Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-23
OUR FOREIGN POLICY.
Necessity of Firmer Attitude TO Pro-
teet American Citizens.
To the Editor OF The Evening Star:

To the Editor OF The Evening Star:
Many Americans must rejoice to see that
cur government is at last alive to the aces-
sity of frmer attitude in regard to the
protection of American citizens in foreign
&C untries. 1t could hardly fail to be aroused
from its longtime apathy and Indifference
to the cries of its Ealtreated and outraged
citizens in all parts of the world, with such
an example of promptitude and determine
ton on the part of Great Britain in Mica
ragua. The injury done to Mr.. McCord by
the Peruvian government was far greater
than that by the Nicaragu government 10
a British subject, yet in the latter case
sooner were the facts made known when
England at o4Ice dispatched her Warships to
Corinto, seized the custom house and
acted a large indemnity from that repub
lie, whilst in the former case of McCord it
has been delayed and temDorized with for
ten long years. causing further injury and
wrong to the claimant. There are many
other cases which could be cited wherein
our government has been too inert and.
SHALL / say, Indifferent to the welfare of
Ter people in other countries. 1 have be-
fore me the remembrance of the Mora
claim. After years of energetic toll ami
enterprise, Mr.. Mora had amassed consid-
cradle wealth and properties in Cuba: all
this was taken from him, he was thrown
into prison. his life threatened and other
Ills claim in the hands OF our govern
1nent, whilst he langushed in suspense and
poverty in a New York attic. 1t was eX-
Secretary Olney's first action to make the
demand en- Spain. when it was Immediately
paid, but only just in time to pay the
claimants funeral expenses. Then there
are the South Sea Island claims, where a
number of Our people went and established
regular trade between there and this
country. which was carried on for over fifty
years. They dealt fairly with the natives
bought land and put it into cultivation, and
we're altogether prosperous and well-tlo-
ing community. Having thus brought the
islands into note and made them habitable
for others, John Bull cast his eyes over the
little garden, and with his usual big |
wanting whatever he sees. and getting
what he wants. the islands became his.
Americans Were Systematically robbed OF
their lands and properties and otherwise
prosecuted and haraSSed in all their deal
irgs until it became obvious they Were TO
be driven out of the country they had
made. This happened twenty years ago.
and The claims of those deeply wronged
Americans are still unpaid. In this case
there can be no plea of bankruptcy or
cuse of a strong nation bullying weaker
one. l believe that these Fiji Island claims
amount to over million dollars. What |
would like to know is. will our government
pay over to Great Britain the indemnity In
the Bering sea award and allow these
claims of SD much longer standing to re-
main unpaid? Let US imagine if we can
what those twenty years have been to the
waiting supplicants. in many cases the
original claimants have Joined the great
majority, those who have so far weathered
the storms of life are old and poor and
heartbroken, and now much disappoint-
ment must have added to their grief in
that the government they believed to be of
the people, by the People and for the people
should have so failed them in their neces-
stiles Instead of criticising Secretary Sher-
mans attitude toward Great Britain We
should rejoice at his vigorous action and
give him the valuable support of public
opinion. If it be diplomacy to write susary
dispatches to Great Britain and meekly
wait that governments own time to act
away with it! Let us have more of those
blunt and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. letters char
acteristic of our venerable and patriotic
statesman. There have been too many
years upon years of shilly-shallyng until
1t must have come to be believed our coun-
try was afraid to assert its rights: in
Geed, l have known Americans to be taunt-
ed in that way by Englishmen But with
man like John Sherman at the helm of
state it is to be hoped that, having the
pillow in hand. he will put it down TO the
beam and never look back till he has
brought all these foreign claims to a settle
ment. Then Americans all over the world
can lif- up their heads and be proud of the
flag they know both will and can protect
them, and other nations will think twice
before they repeat such outrases as have
been done in the past
PRO BONO PUBLICo.