The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-06-28
Spain MU8t Lose Hll.
Hon. John w. Foste's Prediction of the Wars tnd--No
Probability of an Alliance.

possibility that Cuba would be annexed
20 the United States. He answered: Il
hope not. That is a matter which affects
Cuba without precipitatinG a revolu-
ton. and so war had to come. | have
believed for two years that 1t was IN
evitable. and that the sooner 1t was
to Spain. she could not withdraw from
our honor. We have entered on this wal
in the name OF humanity. and under a
pledge that we do not want to annex
Cuba. 1t would irjure us unspeakably if
we annexed the island now. If at some
time in the future. when the Cubans
Lave had an opportunity to test self
government. the conditions should be
come like those in Haiti. where he peo-
pie got to cutting one anOthers Threats.
1t might be necessary for the United
States to step in; but not until that
time
Mr.. Foster said he would not talk
about our policy toward the Philippines;
first. because we did not control them
vet, and. second. because he did not be
lieve III meeting Il difficulty until he
reached it. His statement that Spain
would possess nothing but the Peninsula
if the wal was prolonged. however. car
ried with it the Inference that we must
give the Philippines to some other ma
- vi httD tbtih " "
gether with Porto Rico and perhaps the
Canary Isles.
AMERICANS AS DIPLOMATS.
| asked General Foster if he believed
that we would be equal to the diploma
tic demands which empire would make
if he believed that our people could
cope with the trained diplomatists of
Europe.
whenever the need shall arise said
General Foster, Il am sure the man
will be found 1t has always been so.
The record of the United States in di-
plomacy is remarkable. 1t equals the
record of any of the nations Of Europe
After the RevolutionarE War the treaty
with England which our commissioners
negotiated was generally admitted to be
Il triumph Of diplomacy. In the treaty
of 1914 Lord Wellington admitted that
we had got the better Of the English
commissioners He made that statement
in Parliament.
AS to recent negotiations. political
prejudice warps popular judgment of
them for the present. But during the
civil war we were most ably represented
in diplomacy by Mr.. Seward in the Ca
binet. by Mr.. Adams in London, and by
our other representatives abroad. 1t is
acknowledged that in the treaty of 1888.
out Of which grew the Geneva CONVEX
ton. we gained a distinct advantage. |
think we need have no fear of diplo-
matte difficulties.
E"As to our Representatives in Con-
gress. it has become popular to criticise
them and to cOmpare them with the
statesmen Of the past. to their disad-
vantage. but | think uniustly. 1t hap
pens that there is no brilliant man, like
Webster or Clay or Calhoun. in the
Senate to-day, but | think the average
Of intelligence and ability there is as
high as it ever was, and there are twenty
men in the Senate who. in dealing with
practical questions, are as able as any
the senate has known.
The House, perhaps. is swayed by
popular clamOr at times. and does not
:itt with thought and discretion; but
that is to be expected of a popular
body
NO ALLIANCE LIKELY.
| asked Mr.. Foster if there was any
likelihood of Il ley dreibund-a combina-
ton of Japan. England and America
as had been suggested. He answered in
the negative.
W have many mutual interests. es-
pccially in the Pacific" he said. but
though we may work together, | think
there is no likelihood of an alliance.
There is no truth in the report that ia
pan is opposed to us. In the Hawaiian
matter. count Okuma. who is Il quick
tempered man. acted hastily and | think
he learned that he had made a mistake.
Count Ito. the new Prime Minister Of
Japan. was convinced of this. and |
feel assured that Japan is very pleas
antIy disposed toward u.s."
General Foster said that he did not
believe there would be any alliance be-
tween the United States and any other
nation which would involve us in that
nations quarrels.
GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.