The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-21
INCUR. POLICY.
President Mckinley Fa-
vOrS Advance Steps.
Program Includes Reaching
Out on Three Sides.
Annexation Of Hawaii and Some OF
The West Indian Isles.


President McKinleys administration bids
fair 10 mark an epoch In tho history OF the
United States. In addition TO the annexa-
tion Of Hawaii and decisive action In re-
gard 10 Cuba, both OF which have been
completely foreshadowed in these dis
| patches, ! am able TO announce that the
| president has still another project In view
closely related To the Hawaiian and Gu
ban matters. This is nothing less than
construction Of the Nicaragua canal.
President Mckinley Is earnestly In favor
OF the digging Of that great waterway un-
der purely American auspices. AS soon
as he can reach IL he expects 20 move, and
the probabilities are that he will have the
cooperation Of congress-. IL Is as yet too
early TO say just what form the presidents
Interest In this vast project will take. It
Is enough TO know that after looking the
ground over he intends 10 take such action
as will bring results in good time.
An Admirer of Blaine.
In this phase of our national policy
President Mckinley took lessons from the
late James q. Blaine Mr.. Blaine had
one great hobby while he was prominent
In the public affairs Of this country, and
that WIS the annexation of Hawaii on the
west Cuba or some other West Indian
island on the east and the opening up Of
the Nicaragunn canal In between. Years
ago Mr.. Blaine talked TO Mr.. Mckinley
on thissubjcct, 10 my personal knowledge
Probably neither Of them thought at that
time that Mr. Mckinley would ever be
president of the United States, with power
In his hands TO formulate and forward
these great policies. At that time there
was much more probability that Mr..
Blaine himself would soon be In position
To exercise commanding influence, but Mr..
Blaine never became president, and other
things have interyened. Now Mr.. McKin-
ley, who was one of Mr.. Blaine's lieuten-
ants and admirers, is in the White House,
and unless the signs Of the present day are
misleading important action In the direc-
ton so porsistcntly and ably advocated by
Mr.. Blaine is likely TO follow. One step
has already been taken, and 1t is under
stood that others are to follow as rapidly
as possible
II may not be generally known that Mr..
Blaine Mr.. Mckinley were warm
friends. This was before the year 1890.
when Mr.. Mckinley prepared the famous
tariff bill which bore his name. In the
presidential campaign of 1880 Mr.. Nc
kinley was delegate to the Chicago con-
Ncntlofi WHICH DblnlDHJeO ohrLeIu. f1e
was there as Blaine delegate, although
John sherman was candidate. Mr.. Sher-
man stood in large part as n sort Of polit-
ical godfather To Mr.. Mckinley, and yet
when IL came to the presidential struggle
of that year the young Ohio congressman
was found OIL MIR. Blaine's side
A New America.
When Mr.. Blaine was secretary Of state
dor f,f 81, lxv a,,,s,,
Of n new Aucrica. He had formulated in
his mind tie grand scheme Of an Ameri-
can polty as distinguished from the Euro
pean systems. The Monroe doctrine,
which kept the United States free from all
entangling alliances with European affairs
and excluded European nations from ac-
tive participation in American questions,
save as they were directly involved through
existing interests, was the foundation of
tho system as Mr.. Blaine saw it. Built
urop that was tho United States as the
leader Of all American international poll
tics, as the greatest and most powerful ma
ton of tho western world, as the arbiter
between weaker powers, as the protector
Of nations oppressed by foreign nations, as
a haven of refuge for disorganized states
which had not within themselves the abil-
ity 10 rcrretuate good government and TO
secure order ard progress As q great
practical adjunct 10 this state OF things
and as n mighty agent in upbuilding the
influence and commerce Of the United
States Mr.. Bloino wanted the Nicaragua
canal constructed as u purely American
enterprise.
Mr.. Blaine was i'm advance of his times.
His ipcisive intellect was looking ahead.
Since his dag events have ripened oppor-
tunity for the very policy which he IA
vored The last administration, thanks
to Richard eircy, took up the Monroe doc
trine principle and established IL more
firmly than ever before. IL is too much To
say that it Is fixed by consent Of the ma
tions Of the earth. 1t Is not. No foreign
power has as Yet given direct expression
10 acceptance of that principle. But the
United States has asserted il in way
which will doubtless secure respect for it
for all time TO come. SO far rs we are con-
cerned, IL is written in international law.
To keep 10 there we are ready TO go 10 any
extreme should emergency require. Thus
the foundation for Mir. Blane's great pol
icy is laid. Its tendency Is To create n dis
tinctiyely American policy. The powers
OF Europe set together in concert for reg
ulation of In. POLITICS OF the old world.
The United States as the Only great power
In this len !tpLtre is It's own concert as to
purely American questions.
Advancing Civilization.
The legitimate outcome of establishment
OF this distinctive American policy is just
tuch changes as the annexation of Hawaii,
the freedom o. Cuba under our protection
and The construction Of the Nicaragua
canal There is no use Of having this
American system as mere dead letter, as
"A toy or thing Of ornament It means
something. IL stands for advancement Of
civilization In the western world, for per-
fection 81 tho rcience of government, for
improvement of the relations existing be-
tween nations. IL Is "a vital living prin-
oiplc, not n mere academic declaration.
An incident Of this policy, constantly
broadening. will he the further upbuilding
Of the American navy. Mr.. Blaine used
to say that there was no diplomacy with
out great guns. mo- extension of foreign
Al "A ~. III