The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-18
PECULIARLY AMERICAN.
Secretary Of State Bayard De-
feOds his Foreign Policy,
THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY,
And tho Course of the AdmInistra'
tIon-Ho Attempts to Reply to
Those who have Criticized his
Acts in the Premises.

baltimore, Nh, Feb, l7,-A Wash
ington special to the Baltimore Sun
based on a conversation held with Mr.
Bayard, gives an outline Of the policy
which has controlled tho actions OF the
Department Of State during tho past
four years. 1t has been frequently as
serted that Mr., Bayard has had nc
policy, whereas he has all along had a
very definite and a peculiarly American
policy. He believes that the American
people have a higher and a nobler des.
tiny than that OF staggering about
among the nations Of the earth, "daring
somebody" to use a homely expression,
ito knock . chip OFF their shoulder"
He thinks it is the impression to take
the lead among nations in substituting
pacific methods for force in settling in
ternational disputes.
Mr., Bayard's theory OF statcsmauship
Is that nothing should be done TO dis
turb or imperil our peaceful conditions,
but that, on tho contrary, the highest
duty OF the patriot Is to contribute, as far
as he can TO theirperpetuation aud deyel.
opment. His idea Is that the military
spirit Is to be discouraged In a republic
except insofar as tis necessary iorpur-
poses OF defense. Encourage the mill
tary spirit in this country, says Mr..
Bayard, and you would soon have a war.
A war necessarily means an army and II
once the military spirit got thorough
possession OF tho people this army would
become a permanent establishment.
Mr., Bayard, commenting on the clam.
or in certain quarters over the Samoan
episode, said; "What is it they want me
to do2 to provoke war? | DO not be.
lieve the people want 10 80 to war about
Samoa. There is no occasion for II. II
they do want war they must get another
Secretary Of State"
Another iavorite theme with Mr..
Baynrd is tho naturalization Of certain
localities which arc useful to others and
incapable OF defense without dispropor.
Tomato cost by any OF them. He in.
stances the naturalization OF the Suez
Canal by the common consent OF the
European powers rs an example OF the
important benefit to be secured by the
application Of this principle.
Some similar arrangement would have
to be entered into oprotect the interests
oithis country II ship canal across the
Isthmus Of Panama is built, It would
not bD sufficient protection for the
United States 10 have control OF such q
canal. The only adequate protection Is
to be secured by naturalization OF the
canal by consent Of all the powers.
Mr.. Bayard sought to apply this prin-
ciple Of naturalization by international
agreement to the Samoan Islands. The
proposition that the United States should
guarantee the neutrality OF those islands
seemed to him to be unwise, for the rea.
son that to guarantee the neutrality OF
an independent sovereignty, especially
one as weak rs Samoa, would be to ex.
pose this country to the constant risk OF
embodiment in relation ofSanoa with
other powers, we would be responsible
whatever Samoa might choose TO do
without the power TO regulate her
conduct. II would be cheaper to
annex tho islands at oACe-ior
then, in assuming the responsibility
OF defending them against all comers, We
would acquire the right to provide them
against all comers. We would acquire
the right to provide them with n safe
and stable government. TO do this II
would be necessary to build great forti.
llCations at Pago Pago, to furnish them
with a powerful garrison, to maintain a
powerful 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 a
guarantee by the powers interested Of
the neutrality Of the islands.
Mr.. Bayard looks upon the rejection
OF the Chinese, fisheries and extradition
treaties us unfortunate for the country.
He does not regard the action Of the SEN
ate as Justly involving any OF the rehec.
tion upon the actual merit Of the treaties
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