The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-07
FOREIGN POLICY AT A DISCOUNT.


One of the most notable things about
the political conventions of this year is
the sudden and practically complete
disappearance of jingoism. Less than
a year ago an observer Of American
political tendencies would have wag-
cred his last dollar on the statement
that the campaign of this year would
be carried on between two parties, each
endeavoring to make the highest bid
for the lingo vote. Nothing was heard
during last fall but discussion of our
present and prospective foreign policy
When congress met, every other sub
ject was set aside for this, and the
representatives of Democracy and Re-
publicanism wed with each other in
offering resolutions committing this
country to the settlement of differences
in all parts of the known world, ard
issuing proclamations Of war against
the universe in general. 1t is within
the limits CT this year that the whole
country was stirred up over Venezuela.
Mass meetings were being held ir. the
great cities for and against interfer-
ence, appropriations for naval and
coast defenses were urged, and the ca
bic lines made the sea splutter, so hot
were they kept carrying messages ir.
the interest of arbitration. Since
that time we have had a contro-
versy over Cuba, and the propriety of
zin HoII
surgents Hawaii and Nicaragua
brought up the rear, with a possibility
in the air that it might become the
province of this country to turn in and
teach the sultan manners and human
ity.
All this within the last few months,
and now not a whisper of interest in
any quarter as to the foreign policy Of
the administration during the next four.
years. 1t will make no difference, as
far as that Is concerned, whether the
nominee of the st. Louis convention or
that Of Chicago is elected. In either
case he will go into office without in,
struct1ons from the people as to the
relations between this government and
others. Instead of a ranting, red hot
lingo policy, which the people were
supposed to demand, they have let the
issue go by the board and refuse ever.
to talk about it any more. The Re-
publican national convention contented
itself with a declaration in regard to
Cuba so nonsensicaI in It's language
that nobody could pretend to take it
seriously. 1t may be doubted whether
the convention at Chicago will mention
the question of our foreign relations
at all. Domestic issues have absorbed
the whole attention Of the people. ard
upon their settlement alone will the eff
forts Of the voters be concentrated
This is good thing in one respect, be-
cause 1t happens, curiously enough,
that when the issue of our foreign pol
icy is raised those who make the most
Loise are apt to be in control. 1t seems.
to be accepted by many as a stigma
Of disgrace If a man does not favor
a belligerent attitude on the part Of the
United States, right or wrong, against
all the rest of the known world. mas
much as our foreign relations are in
rather comfortable shape at present,
and as it is evident that all the ques-
lions relating to our foreign policy will
settle themselves comfortably and hon
orably if not interfered with by an ex-
cited populace, we may set this down
as one of the too few good effects of
the rise to overshadowing Importance
Of the currency question.