New-York tribune., 1901-03-14

,s,,h were unknown the squabbles. the scandals
.ne chickering's Of its predecessor and that which
eucceeded II - -, . r
r,a-rjson's Administration was marked by un-
i-,al activity and striking success in the man
cement Of foreign relations. American interests
80 vastly promoted and the aims Of true
Hnas-ican diplomacy emphasized. The record of
= administration began with the highly impor-
.sn- and significant meeting Of the International
a-oarican Conference in Washington, and ended
-i-b the con -lUsion of the Hawaiian Treaty Of
.-neTation The International American Confer
20 assembled il Washington in October 1889
,ritb delegates representing all the independent
Cavern raents Of the two Americas. and continued
:, session until APRIL 1890. Many plans for the
establishment Of closer relations among the
American Repubhcs were discussed and several
ssfnite propositions were agreed upon for refer
ence 70 the separate Governments represented
1Thfls the American Nations were discussing
-ians for closer intimacy. another important Ma
fi9nal conference was being held for the better
rrotection Of lives and property at sea In the
arst gear Of the Administration negotiations be-
tween England Germany and the United States
ear The preservation Of peace and good government
IN the Samoan Islands, which had been broken
of IN 1887. were renewed, with more success, and
q convention, signed in Berlin, was submitted
earlv in 1890 and ratified by the Senate. A treaty
- ev+ra dition with Great Britain which the me-
csding Administration had failed TO secure was
siso negotiated and ratified in the spring of 1890
The Behring Sea negotiations, which had dragged
along without prospect Of termination for sew
eral years were taken up early in the Admins
ration by Secretary Blaine. After a vigorous
snd ela aborare correspondence with Lord Sails
rurv some approach 10 understanding on both
siles was made apparent A treaty of arbitra-
tion was signed in February, 1892 and soon after
ratified.
RECIPROCITY CONVENTIONS
Under the Tariff act OF 1890 the burden was
.brou,n up0n the State Department of Negotiating
series Of treaties of commercial reciprocity with
Central and South American countries The first
conyenton proclaimed was that with Brazil early
IN 1891; a second was negotiated in the same year
-rifh Spain for her West India possessions, and
third with the Republic Of San Domingo. SINH
lar conventions were subsequently, proclaimed
With Guatemala. Salvador, Great Britain for GER
+an Of her West India colonies. and British
Guiana Nlcaragu and Honduras With the
sugar clause a basis, limited reciprocity con-
vpntions We're also arranged with Germany and
AustTia-Hungary.
Events growing out of the civil war in Chill
threatened in the winter of 1912. TO involve
This country in with the triumphant Con-
gressional party in that Republic. but the
frn and vigorous assertions of this country's
rurpose 10 maintain its dignity and enforce
tic rights brought the Gillian Government to
. speedy sense of responsibility, and the in
tures Of which the United States complained
were redressed without question. A party Of
sailors from the cruiser Baltimore had been
attacked by mob in Valparaiso and loss of
life had resulted General Harricons Admin
istration secured an apology for this insult
the American uniform, and an indemnity Of
$4,000 for the families of the dead sailors and
for the injured.
In the winter Of 1S90-91 several Italian sub
against secret organization OF assassins,
known as the Malta. For time diplomatic
intercourse between the United States and
Italy ceased as a result Of this incident. An
Investigation showed that some of the men
killed by the mob were Italian subjects and the
United States subsequently, paid a voluntary
indemnity Of S25 GOO. The sum was accepted by
Italy a most generous compensation. and
cordial diplomatic relations were restored.
Toward the close of General Harrison's Ad-
ninistration an important eXtradition treaty
with France. negotiated by Whtelaw Reid, then
Minister 10 France. ratified by the Senate.
were similar treaties with Russia and
Sweden
How powerful for good the influence of Cen
eral Harrison's Adminlsti alton was in financial
matters will probably never be known or de-
termined with perfect accuracy. II was con-
fronted at the threshold with popular demand
for free coinage Of silver, a demand so strong
that it threatened unless D-et by judicous meas
ures of compromise, TO throw both branches cf
Congress completely INTO the hands nf monetary
fanatics From the fr~+ General harrison and
Secretary Windom eXerted all their influence to
shape public opiniCr Sc that international
agreement on this question might be secured
The sudden death Of tGr. Window in the act Of
appealing powerfully 10 the people for sound
money followed by no lesser efforts of his
successor. If the danger Of free silver was
averted for the time being, a large part Of The
credit is due TO General Harrisons leadership. to
the International Conference at Brussels which
he brought about. and 10 the compromises which
only averted impending catastrophe, but also
taught the country 10 now slight an extent silver
purchases can control its price.
Through great dIfhcuitieS the Treasury De-
partnent was conducted with conspicuous sue
cess. The redemption Of S269, 900 900 of bonds, a
large reduction Of reyerue and the enormous eX-
pansion Of pensions were met without in the
least nparing the credit of the Government or
the soundness Of the currency. until the triumph
Of an opposing party gave reason for dstrust.
In the building Of a navy to defend individual
rights and National honor and safety, the Ad-
ministration Of General Harrison continued TO
carry out the policy initiated by Secretary Chan
der under President Arthur, and continued
GleEeldnd'C
Secretary Whitney. Results of incalculable value
were obtained without the slightest suspicion Of
scandal or Wastefulness AT the close Of General
Harson's Administration the raising OF the
American flag over some Of the fastest steam
ships afioat and the launching of a battleship
second 10 none in effectiveness furnished Illus
frations ot what was done for the country.
The work Of the u ar Department under Cen
eral Harrison's Administration was distinguished
by It's intelligent progressive and businesslike
character. The percentage Of desertions was
materially reduced. The reorganization and con-
sohdation Of divisions having charge Of the hos
pal ana service records of the volunteer soldiers
were effected. When General Harrison entered
tne White House the Record and Pension Divis
.oh OF the Har Department was 4l,00O cases be-
Nhd, yet within less than TWO years the Secre-
tary OF War was able to report that the fiscal
year had closed without single case left over.
, me remarkable increase in the revenues of the
rostorlce Department, in the number of post
olhces established and in the miles of mail
mage added, speaks eloquently Of the efficiency
u u tne management Of that important department
ueflng General Harrison's Administration. One
" me most notable achievements the sue
ss-ssfuI enforcement Of the statute in regard to
.ottefles The law was enacted in September,
,eSe and II put effective stop to the fraudu-
leht ana demoralizing appeals and literature
sssnanatlng from the lottery thieves. In March,
.es4, contracts were made for carrying mails in
american vessels. The cry Of subsidy raised
oy democrats in and out Of Congress did not de-
tsF General Harrison from carrying out a policy
Nhlcn he justly described in his last annual mes
sage as Wholesome" and lone having in il much
promise The immediate result Of such a policy
Of ciX Amer an
snps OF an aggregate tonnage Of 81, 400 tons,
costing 81 00O