Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-14
The Open Alliance OF the Democratic
Party With England

Never but once until the present time
since the United States became an indie
pendent nation, has a foreign government
openly interfered in American politics.
During the first term of President Wash
ington the leading spirits of the French
Convention, through the action of Minister
Genet, whose proceedings in our early
political annals were remarkable, went
beyond the bounds of prudence in med
ding with American politics. Their
reasons for this in a measure excused the
conduct of their agent. The monarchs of
Europe were banded in an armed league
against them and were incosing France
in a network of fire, which meant their
destruction. France had just helped us
In our struggle with Great Britain for in-
dependence, and they thought the United
States should show gratitude by aiding
them in their terrible extremity. In this
feeling of presumption Genet began to
act Immediately on landing in this country
rs the French Minister. He and those
behind him were governed by an
over-mastering, impassionated sentiment,
and he awakened profound sympathies
among citizens of the United States. Wash
ington and his Cabinet of statesmen acted
promptly and etfectually. Genet was re-
called by the French government, and
thus was put nm end to foreign interference
with American politics under the illus
trious first President, and when we were
people of less than twelfth Of our
present numbers.
But no wounded sentiment of gratitude
pushes England to-day to inter-medde in
our political affairs. No terrible extremity
of her imperiled existence apologies for
her impudence and her insolence. In the
might of her power spanning the globe,
In the greed of her avaricious desire to
gain possession of our markets, and in the
pride of her vaulting ambition to influence
the legislation and policy of our govern
ment, she is inter-meddling in our politics
and seeking to control our elections in "A
manner rs audacious as il is offensive To
the pride and patriotism of Americans.
That she is doing this through and with
the connivance of one of the great
parties of the country is the more
offensive and the more shameful.
In these regards it cannot be said that we
are in the least eNaggerating the facts in
the language of this article. Senator
Hoar In the remarkable speech he has
just made on the fishery treaty, brings
out the following, which should kindle
the anger of the country from one end to
the other. Sir Charles Upper, the
British Canadian Envoy, so deeply con-
cerned in the recent negotiations with
Bayard and his two Commissioners in the
fishery arrangement, declares ''his conf
dence that the great Democratic party
will remain in the majority, and what he
expects from that party. whose prospect
of continued hold of power he contem-
plates with so much satisfaction. and his
especial delight is the Mills bill"
ale makes one statement, says Senator
Hoar, to which hopesand believe even
some gentlemen on the other side will not
listen without Indignation. That there
may be no mistake, | will quote it In his
own Words
Mr. Bayard told us, the American plenipo-
tentiaries told us, that there was but one way
of obtaining what we wished. you want
greater freedom of commercial intercourse
You want relaxation in your tariffarrangements
with respect to natural products. in which
you are so rich and abundant There is but |
one way to obtain it. Let us by common
concession be able to meet on common ground |
and remove this irritating cause of difficulty |
ont of the way, and you will find that the |
policy of this government, the policy of the |
President and of the House of Representa- |
tives, the policy of the great Democratic |
party of the United States, will at once take |
an onward march in the direction you pro-
pose, and will accomplish steadily that which |
you woald desire in the only way by which |
it can ever be attained" These were not
empty words. Those were the sober utter
ances of distinguished statesmen, who pointed
to the avowed policy of the Government of
the United States as the best evidence of the |