The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1892-05-07
aoAsTFuL REPUBLICANS.
eors 81 Tl,eir Alleged TrIupaphs Or d
nlonncv Reviewed.


oorae of Their Alleged Triumrhs ok pa-
plomaoy Reviewed.
IN and out of season republican writ
ers and apealfera put forward the claim
that the Republican party alone is COM
pefent to deal with the international
Questions. During Mr.. Clcveland's adj |
ministration every step taken was criti-
cised and censured with the utmost
severity. and the invariable refrain
/, was that democrats could not maintain
the honor of the country iu dealing
| with other nations. Under the present
administration, on the other hand, II
| has been the fashion TO denounce any
! criticism 81 our foreign policy as differ
ing from treason only in degree, as evi-
dence Of q depraved heart and prefer
| ence for foreigners. Criticism Of demo
cratic diplomacy is patriotism; the ex-
preston Of the least doubt Of the wis
dom of our present foreign policy u
akin to treason.
While repndiating as scandalous all
i suggestions that any movements Of the
administration touching foreign affairs
are intended for political effect, the re-
publicans do not hesitate to appeal to
voters for support ON account of the tri-
umphs of republican diplomacy. Sec
retary Tracy, in his address at Proyi-
denee lust before the Rhode Island cleo
tion. enlarged upon the triumphant
manner in4which foreign problems had
been solved by Blaine and Harrison,
! contending that the success achieved
/ had no parallel in the history of the
country. Among the specifications
were the Samoan matter and the Beh-
: ring sea controversy. In the former
e case, he said, our friend Malietoa had
e been brought back and established on
: his throne, by which we had achieved
. a triumph over England and Germany
y combined.
d Now, this may be characterized as
:, being thankful for very small fayors.
/ What is Malietoa to us, or we to Malie'
toa, that we should weep over his fall
or rejoice over his return to power? A
a barbarian chief Of a little squad of bar
Is barians away off in the Pacific ocean
|. has been reinstated on his insignificant
r throne, and the American people are
t asked to applaud it as great achieve.
le ment. Is it the business of the United
n States to set up kings over other coun
At tries? To;most people such action ap
pears an oflcious intermeddling will
le affairs that do not concern us, and de
Ii parture from the policy of earlier days
ce under which the country prospered
a But even the boasted success of TIN
he Samoan negotiation is altogethe
ne problematieal. News comes from
n Samoa that the old feud betweel
by MaIietoa and Mataafa subsists and
nd becoming more bitter every day
OF Mataafa has started rival governmen
again, and his own partisans anon
re the native chiefs are still true to him
ic. Secretary Tracy's boast that the Samoal
eil difficulty has been brought to salts
ar tactory conclusion is premature.
me The Behring sea controversy, Secrt
tarv Tracy saws, should have been SCI
ayE tied 1--WE years ago. That takes us bac
ere to 1887, which was the year after
,ela ORIGINATED. IL democratic administr
lty. tion should have settled it in one yea
los how does it happen that Messrs- Harl
B9N and Blaine have been working
the it between three and four years2 1t
lry not settled yet, and il is but one ST
ths nearer settlement than it was in 1ss
r b. Has it been Intentionally delayed, in
der that the judgment of the court
arbitration may not he rendered beto
au tbe ,,residential electionP
vae II Is altogether premature to boa
de- ~ this Behrine sea controversy, or t
~ manner n which the administrati
.isb. has handled r.. Very few people Co
,or. netent 70 Judge expect anything but
der 5efeat n the arbitration proceeding
! in. because thew have never believed tn
tba, the United States had any case when
all claimed to own a considerable tract
o;n. the Pacific ocean. The New York ST
w, q naner ysrv strenuous for a vigorc
vota fore;pn policy. especially toward Gre
On. Rr;tain. saws that in four of the
ners points submitted s'the Judgment of I
;na. arb;trators is sure to be against I
e., United States. and adds: ''How mu
nov. easter and less expensive it would hs
been 70 concede to Great Britain eve
- noint n dispute.." The administrati
snS I has already conceded the liability of
: - United States to reimburse the ''poa
\ "A ers. y Il we lose the case, for the pro
!, W thev might have realized. The chan
are that we will have a big bill of &C
to pay; but that will not be until al