Daily Republican., 1889-02-18
Mr.. Bayard's Defense.

/ DtIeHSes
BALTIMORE, Feb. IA Washington
special to the Baltimore Sun, based on
conversations held with Mr.. Bayard,
gives an outline Of the policy which has
eentro led the actions Of the Department
OF State during the past four yeare. Ihe
article says:
'It has been frequently asserted that
hr Bayard has, had no policy, whereas
be has all along hsd very definite and
peculiarly American policy. He believes
that the American people have a higher
and nobier destiny tlan that of sRag-
geriUg about among the nations of the
earth daring somebody, TO use h3mely
expression, to knock chip OIL their
shoulder. He thinks 1t is their mission
TO take tho lead among nations in substi-
tuting pacific methods for force in set
thug international disputes. ii lis idea is
that the military spirit is to be discour-
aged In republic except in so far as 1t Is
necessary Tor purposes of defense, because
In its abnormal development 1t is des true
tive OF liberty and necessarily hostile to
the genius OF free institutions.
'On one occasion Mr.. Bayard, com.
menting on the camor In certain quar-
tiers over the Samoan episode, said:
What Is 1t they want me to do7 To
provoke \ warf ldon't believe the people
want TO 10 to war about Samoa. There
10 no occasion for It. If they want war
they must get another Secretary OF State.
AT one time or another he has felt
called upon to make protest to some of
the grea est powers In Europe, which
we're almost aggressively plain spoken,
as In the case Of Germany and EIglaud.
30 OF Austria, Italy, Mexico, France, the
official records proYe that, where the
| eXAei cy demanded, he has not hesitated,
In arm, but courteous terms, to enforce
upon them distirctively American views
oil the issues involved, which were proba-
bly, anything but palatable. The under
lying spirit of Mr.. Bayard's policy, how
ever, has been TO humaniZe international
relati MS. He regards the principle of
arbitration as one which could be ex-
tended with vast benefit to mankind,
and he would like especially to see the
naturalization OF private property ap-
piled 10 pr Jperty on sea as well as on
land.
'Mr. Bayard sought to apply the
principe Of naturalization by interna-
tioual agreement to the Samoan Islands.
The proposition that the United States
should guarantee the neutrality of those
Islands seemed to IN to be unwise for
the reason that to guarantee the neu-
trslity of an independent sovereignty,
especially one as weak as Samoa, would
be to expose this country to the constant
risk of embodiment In the relations oi
Samoa with other powers. We would be
responsible for whatever Samoa should
choose to do without the power to regu-
late her conduct
1t would be cheaper to annex the
islands at once, for then, In assuming the
re eiponslbility Of defending them against
all comers, we would acquire the right to
provide them with safe aud stable gov
ernment. To do this Il would be neces-
sary to build great Notifications at Pago
Pago, 10 furnish them with a powerful
garrison, to maintain q strong fleet In the
South Pacific. TIE cost would be enor-
nous, and after all this expenditure
American interests In Samoa would not
be as eate as under a guarantee by the
Powers interested of the neutrality OF the
islands. Mr.. Bayard looks upon the re
lection Of the Chinese, Fisheries and Ex-
tradition treaties es unfortunate for the
country. He does not regard the action
OF the Senate as justly Involving any Ie-
| feetlon upon the actual merit of the
| treaties themselves. Senator Sherman
has admitted that he Chinese treaty was
an acceptable measure.
'Mr. Bayard says that his regrets at
the course which party opponents have
seen ft TO p1rsue proceed, not from any
personal feeling OF resentment, but from
disappointment that they, for the sake of
mere party or personal advantage, have
not hesitated to avail themselves Of every
opportunity 10 hamper and embarrass
him, ignoring the fact that 1t was their
duty to treat him, not as an individual,
but as public servant, charged with
public tru +, the pc ,formance of which
they should have facilitated by every
means In their lower,"