Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-02-06
A TRIUMPHANT ADMINISTRATION.

Now that peaceful settlement of the
Gillian affair appears probable, it is in
order to review some features of it which
are extremely creditable to the admins
tration, and others which are discredita-
BILE to at least portion of the Democra-
tic party. From the moment that the
news was cabled to Washington of the
attack on the sailors of the Baltimore
until the last despatch was received yes
terday from Minister Egan, the Presi-
dent and his advisers were engaged in a
quiet and dignified effort to secure from
Chilli an acknowledgement of the wrongs
and insults inflicted on this country. The
utmost precautions were taken to spare the
feelings of the Chilians and to avoid war.
Preparations were made for the contin-
gency of war, and had not the govern
ment done so it would have merited the
condemnation of the people but nothing
was done that could SAVIOR Of buster,
braggadocia or an intention to force
hostile settlement of the affair.
Auu6cus hdu tue SONSl ulu6HI 81 " 1911
ed, war might have been precipitated at
any moment during the past tw o months,
and tho American people would unques-
tionably have endorsed such step. even
though many might have desired a peace
full solution. The action of this govern
ment was in merked and favorably con-
trast to that of Great Britain towards
Portugal scarcely year ago. The latter
country was bullied by Lord Salisbury
until forced, almost at the cannon s
mouth, to surrender large possessions in
Africa, and it is the press of England.
which has, with scarcely an exception,
criticised the message and the action of
the President in the coarsest and most
indecent manner. What the British
press says of us, however, matters little.
The motive is transparent, and it would
have been strange had the London papers
assumed different attitude. Malignity
and self interest are both powerful lev
ers, and both exert strong influence up
on British views of the relations between
the United States and Chilli.
Minister Egan be longs to the hated
Irish race, and, above all, he escaped
from British vengeance after he had
striven to free his country. British COM
mercial interests are paramount in Chill,
and they would have been materially in
jured. if not destroyed, either by the pre-
ponderation of American influence or a
war between Chill and the United States
This will explain British hatred and de-
nunciation of Mr.. Egan and coarse criti-
cism of the administration.
But fol- the mugwump and Cleveland
organs and leaders, such an excuse can
not be offered. That man is by birth an
Irishman, or that he has been active in the
effort to relieve Ireland from British op-
preston has not heretofore been consider.
cred a disqualification for even the high
est official posts in this country, and now
that the veil has been torn away and it
is made clear that Mr. Egan has been an
able diplomatic representative of the
government under extraordinary en-
barrassment. what have these Cleveland
organs ana leauers 10 plead as reason
for adopting the prejudices and fighting
the imaginary battles of the British at
moment when the instincts of patriotism
should have led them to support their
own govern ment with the zeal and in
fluence that they possess? Have we not
here some explanation of the failure and
humiliation which was an inseparable
accompaniment of nearly every essay in
foreign policy during Cleveland's ad-
ministratiou ?-Anlericdn.