North Park union., 1901-12-06

SECRETARY Or STATE, Hay, in re-
spending to the Toast, "Our Diplom
acy," at the banquet given by the
New York Chamber OF Commerce, at
its one hundred and thirty-third ami.
versary, among other things SAID in
defence OF our foreign policy;
aNo wantonness of strength will
ever induce US to drive a hard
bargain with another nation because
it is weak, nor will any fear OF igno-
BILE criticism tempt US to insult OR de-
fy q great power because it is strong,
or even because it is friendly
That portion of his speech certainly
was diplomatic. In fact, the Ameri-
can people seem TO be the victims OF
necromancy masquereding undor the
name of diplomacy. If the million
aire portion Of the audience present,
consisting of railroad and trust mag
mates, and preferred politicians BY
reason Of their approval of such di-
plomacy, is any indication of the
drift of public sentiment. then it
must be admitted that these diplomats
have waved the magic wand over the
masses successfully, for they are hyp-
Noticed completely.
Just look at the first clause OF the
above quotation. If ever hard bar
gain was driven with another nation
simply because it was weak and by a
nation simply because it was strong,
our deslings with the Filipinos is a
most conclusive demonstration. We
defy the history Of the world to show
a stronger one; or more unjust one.
And the latter clause, above quoted,
is IN angry slap in the face of all
men and newspapers who dare to
criticize our sanity ~ foreign policy.
Look at the language "Nor will
any fear of iguoble criticism tempt
u.s." etc. Does it follow that because
criticism of certain governmental
policy is made that it is necessarily
ignoble7 Secretary Hay knows bet
ter. But for the time being he threw
off the mantle of the statesman-if
indeed he ever was known to wear
one-and put on the garb of
the cheap politician and
threw mud at his adyersaries. Will
Secretary Hay tell all the truth
about and give the reasons for his
policy of not insulting OR defying a
great power, "bccduse it is strong or
even because it is friendly"
Aud will he also tell us why by
reason Of such policy our govern
ment aids and abets the great power
in destroying two other weak nations,
helps kingdom to destroy republics,
just because the kingdom is strong
and the republics weak7 Nol That
wouldn't be diplomacy. Oh, mo-
And further on he says: awe have
accepted the responsibility of the
Philippines which Providence I'M
poses upon US" Kings always
claim 10 be the instruments of Provi.
dence. Imperial power is always
divine institution. That shifting of
the burden on to Providence might
have been a little more acceptable
had not another speaker ct the same
meeting summarized McKinleyism
thus:
First--a:That as our own manifold
productions largely exceeded homo
consumption, the expansion of terri
tory, trade and commerce was the on.
ly means of securing markets for
cur surplus products. Senator Nc.
Leurin of South Carolina. It seems
incongruous to mix Providence up
with such politics as that 1t must
be one or tho other. That Republi-
can sophistry, otherwise called d.
plomacy, is fooling the people to-day,
there can be no doubt Our present
policy is sowing the wind but sooner
or later some body will have to
reap the whirlwind See il they
don'k