The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-03
Involves No Inconsistency.

The gifted editor of the Philadelphia
Press, who speaks upon questions of
diplomacy with the voice of more than
ordinary authority, has made a COM
plete reply to the criticisms of those
who hold that for the United States
through its president to invoke the sig
natory powers to protect the Armen-
ians from: Turkish atrocities would be
what the Washington Post mistakenly
calls IAN act of absurd and mischievOus
inconsistency, the effect of which would
be to throw the Monroe doctrine out
of court and close our lips forever to
any protest against European activity
in America"
'The proposed policy" says ex-Min-
lister Smith, "involves no covert action.
1t commits the United States to moth
ing more than friendly representation
in the interest Of humanity and not to
any intermeddling or to the exercise of
any power. We do not take sides in
any international controversy; we do
not become parties to any alliance; we
do not interpose in any political or ma
tional issue. As one of the great fam
lily of nations that are profoundly
shocked by the most appalling cruelties
of the century, we simply appeal to
those powers which have made them
selves especially responsible for the
conduct of the Turk, to exercise their
joint authority in restraining his mur-
derous arm" Such an appeal. it is
pertinently added. does not con-
stitute an infringement of the Monroe
doctrine, in either letter or spirit.
But" adds Mr.. Smith. there
was another issue with the Turks when
our greatest men did not hesitate to speak.
During the struggle of the Greeks against
their Turkish oppressors. Daniel Webster
offered resolution indicating the sym
pathy of the United States with the revo-
lutionary patriots i'm their effort and one
of his greatest speeches was made In its
support. Henry Clay was not less earnest
and fervid in advocating their cause.
Albert Gallatin. who was then our Minis
ter to France. even proposed that we
should send ships of war into the Greek
waters to aid their war for Independence
This was an extreme proposal, but when
Webster and Clay saw no departure from
sound American policy in an empha tic
official declaration of American synpa ny
with the Greeks against the Turks. surely
we need not hesitate to make just repre-
sentation against the Armenian horrors.
country has followed the same course.
We have gone still farther. We have even
assumed to make representations as to
the internal administration of the Russian
nation at a time when there was no gen.
eral outbreak. Our secretaries of state
and our ministers at St. Petersburg have
not hesitated to demonstrate with the
Russian government against the persecu-
tion of the Jews within its domain. The
occasion justified such an expression. and
il there could be no objection to such
declaration Of American sentiment re-
specting a matter of domestic admins
tration, there certainly can be no valid
ground for criticising a declaration con-
cerning these Armenian butcheries in con-
nection with which the great powers of
Europe have large responsibility
1t is possible, yes. probable, that the
proposed appeal would fall on deaf
ears. But. as Mr.. Smith remarks in
concluding his mastery editorial upon
this subject, We shall at least have
done our duty The conscience of
this nation would be clear.