The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-23
ASSERTING AMERICAN RIGHTS.


accustomed to see their country Ignored
and its wishes disregarded whenever
any international question involving it's
interests arose. There was so great a
lack of proper self-assertion on the part
OF the United States government in de-
handing it's rights that foreign nations
had grown to treat it with ill-concealed
contempt as a power not worth consid-
ering. Americans abroad were filled
with shame and indignation on discov-
ering that insults and injuries might be
heaped upon them by foreigners, and
that they had no remedy because
their country did not protect its
citizens. Other countries, in short,
did not respect our COVE rnment,
as force, whatever opinion they may
have held of it's people or of its CONNER
cial Importance. Within four years
this condition of affairs has changed.
Under President Harrison's adhinistra-
ton the United States has assumed a
very different attitude in relation to
other countries. This has not been
brought about by the introduction of q
jinRo policy, but by the quiet. self-re-
spectinR and firm resistance to agrees
sive neighbors and an equally firm de-
mand for the rights that belong to the
United States. This new stand was
taken early in the administration, when
the Samoan difficulty called for atten-
ton. The trouble began, as will be re,
membered, during President Cleve-
lands term, but when the consul at
Pago-PaRo asked for aid in op-
posing the encroachments of Ger
many on the treaty obligations
he received not so much as q
word of official support. Secretary
Bayard's feeble efforts to effect an adj
justment of the matter in the confer
ence with representatives of England
and Germany, in 1887, came to nothing.
and it was left to President Harrison to
uphold the rights and the dignity of the
Nation Of which he was the head. That
he did it is shown by the peace that
reigns in Samoa and the increased def
erence shown to official American rep.
resentatives by German and English
diplomates stationed there. Germany,
one Of the most powerful of nations,
warned by the experience, is no longer
taking liberties with American posses
sions.
England's first encounter with this
truly American administration was when
Canadian fish pirates, who had been
fishing unmolested in American waters
during Cleveland's term, in spite of the
appeals and protests made by our fisher
men. were forced to discontinue their
raids and await the result of treaty ne
gotiations. Britain's next surprise was
the determined stand taken by this gov
eminent on the seal fisheries Question
and the forcible expulsion of English
sealers from disputed waters until the
boundaries shall be settled by interna-
tional agreement. England has been
accustomed to gain her way by force of
buster and bullying. and has not yet
recovered from her astonishment at the
failure of the accustomed method in this
case. Even yet the people of that coun-
try and Canada can hardly realize that
they can no longer impose upon the
United States with impunity, and twas
predicted, until the last moment, that
President Harrison would not dare" to
issue the retaliatory order against Can-
adian canal tolls. He has issued the or
der and they have learned another les
son. as s
In the matter of protecting individual
citizens and resenting outrages upon
them, the Gillian affair has served as an
object lesson to the world. Americans
may be sure that in whatever country
they may visit they will be treated with
more respectful consideration because
of that episode. The Presidents course
in that affair should earn him the last
ing gratitude Of every patriotic citizen.
Its effects are already felt in unex-
peeted quarters, prosecuted American
missionaries in Turkey being embold-
ened to appeal to the government for
protection, with the result of securing a
prompt order to the consulate to de-
mand indemnity for injuries and the
punishment of the guilty parties. That
the demand will be complied with with
out unnecessary delay there can be no
doubt. =
Under this administration the United
States has, for the first time, taken q
pOsition in accord with TIA dignity and
Importance as nation. 1t has no new
laws in regard to other countries, but
has new foreign policy, and enforces
it. In it's adoption President Harrison
has done a service to his country whose
Importance can scarcely be measured.
THE May, 1892. appOrtiOnmento of school
funds shows the number of children of
school age In the State to be ZIG, 300. The