Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-18

BALTIMORE, February IA Washing
ton special to the Baltimore Sun, based on
conversations held with Mr.. Bayard, gives
an outline of the policy which has controlled
the actions of the Department of State dur
ing the past four years. 1t has been fire.
quently asserted that Mr.. Bayard has had
no policy, whereas he has all along had a
very definite aud a peculiarly American
policy. He believes that the American
people have higher and nobler destiny
than that Of staggering about among the
nations of the earth "daring" somebody, to
use homely expression. to "knock chip
off their shoulder" He thinks it is their
mission 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 to disturb or
imperil our peaceful conditions, but that,
on the contrary, the highest duty of the
patriot is to contribute, as far as he can, to
their perpetuation and development.
AFRAID OF A STANDING ARMY.
His idea is that the military spirit is to
be discouraged in Republic except in so
far as it is necessary for purposes of defense.
Encourage the military spirit in this coun-
try, says Mr.. Bayard, and you would soon
have war A war necessarily means an
army, and if once the military spirit is got
thorough possession of the people, this army
would become permanent establishment.
Mr.. Bayard, commenting on the clamor
in certain quarters over the Samoan cpl
sode, said: "What is it they want ME to do?
To provoke a war? L do not believe the
people want to go to war about Samoa.
There is no occasion for it. If they do want
war they must get another Secretary of
State"
Another favorite theme with Mr.. Bayard
is the naturalization of certain localities
which are useful to all powers and incapa-
Bile of defense, without disproportionate
cost, by any of them. He instances the
naturalization of the Suez Canal, by the
common consent of the European powers, as
an example of the important benefits to be
secured by the application ofthis principle.
Some similar arrangement would have to
be entered into to protect the interests OF
this country if ship canal across the
Isthmus of Panama is built. 1t would not
be sufficient protection for the United
States to have control of such canal. The
only adequate protection is to be secured by
naturalization of the canal by consent of all
the powers.
NEUTRALITY GUARANTEES DANGEROUS.
Mr.. Bayard sought to apply this principle
of naturalization by International agree
ment to the Samoan Islands. The PROPOSE
ton that the United States should guarantee
the neutrality of those islands seemed to
him to be unwise for the reason that to
guarantee the neutrality of an independent
sovereignty, especially one as weak as
Samoa, would be to expose this country to
the constant risk of embodiment in the re-
lation of Samoa with other powers. We
would be responsible for whatever Samoa
might choose to do. without the power to
regulate her conduct. 1t would be cheaper
to annex the islands at once, for then, in
assuming the responsibility of defending
them against all comers, we would acquire
the right to provide them with a safe and
stable government. To do this it would be
necessary to build great Notifications at
Pago Pago, to furnish them with power
full garrison, and to maintain strong fleet
in the South Pacific The cost would be
enormous, and after all this expenditure
American interests in Samoa would not be
as safe as under guarantee by the powers
interested of the neutrality of the islands.
Mr.. Bayard looks upon the rejection of
the Chinese, Fisheries and Extradition
treaties as unfortunate for the country. He
does not regard the action of the Senate as
Justly involving any reflection upon the
actual merit of the treaties themselves.