The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-10-15
A Firebrand.

much in the predicament of bear
leader, hampered with an unruly
animal in the person OF his Secre-
tary OF State, who thinks true states.
manship consists in writing offensive
dispatches and arousing the dander
OF = other Powers. Nevertheless,
there is some method in his madness
as we see by his recent change OF
tone to Japan and Spain. 1t is
only upon this country, whose long
suffering can be counted on, that
insults can be safely heaped, mostly
because OF the benighted folly OF
the nation in persistently ignoring
the true nature of the deep-seated
and earnest hatred Of the American
people, paraded on every possible
occasion. 10 reference to Sherman's
iosolent dispatch respecting the
Alaska seal-fshery, and Lord Sails
bury's meek compliance with its de-
mands, contemporary rightly OBJ
serves: at is the Venezuelan bust
ness over again, and once again it
will confirm the American political
mind in the conviction that John
Bull always knuckles down when
bullied and threatened" From all
authorities protesting to read the
American mind, OF which we appear
to be densely ignorant, we are
warned that our conciliatory, not to
say pusillanimous, policy iufames
instead of allays American hostility
to this country; whereas resolute
and dignifed stand would define
the limits to which this dangerous
hectoring can be carried. It's true,
these feelings are not those of the
most respectable and educated
classes OF the Republic, but these
are precisely those who have least
weight with the masses. The
French Press were, some years since,
incessant in their abuse OF the
Kaiser and his country, but when,
in reply, he stood on the banks of
the Rhine and significantly tapped
the hilt Of his sword silence ensued.
Mr.. Sherman is apparently anxious
to rival the part played by the Due
de Richeliu in precipitating the war
OF 1870, and like him to embalm his
name in disaster. He was appointed
to his present Office not from any
qualifications for the post, but
simply to create vacancy in the
Ohio Senatorship for a personal
friend of the President. He is
man of 70 years Of age, and tho
position is obviously too much for
him. He has taught the British
Government that a special code of
diplomatic intercourse ia necessary
in dealing with his country, and
that acts and words which in Eu-
rope would be tantamount to de-
claration of war are only ordinary
phrases OF American diplomacy.
Nevertheless, this was not always
the view taken of international eti-
quette. In 1883 Lord Sackville,
when Ambassador at Washington,
was almost hustled out OF the coun-
try because he had thoughtlessly ex-
pressed, to a casual acquaintance,
an opinion upon the then political
condition of the situation. Mr..
Sherman's ill-mannered letter to
Lord Salisbury on the Behring Sea
question deserved stronger reply
than the mild sarcasm cannoned off
your Minister at Washington. Mr..
Sherman's treatment Of Japan is
even yet more reprehensible and
singular. In his "Recollections,"
published within the last two years,
he wrote: "a Republic should not
hold dependent provinces or posses
sions. If my life is prolonged will
do all can to add to the strength
and prosperity Of the United States,
hut nothing ia extand its limits or