Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-11
Oh Wellington,
How could youf
MR.. RLAINE'S DIPLOMACY.

The Samoan Settlement Great Victory
for the United States.
The Samoan settlement attracts in
creasing attention. 1t was undoubted-
ly great triumph for American dip
lomacy, especially as contrasted with
Bayard-Democratic trucking to for
.eign powers. Even the London Times
saws: The American policy was
natural and necessary, and American
influence was moderately but effect
uaIly exerted." Another English sup
porter of the late American admins
tration, the Pail Mall Gazette, takes
this Just view of the situation:
We congratulate America very heartily upon
the signal success that has attended her on the
first occasion she has squared-up to d first
class power and let il be distinctly understood
that she meant to have her own way she
would know the reason why. This constitutes
the supreme sign fcance OF the Samoan con-
ference. Hitherto America has been treated
as a QuGAfie neqliJedJle: heuceforth il will be
understood that she is perfectly prepared TO
spend any number OF millions in order to make
good her word when she considers il pie dyed,
to indicate her honor when she thinks it IS in
volved, or 10 defend her interests wherever
they may be attacked. The terms of settle
ment re-establish the status qnO so far as the
Samoans are concerned, but practically share
out E0Cland's position between Germany and
the United States. Our interests appear to
have been treated as secondary and subordl-
nate throughout
Thomas Francis Bayard would never
have seen England snubbed or slight
ed; oh! no, not he!
The mugwumps, of course. have
found Fly in the ointment, 1t is a
very small one, however. The New
York Post remarks:
The English newspapers are generally agreed
that America has come of with flying colors in
tie Samoan conference, and has for the first
time taken rank as a first-class power in dip
lomacv. The victory, il il is to be considered
such, has been gained in spite OF the teachings
Of Washington and in contravention Of our I'M
broken foreign policy OF one hundred years
Therefore 1t can be justified only by the
event. 1t is our belief that meddling in
Samoan affairs. as it has cost more in
the past than IT yielded, so it will cost
great deal more in the future, be-
cause. in the first place, there is nothing IL
Samoa worth going for even if it were conve-
4 entity situated, and because. in the second
place, it is at too great a distance, being
than Liverpool is from New York. Nor do we
think that a diplomatic triumph over Germany
under the circumstances is a thing 20 be proud
Of
Much fairer than this carping critic
is an out-and-out Democratic paper, the
Boston Pilot, which warmly supported
Mr.. Cleveland for reelection. Wequote:
The mugwump papers point with pride" to
the settlement oil the Samoan difficulty ION the
lines laid down by Secretary Bayard''
as proof OF that statesman's rare ability AS
it has taken Mr.. Blaine less than three mon tbs
to achieve what Mr.. Bavard did not succeed in
achieving in three years. we fail TO see what
honor belongs to the Delaware statesman.
Had the matter remained in Mr. Bayard's
hands he might by this time, perhaps be get
ting ready to beg TO send out invitations TO
the leading powers OF Europe. Asia and Africa
to Join US in an international conference for
the purpose OF deciding the best method OF
surrendering American interests TO England
or Germany. the trouble with Mr.. Bayard was
first that he never could see the American side
OF quest on, and second that he did not know
how TO do even the wrong thing expeditiously.
The present Administration will be
as conspicuous for It's foreign policy as
the late administration was for its ut
ter and entire absence OF One.-Bufalo
IN Y fSDreSS