Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-04
Talks Straight to the Point on
Our Foreign Relations.
Says It Is High Time for Us to
Make a Bold Stand
And Assert Our Rights Among the Nations Of
the World.


Frye, as follows:
Please give us your views as to tie
conduct of our foreign affairs, any con-
illusions or suggestions occurring to you, :"
asked the reporter.
"My fundamental objection to that con-
duct is," said the senator, THAT 1t is not
aggrcssively American that it yields too
much and too often to Great Britain; that
It sacrifices our interests, and takes no adj
vantage Of our opportunities.
''Can you give any illustrations"
"Many, and III not confine myself to
the present administration of these affairs
San Domingo was offered us and Presi-
dent Grant urged upon the Senate the i'm
portance Of accepting it, Sumner bitterly
and successfully opposed. There never
has been day since in which we have
not regretted this action. Great Britain
has a perfect Gordon Of ports, naval and
coal stations all around us, while we have
comparatively none"
"Where are wc to secure thein?'
"We must have some in the Pacific
ocean If we are ever to be commercial
power In those waters and no one doubts
but that we arc. The Hawaiian Islands
In these regards are very important to us.
We have had an open mouth for this plum
for rs years, it ripened and, at nearly the
close Of President Harrison's term of
Office, fell into it. Mr.. Cleveland expelled
1t the moment he came into power. Pearl
Harbor the best in the whole Pacific, was
coded to us in our last treaty with those
islands. An expenditure of s20,0 will
make it perfect, capable of floating the
entire war fleet Of England and yet
nothing Is done. The islands are treated
with insult and contempt. Suppose they
show their humanity BIZ placing them
selves under the protection of Great
Britain, can we in the face of our rejec-
tions, claim and maintain the claim that
this cession was complete? If the Mica
ragua canal is constructed, and it will be,
these islands are an absolute necessity to
us. Is it wise for us to disregard our
present opportunities?
England few months ago sent q YES
sci to take possession OK Neckar island,
one of this group, for cable purposes. The
Hawailans suspected, sent swifter
steamer, and were ahead a few hours.
Then England automatically sought the
island. Hawaii asked us to consent to the
transfer. President Cleveland and Secre
tary Gresham recommended to US that we
consent the Senate would not.
IA few years ago Germany seized the
Samoan islands, dethroned Malietoa, the
king, our fast friend, and deported him.
This was during Mr.. Cleveland's former
administration and was evidently re-
garded as of no consequence. l offered
in the Senate resolution of inquiry; it
was adopted, the inquiry made our
country informed, patriotic Indignation
aroused; Germany realized it, asked for
conference; it as had and as a result, she
brought back Malietoa in one of her war
vessels, replaced him on the throne and
agreed that the autonomy of the island
should be preserved. Since then we have
acquired the harbor of Page Page. the
second best in the Pacific, and now both
Germany and England want the islands.
propose to us that we give them up, and
our secretary of state our President, by
message, recommends us to do so, but the
Senate declines the offer. The Hawaiian
and Samoan islands are the only ones left
open, What kind Of American policy is
that which tries It's best to throw them
into tho laps of England or Germany?
Let us look backward once more. In
1884 President Arthur negotiated q treaty
with Nicaragua and Costa Rica, by the
terms of which all necessary cessions
were made to us, and we agreed to con
struct the canal. 1t was considered in the
Senate. Senator Bayard, who was very
shortly to become Mr.. Cleveland's secre-
tary of state, vigorously shook over the
Democratic heads the spook Of the dead
Clayton Butter treaty, and frightened
enough of them to prevent the obtaining
the required thirds vote for rati.ica
tion, though it only lacked two, and the
moment Mr.. Cleveland became President
he withdrew the treaty. If it had then
been ratified the canal would now have
boon constructed and owned by our gov
eminent. What lost opportunity this
was! We owe it to England and Bayard's
threat of this English treaty, which she
had never hesitatcd to violate at her own
sweet will.
~ think, and have reason to, that Mr..
Cleveland has Always regretted this action,
or he has been and is now APPARENTLY
friendly to the construction of this canal.
England is evidently intriguing again it
this project in her pressing demands upon
Nicaragua, in her aggressive policy with
Venezuela, in her refusal to permit any
citizen of the American states to act as
one of the.arbitrators, in event there shall
be arbitration This is deliberate in
suit to us, and think this adninistra-
tion indicates purpose to uphold the
Monroe doctrine and to maintain our
dignity in these regards. I am aware
that the English mimnister of state says
1t was not the purpose to exclude as arbi-
traitor any citizen of our country, but, as
boys say, That is too thin. We haven't
forgotten that, in the Halifax arbitration,
England named one arbitrator, we one.
and England practically the third--and
that as consequence, we paid IS, $780,
600 for nothing This is England's way
of doing business.
swell, senator, what would you do
about it,
/ would not submit to any insult, to
any aggressions on our rights, to any vio-
latlon sf the Monroe doctrine, to any in
reference with Hawaii or Samoa so far
as our interests are concerned, or with our
project of constructing the Nicaragua
canal
"What would be your policy as to the
future?'
81 must be BRIEF for am spinning this
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