Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-05
,p,,.xrr,,s FOREIGN POLICY.

vi -
President McKiney's ehunciation OF
his foreign policy IS not only -colorless'
but is distinctly disappointing so tai
al is involved the foreign question that
| Is uppermost in the public NINA III i
true that he approves iat-footed the
arh,,ration convention between the
United States and Great Britain ana
expresses the hope that IT VIII be rau-
fed. thus imparting strength TO the sus-
plcion that obtained from the hrst OF
Republican understanding In the Senate
whereby the treaty might be hung up
I'm order TO the new administration get
ting the credit and the glory OF making
It an accomplished fact. For the rest
his illusions to foreign affairs are very
suggestive Of The innocuous stereotyped
Queens speech that is made upon the
opening of Parliament. They are gene
rallties that have not even the merit oil
glittering.
President Mckinley does not mention
I'm terms the all-absorbing CUBAN COM
plication. and makes no reference 10 H.
unless. indeed, his declaration that 1--WE
have cherished the policy Of non-interfei-
ence with the affairs Of foreign gov
ernments, wisely inaugurated by WASH
ington." can zoe construed into such
reference. And If it can be sc con-
strued. We are justified. despite Sher-
mans break the other day. in assuming
that the Canton Kitchen Cabinet was
right in stating. as they did soon az
ter the election. that the new admins
tration would be entirely I'm accord with
the old administrators Cuban policy.
President McKinley's voice is for peace.
As TO that matter, the people have no
quarrel with him. The country wants
peace and rest from excitement, and
encouragement to get TO work TO de-
velop business and industrial enter
prises 1t wants assurance of peace
1t was promised that McKinleys cleo
ton would bring about all the condi-
tions conducive to a revival of pros
perity. Among the factors that have
initiated against a return to the paths
of business and industrial development
have been the constantly recurring ru-
mors of war. For months the last ad-
ministration has kept the country upon
the ragged edge Of uncertainty as to
what would be the end of our compli-
cations with Spain. Its policy in many
respects has been such as TO give rise
TO, If not invite, just such crises as the
one growing out Of the Sanguilly Ruiz,
and Scott affairs. a continuance of that
policy means a continuance Of uncer-
tainty and business timidity. The peo-
pie, therefore hoped that the new adj
ministration would take a stand in re-
spect of the Cuban matter, which while
giving Spain no occasion to provoke hos
tilities with us, would result in such a
settlement of the question Of treatment
of citizens of the United States in Cuba
and other side issues as would afford
assurance against war scares. 1t seems,
however, from President McKinley's in
augural address. that in this they were
doomed TO disappointment. In justice to
the new President, it should be said
that it would not have been reasonable
to expect from him an expression touch
ing the latest crisis considered in its
segregated and individual bearing. He
is not supposed to have read the
correspondence between General Lee
and Mr.. Olney. and was. therefore
in no position TO take up that special
matter. At the same time. his inaugu-
ration certainly afforded him an oppor-
tunity for a clear enunciation of a gene
raj policy that would cover the class
Of cases that brought about the clash
between the State Department and our
Consul-General at Habana.