New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-18
MR. BAYARD DESCRTBEs HIS POLICY.

HIS THEORY OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
HE SAYS is THE INTERNATIONAL oURE-ALL.
Baltimore, Feb. 17.-aThe Baltimore Sun" win
publish tomorrow the following dispatch from Wash
ington based conversations held with Mr. Bayard in
regard the policy which has controlled the actions
of the Department of State during the last four
years:
at has been frequently asserted that Mr. Bsyard
has had no policy, whereas he had all along had a
very definite and peculiarly American policy. He
thinks it is the mission of the American people to
take the lead among nations in substituting pacific
methods for force In settling International disputes
Mr. Bayard's theory Of craftsmanship is that nothing
should be done 10 disturb or imperil our peaceful
conditions. His idea is that the military spirit is
TO be discouraged in Republic. except in so far
as it is necessary for purposes Of defence To the
writer Mr Bayard once said:
@Tf the military spirit got thor
ough possession of the people an army
would become permanent establishment
1t would, of course, have a leader, and If the army
became the dominant force in the State 1t would be
but a step to Dictatorship. Sooner or later our
liberties would be trampled in the dust, the rights Of
the individual would disappear. and upon the ruins
Of cherished institutions would be reared the
fabric of military despotlsm.'
On another occasion Mr.. Bayard, commenting on
the clamor In certain quarters the Samoan episode
said: What is 1t they want me to do? To provoke
u
war about Samoa There is no occasion for it, II
they do want war they must get another Secretary
of State.'
He has felt called upon to make protest to some
of the greatest Powers in Europe which almost
aggessively plainspoken, in tho case of Germany
and England - of Austria, Italy. Mexico. France,
the official records prove that he has not hestaed TO
force upon them distinctivey American views OF the
issues involved, The underlying spirit of MI. Bayars
policy, however. has been to humanze international
relations He regards the principle of arbitration as
one which could be extended with vast benefit to man.
kind and he would like especially to see the ncuraza
ton Of private property applied to property
as wei on land.
Another favore theme with Mr.. Bayard Is the neu-
trazaton of certain localities which are useful TO all
the powers and incapable of defence without dispro-
the naturalization of the suez Canal an ex-
ample OF the important benefits TO be secured by
the application of this principle. some Similar
al augement would have TO be entered into 10 pro-
tect the interests of this country II snip eanal
the Isthmus of Panama IS built. IL would not
be sufficient protection for the United States 10 have
control of such canal The only adequate protection
Is 70 be secured by naturalization OF the eanh py
consent of all the powers.
"Mr Bayard Sought TO apply this principle of
by international agreement 20 the
Samoan islands. The proposition that the united
States should guarantee the neutrality OF those ISLANDS
guarantee the neutrality OF an Independent sovereignty
especially one as weak Samoa, would be 20 expose
this country TO the constant risk OF embodiment In
the relations of Samoa with other powers
nese, Fisheries and Ex1adton treaties as unfortu-
nate for the country. He docs not regard tho action
of the Senate justly involving any reelection upon
the actual merits OF the treaties themselves"