The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-02-19
BLAINE ACCEPTS.

1t is not yet officially announced
that Mr.. Blaine has been rendered
the position Of Secretary of State,
but there is little doubt that such
viii be the result. The report is
credited in New York and in Au-
gusta, Blaine's home. If the Cabinet
were selected by popular favor there
Is no doubt whatever of Blaine's
being the choice. There are especial
reasons why Mr.. Blaine should be
placed at the head of the State De
partment at the present time. The
administration of Mr.. Bayard has
been weak and vacillating. He at
tached his signature to two treaties
which ought never TO have been
made. The fisheries treaty was re-
jected by the Senate and the Chinese
treaty only accepted through a lack
Of understanding OF the methods by
which it might be violated. There
Is need at the present time for
tirmer hand at the helm. Mr. Blaine
more than any other American states
man represents a distinctive and
spirited American policy. If Mr..
Harrison did not to an extent share
these views Mr.. Blaine would not be
selected to preside over the State
Department. 1t does not follow, of
course. that an era Of American
iingoism Is to be inaugurated. The
United States is absolutely without
desire for conquests IN any part of
the world. We are not as Bismarck
says England is-a great colonizing
power. The extent of the American
demand is that certain islands near
to the United States or lying
along the line of commerce shall
remain independent. The power
Of the United States will, under
such an administration as the
appointment of Blaine to the
head of the State Department prom
ises, be exerted to maintain the in
dependence of these islands. For
some years past each succeeding ad-
ministration has been censured for
its lack Of spirit. Americans have
not been protected in foreign eoun-
tries as the subjects of some Euro
pean Governments have been. 1t is
even said that Americans in some
foreign countries seek the protec-
ton of the English flag. The COLI
clusion Is reasonable that Blaine will
put a stop to that Foreign Min
listers and Consuls Will receive in
sructions 10 extend all needful pro
lection to Americans residing abroad,
with assurance that the moral and
physical force of the Government is
behind them. The Lowells and
Phelpses who have so closely identi-
fed themselves with the sympathies,
anxieties and aspirations of the
Governments to which they are
accredited will be called home. Men
VIII be found who will make them
selves respected at foreign courts
while maintaining the dignity of the
nation they represent. England had
a profound respect for Charles
Francis Adams, who represented the
Government of the United States at
that court during the civil war, and
yet it was the firmness and courage
Of the American Minister which
forced England to quit the piratical
business of fitting out Alabamas.
The average statesman is, after all,
much Ike the average school-boy.
They are brayest when they think |
the other fellow will not fight. The |
United States has been the weak |
member of the family of nations
about long enough. Other nations |
are taking advantage of our relue-
lance to enter upon war which is
not strictly defensive-TS. F. Call, |
January 21st.