Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-25
THE DIPLOMACY OF THE
BOOTLICK.

"Shirt-sleeve diplomacy was not
very long ago the favorte epithet by
which European statesmen were wont
to characterize the American method
Of transacting business with foreign
countries. It had an especial vogue
about the time when President Cleve-
land re-asserted the Monroe doctrine,
and served notice on England in Ian
guage easily understood that no ag-
gression in Venezuela would be toll
Grated on the shallow Dretext of a
boundary dispute. The expression:
"Shirt-sleevc diplomacy" was. of course,
meant to emphasize the deficiency Of
GUS diplomacy that is supposed to daz-
zle and confound opponents without
Earring on their finer sensibilities.
Latterly there has come into being
quite another style of diplomacy, so
far at least as our relations with one
country are concerned. and is quite far
enough removed from the brusque but
virile "shirt-slecvc" variety. The new
est sort is the cringlng and obsequious
diplomacy of the bootlick and the
Honorable Secretary of State may be,
in all fairness. said to be the most
shining examplar OF the cult. The man
In his shirt-slceves may have his short
comings as a diplomat, but he is quite
thoroughly understood to mean bust
ness and always commands whole
some respect accordingly. For the
bootlick, the man who asks with many
apologies for what 1t Is his right TO
demand. there has not been, and will
net be anything but contempt. Ameri-
cans may, therefore. we'll be restive at
the figure they are made to cut in the
eyes OF the world by the present ad-
ministration.
This new diplomacy may be found,
in all Its ripe perfection. in our recent
relations with England. and was very
well set out by Mr.. Sulzer in his
speech in Congress on his resolution of
inquiry into British Notifications on the
Canadian border. Mr.. Sulzer said:
There is feeling all over this coun-
try that the administration has abso-
lutte and abiectly surrendered American
so in Alaska, 1t has done so in regard
to the Nicaragua Canal, 1t is doing so
now in the Orient, In the Philippines,
In China. If II had not been for what
the administration did the other day,
| after consultation with Lord Pauuce-
fote. after being told what to do by
Salisbury. there would have been n
concert OF European powers which
would have demanded the cessation of
the war I'm South a frira
Mr.. Sulzer has not overdrawn the
picture. The -Pauncefotc compact,
reviving without shadow OF excuse or
advantage TO America the Clayton
'ulwer treaty. abrogated by England's
own high handed act, and surrendering
the Monroe doctrine without protest
and without cause. has brought shame
and confusion to this nation. The plea
that England stood between us and a
European coalition during the war with
Spain. baseless enough in fact, could
not carry with it any obligation OF a
so derogatory to the dignity, and so
injurious to the interests OF the Ameri-
can people. And as II the unspeakable
yPauncefote treaty were not
enough. in all several of the other mat
ters. wherein we have to do with Eng
land OF late, there has been exempli-
fled the same obsequious Willingness
to surrender our rights and interests.