The herald., 1896-02-21
Cievcland's Successful Foreign Policy

room for scandal, or for cavaliers to criti-
else his administraton.-Nisa Times.
Cievciand's Successful Foreign Policy
One of the most brilliant chapters in the
history of American diplomacy. if not the
most brilliant chapter, Is Substantially ~
closed. 1t comprises various subjects, ln-
Guiding the Venezuelan question, the de-
mand for the premature recognition OF
Cuba and the case of eX-Consul Waller.
President Cleveland's S triumph is complete.
Foreign enmity is defeated. Home NAL
contents and conspirators are appeased, or
at least they are slenced.
The vindication of the Monroe doctrine,
as interpreted by Cleveland in his appica-
ton to present times and circumstances
includes every point in dispute between
the United States and Great Britain. The
queens speech by proxy from the throne
conceded in general all that the United
States had demanded. The subsequent
speeches of Salisbury in the house of lords
and of Baifour in the house of commons
covered the entire question in detail and
particular.
The simultaneous announcement OF the
British foreign Office to Minister Bayard
that all tho English testimony on the sub
ject of the Venezuelan boundary, includ-
ing treaties, surveys and maps, would be
submitted to the American Venezuelan
commission of which Justice Brewer is
president, as part of the testimony before
it. is concession of the highest value ana
OF conclusive Importance.
Something more was said. Salisbury adj
mtted in his awkward Tory way that he
ibid not think that the invoking OF the
Monroe dOctFine was coptrovers'ally quite
unnecessary for the United States y That
is. the United states was inp pelied ny
sort Of necessity to invoke the Monroe doc.
trine, and it was invoked by President
Cleveland in emphatic language. The pre-
mier proceeded to say that the interference
of the United States in the Venezuelan
controversy was as much Justified rs inter-
ference by Great Britain would be If the
continental powers should attempt to dis
turb the territorial sovereignty of Holland
or Belgium.
A few months ago Salisbury said that the
Monroe doctrine does not apply to the ell
ezuelan dispute. He now says that 1t Is
vital principle OF American policy. as inn
portant in its application to Venezuela as
the European policy of national indepen-
dence for the smaller and weaker powers.
Mr.. Balfour's declarations were equally
explicit. He said that Great Britain never
would have the slightest intention to vio-
late the substance or the essence of the
Monroe doctrine nor to push beyond the
due limit of its colonial frontiers. He
added that Great Britain cherished the
Monroe doctrine with as much affection as
animates the United States, and claimed
credit for its British origin. All this friend
ly elouuence of Salisbury and Balfour was
back of the queens address. in which she
predicted satisfactory settlement OF the
| entire controversy.
| This is the mosl important of President
Cleveiand's diplomatic victories, but the
others are of great interest. The case of
eX-Consul Waller is settled on better terms
than the facts in the case would have war
ranted if the negotiations had been pend
ing between any other two countries. MIR.
Waller had been United States consul at
Tamatave, Madagascar. He was removed
from office and af .erward procured an ex-
tensive grant of lands from the native
government, and he remained in the coun-
try. The french occupied Tanatave.
| Waller wrote a letter which he sent sur-
reptitiousiy to the native authorities de-
scribng the condition of the French forces.
| 1t was the act of a spy.
| Waller was tried for the offense and con-
! victed on ample proof. Instead of being
shot or hanged, as the laws of war would
! have justified, he was sentenced to twenty
years imprisonment. On representations
| made by the United States he was removed
| to France, and by request of our govern
ment he will receive his liberty. but he
! will have no claim for damages which the
i United States will attempt to enforce.
Other matters of official misfeasance were
charged against Waller. This did not enter
INTO tn6 correspondence VIII u Taice. IL
merely shows the sensational and fraudu.
lent character of the representations made
by the Republican press and the negro
lobby syndicate at Washington in the Case.
President Cleveland also advises con-
gress as to the facts OF his failure to recog-
uize the Cuban insurgents He says that
the insurrectonary guerrilla army has de-
stroyed vast amounts OF plantation prop
erty belonging to American native and
naturalized citizens. and that he though,
it would not be good policy to recognize
as lawful 'belligerents" the forces tha
were fighting and despoiling citizens o
the United S ates in Cuba under the same
system of warfare that they we're wagiue
against the subjects of Spain. This has
put stop to the clamor for Cuban "recog
nition.'
The triumph of President Cleveland
foreign policy at every point, as contraste,
with the feeble ahd valucless results o
Blaine's jiueo and sensational methods. il
an instructive spectacle. Objects OF epua
. importance were gained under Andrey
, Johnson's administration, when Secretar
Seward's demand. backed by the presenc
of General Sheridan with an army of obseI
/ walton on the Texas frontier, caused tn
withdrawal of the French from Mexico
, | The deliverance of Mexico in 1867 and til
| establishment of the advanced Monroe doc
trine in 1896 are the two most importau
, events in American annals connected wit
J the relations of our government to foreig
powers. ago Chronicle.