The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-29

fine tribute 10 any popular government
that, amid all lta domeatio wranglen
and revolutions, Il maintained 10 So
rene consistency In the face Of the
outer world, II IL high praise " a
Republican or Democratic adminlBtrn.
tion that Il has won for Itself In In
ternNtlonal agtalra place OF dignity
confidence and influence comparable
with that OF any autocracy OF 'hom
all,
That, we may well believe IL the
praise Justly due TO tho present Repub.
lican administration OF the United
States, In token OF thla Il would be
easy TO elite long catalogue OF npo'
cinc details, These last three years
have been uneommonly busy years IN
the foreign transactions OF this o0un-
try They have Involved operations In
peace ana IN war; In nearly all parts
ot the world. IN some matters this
Nation has been compelled TO stand
alone. or all but alone, against the
world, In some Il has acted Ia harmn.
nlous cooperation with the other pow.
ers, and In soms-and these by no
means the least lmportant-it has tx'
eroiArd q pulaaant leadership. which
lts fellow soverelgns have been glad
To follow. There H., however, no oc-
caslun here 10 enumcrate dctalu The
truest criterion OF Judgment IL the
general standing of the Nation and the
recognition given To Il by foreign pow.
ers. AZ no time since It's carllca, years
has tho United States failed to com.
inand u certain dcgce OF respect
abroad. That IL luito true. Equally
true ia II that never has that degree
haaN fsp.aVaN and Rlf.hat, ttas. a. IA.
present time, Indeed, We may nay Il
was never before quite 80 great and
80 high as Il IN now Never before was
the country'a friendship 90 eagerly de-
sired and lta displsaaure 50 acrupulouu-
~ avoided Never before was its title
TO fun vote In International councils
~ unhoSltatlngly Recognised, Note the
dominant part lt played In the Peace
Congress at The Hague. the rcady
concession OF the powers 10 itH prOpog.
ais for maintenance OF the open door
In China. and the reference paid 10 It's
attitude In the present crisis In the
Far East There has been, no doubt,
lot of inluillioua talk about our
having suddenly become world
power ct'--whatcver that phrase may
mean beyond what We Rave been for
century aud more. But the plain
fact II that IN these last three years
the United States has vastly extended
It's International relations ana infu.
encc. and has Won a far wider appre-
cla,lon OF It's physical power both In
war aud IN the industrial and COM
merci0l pursuits OF peace. The old
sneer. Who rcads an American book9"
long since passed away In shame and
confusion. The question Who cares
what America will think or dog" would
now seem every whit as foolish. In
Europe, In Aaia, In Africa and In the
Islands OF the sea all nations DO care.
aud greatly care, what America thinks
and does, Just ns We care what they
think and do.
Now, IN this there IL no vaunting or
oraggadoclo, because Il Is a Just and
simple statement OF the truth The
United States has reached the standard
which every nation should reach. And
this has been done In dlgnincd and
straightforward manner, and without
any material sacrifice This Nation has
not gone about bullying and clustering,
nor meddling and intriguing. II has
gained It's own ends without mourning
the III VIII OF others. II has not sac.
ritced nor cancelled one essential lota
OF It's Monroe doctrine and OF all that
doctrine means. II has not involved IT,
self In the tolls OF any concert OF
powers" nor compromised It's traditional
freedom OF independent action by any
embarrassing compacts or lntrlguea. In
brief. Il has with signal fidelity and
success maintained the often mlsquot.
cd and often mlslntcrprcted principle
OF peace, commerce and honest friend
ship with all nations-entangiing al
liancea with none" That In a goodly
record. II Is an achievement that
should be established as a precedent,
and should be maintained as a fixed
and perpetual rule Of national action.
We have said that foreign policy should
be continuous. even despite changes OF
administrations. II IL 10 be hoped Il
would be thus maintained. no matter
what changes might occur. But those
who wish It's surcst maintenance viii
see the greater certainty OF Il In the
avoidance OF any change, and espcc.
ialiy In avoidance OF a change 10 such
political control as threatens In ad-
vance 20 dishonor the Nation In the
slight OF the world and 10 plunge IL
incontineDtly into all manner OF dulxOt.
ic ventures and needless 0nlmosltics.
C0ndor Is u noun OF two meanings;
for ourselves frankness. for our neigh