment of the United States and the rights
of American citizens were steadily kept
in view. Mr.. Cleveland's administration
has not attempted to play lingo role !;
and, under the circumstances, it would
have been highly injudicious, not to say
if it had. While We have the
Of serviceable navy, it
would have been highly absurd to have
acted as if what is in future were in
1t is very questionable whether
it is at any time expedient to play the
bully. Shakespeare tells us that it is
noble to have giants strength but
ignoble to use it like giant. But to pos
turize Extensively without the means to en-
force the vaporings of Bobadil would have
been beneath contempt. That this coun-
try could within few weeks buy a navy
which would enable us to withstand Ger
many at least, is probably true. The
circumstances as presented, however,
would scarcely justify our government in
going to enormous expense to interfere
in the squabbles of Tamasese and
Malietoa as to which of these barbarians
should rule over some $4,000 naked
savages. Consular agents placed in out.
of-the.way hooks of the world are toe
apt, in many cases, to fancy themselves
invested with the supreme prerogatives
of the Congress of the United States
and to imagine that declaring war is one
of their high and mighty privileges
Mr.. Cleveland, in his retaliation message
and in his dismissal of Lord Sackville
has shown that he is isthoroughly sensitive
to any real occasion when the exhibition
of an aggressive spirit is de-
manded on the part of the
United States. Later, in the Haytier
difficulty, the action of this government
was prompt and peremptory, and the
issue satisfactory. In the opening
months of his administration MIR. Cleve
land interfered, with dignity and effect
at Aspinwall, during revolution on the
Isthmus, for the protection of the lives
and properties of American citizens. Il
cannot be truthfully said that any effor
has been wanting during the past three
years and half to maintain the dignity
and rights of Americans. There have
been Republican administrations as te
which this could not be truthfully
claimed. Strangely enough, the mos
conspicuous instance of the surrender o.
the American name occurred under
Grant, soldier! Most readers of news
papers remember the seizure of the
steamer Virginius by the Spanish au
thorities in Cuban waters, and the butch
cry of American citizens by Burriel, the
Spanish commandant in Cuba, which
followed. Citizens OF the United States
we're shot down like dogs, and the
slaughter was only stopped by the Ad
miral of the English feet threatening tt
turn his guns loose on the Spanish forces
Yet, Notwithstanding this atrocious out
rage, which violated every law Of Coo
and man, and every prescription of in
ternational usages, Mr.. Fish, Gen
Grants Secretary of State, made yer,
mild and perfunctory representation
abouIit to the Spanish Government. Th,
Madrid authorities contented themselves
with very scant apology, no damages
were exacted and the affair was allowed
to drop. But that was by no means all
Within month Of the occurrence Burrie
was promoted The solution of this
pusillanim nous episode was to be found il
the fact that Mr.. Sidney Webster, Mr.
Fish's son-in-law, was the special counse
of the Spanish Government in the United
States, retained at salary of $50, 900 9
year.
Democrats can take just pride in the
fact that their resumption of power, after
an exclusion of twenty-five years, was
signalized by q re-assertion, in the face
of the world, of the ld.time dignity oi
American citizenship, and that no scan.
dal whatsoever has attached itself to the
diplomatic service of the United States
since Mr.. Bayard has been at the head
OF the State Department. Many Of the
favorites of Mr.. Bayard do not approve
themselves even to Democrats, and we
think the Delaware statesman has lost
instead of gained by his translation to
the Cabinet; but the fact remains that
he has in all essentials of integrity and
honor ranged himself in line with his
predecessors who have been most famous,
while Mr.. Cleveland has struck the
highest gauge achieved by any President
in his relations to other countries.
The New York World some time ago