Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-18
BAYARD'S METHOD.
He Would Maintain Peace
at Any Price.
NOT MUCH ON HIS MUSCLE.
Would Neutralize the Panama Canal
Let Samoa Go, and Dispense
With an Army.


Let Samoa Go, and Dispense
With an Army.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
BALTIMORE, February IA Wash
ington special to the Sun, based on
conversation with Mr.. Bayard, gives al
outline of the policy which has con
trolled the actions of the Department o
State for the past four years. The Ssu
says: 1t has been frequently asserted
that M. Bayard has had no policy
whereas, he has all along had very
definite and peculiarly American policy
He believes the American people have {
higher and nobler destiny than that o
staggering about among the nations o1
the earth "daring" somebody, to use 6
homely expression, to "knock chip off
their shoulder" He thinks it their
mission to take the lead among the ma.
tions in substituting pacific methods
for force in settling International dis
putes. Mr.. Bayard's theory of states
manship is that nothing should be done
to disturb or imperil our peaceful coudi-
tions, but that on the contrary the high
est duty of patriotic statesman is to
contribute as far as he can to their per-
petuation and development. His idea is
that military spirit is to be discouraged
in Republic except in so far as it is
necessary tor the purposes of defense.
Encourage a military scirit in this coun-
try" says Bayard, "and we would soon
have war. War necessarily means an
army, and if once the military spirit got
thorough possession of the people this
army would become a permanent esta-
blishment."
Mr.. Bayard, commenting on the
.clamor in certain quarters over the
Samoan episode, said: "What is the
need to provoke war? do not believe
the people want to 60 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 Bayard
is the naturalization of certain localities
Which are useful to all the powers aud
incapable of defense, without dispropor-
tlonate cost to any one of them. He in
stances the naturalization of the
Suez Canal by common consent
of the European powers as an
example of the important benefits to be
secured by the application of this prinei.
pie. Some similar arrangement would
have to be entered into to protect the in
terests of this country II ship canal
across the Isthmus OF Panama be built.
1t would not be sufficient protection for
10 Mi fC hou of o,1n u,
a canal. The only adequate protection
is to be secured by the naturalization of
the canal by consent all of the powers.
Bayard sought to. apply this principle
of naturalization by international agree
ment to the Samoan Islands. The propo-
sition that the United States should guar
antee the neutrality of those Islands,
seemed to him unwise, for the reason
that to guarantee the neutrality of an
Independent sovereignty. especially one
so weak as Samoa, would be to expose
this country to the constant risk of en-
broilment in the relations of Samoa with
the other powers. We would
be responsible for whatever Samoa
might choose to do, without
power to regulate her conduct.
1t would be cheaper to annex the islands
at once for then, in assuming the re-
'sponsibility of defending them against
all comers, we would require the right
to provide them with safe and stable
government. To do this it would be
necessary to build great and stable for
tifications at Pago-Pago, to furnish them
with a powerful garrison, and to main
tain strong fleet in the Southern Pa
cific. The cost would be enor-
nous, and after all this ca, 'nditure
American interests in Samoa would not be
as safe as under guarantee by the
powers interested in the neutrality Of the
islands.
Bayard looks upon the rejection of the
Chinese, Fisheries and Extradition treat
les as unfortunate for the country. He
does not regard tie action by the Senate
as Justly involving any reflection upon
the actual merit of the treaties them
selves.