Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-05-16
GRESHAM JUSTIFIED.
The Secretary Of state Has Faith In the
Judgment OF the People.

GRESHAM JUSTIFIED.
The Secretary of state Has Faith Ia the
Judgment OF the People.
Secretary of State Gresham has been
the subject, almost continuously since
he accepted Office under President
Cleveland, of vindictive criticism by
his political and personal opponents,
and he has followed the example of
Mr.. Bayard in refraining from making
any defense of his course and in trust
ing to time and the good sense and JUS
| tice OF his countrymen for his justih-
| cation. His reliance upon the ultimate
approval of his fellow-citizcns was not
misplaced, and it begins to be justified.
Early in the history Of the war be-
tween China and Japan, when it was
reported that the good offices of the
| ministers of the United States in
China and Japan were frequently en-
ployed by both China and Japan, the
| <jingoes" in and out Of the congress
derived some satisfaction from the
constant and positive assertion that
| the ministers of the United States
were held in general contempt, and
that their efforts were provocative
only of ridicule.
Owing to the encouragement, per
haps, of lingo" senators and politi-
clans, the minister of Nicaragua at
Washington has, possibly without in
tending to do SO, helped to impress q
large number of the readers Of our
newspapers with the belief that fail
ure to prevent, by force, if necessary,
| the collection by Great Britain Of an
indemnity from Nicaragua for the in
solent treatment of British representa-
tives in Nicaragua would be discred-
table abandonment by the United
States Of the Monroe doctrine.
There are some indications, which
may not be convincing to the limoges"
of the Maine and Massachusetts, stripe,
that Secretary Gresham will be justi-
fed by those who have greater reason
than the Lodges and the Fryes for
holding him up to public execration,
and that by and by the reasons that
constrain foreigners in commanding
him will command the approval of his
own countrymen.
The London Times recently gave
space to letter from Sir Henry
Howorth, M. P, suggesting that it is
to the interest of England Ito formu-
late a common policy with the United
States in regard to the far east" and
the Pail Mall Gazette, in approving
the suggestion of Mr.. Howorth, de-
clares that America has received
many marks of respect from China and
Japan" This is rude denial of the
lingo complaint, but it contributes
to the approval of the policy pursued
in the east by Secretary Gresham and
the administration of Mr.. Cleveland.
It is just as well to be suspicious of
British opinion of our construction of
the Monroe doctrine. but Secretary
Gresham's course in Nicaragua, which
has been clear and patriotic from the
beginning of his handling Of the mat
ter, is more intelligently discussed in
the British papers than it has been by
the American ''jingoes," who would
pursue a policy, in the name of the
Monroe doctrine, that would invite the
constant provocation of foreign powers
toward South American states, and
would also keep US in hot water in the
effort to assert doctrine understood
by few men as it has recently been ex-
pounded by Mr.. John E. Russell and
| Senator Hill
1t is not generally understood, al
| though it is a fact, that the Americans
in Nicaragua who had a grievance
which was similar to that of Consul
Hatch, and would have justified a
peremptory demand for indemnity and
apology, deprived the United States of
all grounds for demand upon Nicaragua
by accepting such Inequalities at the
hands of the government that they
could not, with justice or decency, in
woke diplomatic controversy in their
behalf.-N. Y. Times.