New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
OUR FOREIGN RELATIONS.

Senator CulIoms review of the foreign rela-
tons of the United States during the present
and the preceding administration is especially
worthy of attention, because that is precisely
the department Of government which has been
most persistently and bitterly criticised. From
President McKinley's policy in respect to CUBA
to President Roosevelts in respect TO Panama
he conduct Of American diplomacy has Deeh
rallied at and vilifed, and evil results nave Deeh
predicted OF it TO an extent unsurpassed III
American history Yet it is the simple truth to
say that not one Of those savage arrangements
has been justified, and not one Of those doletul
Vaccinations has been realized. On the con
trary. our foreign policy has been conducted
with exceptional success, during period III
which an exceptional number Of important mat
ters has demanded attention, with net result
profitable TO American interests and distinctly
honorable to the repute Of American diplomacy
and to the prestige OF the American nation
Perhaps the most gratifying feature OF the
whole chapter is the invariable making Ior
peace and friendship among the nations that
has characterized our dealings with other lands:
Our Cuban policy, inherited from the times OF
James Monroe, did indeed, involve us in war
with Spain; but the total losses Of life and limp
in that war were less than those in any one OF
innumerable years Of insurrecton IN that Isl
and, years whose number would have been IN
definitely increased had the United States not
interviewed TO esta blish peace once and forever
That settlement OF the Cuban question unmls-
takably removed one grave source OF menace
and of actual disturbance to the peace or the
world The settlement of the Alaska boundary
and the substitution of a new convention for the
outworn Clayton Bulwer treaty made directly
for the abatement Of irritation and the confrma-
ton of cordial relations with that country
whose friendship is Of the greatest importance
to US. The American policy toward China com
urising the open door, territorial integrity and
the suppression Of and settlement for the Boxer
outbreak, has received the deserved approval OF
the world In Venezuela our policy was the re-
deeming element in most unsatisfactory prob
lem. The influential participation Of the United
States in the Peace Congress at The Hague and
its prompt submission of a case TO the tribunal
there established demonstrated the sincerity
ard the practically of American devotion 10 the
cause of peace The vigorous and conclusive
settlement Of the isthman canal problem is cal
culated TO confer upon the whole world one or
the greatest Of diplomatic and commercial
benefts.
We need not specify further. These and other
so-called triumphs of American diplomacy nave
been triumphs in the truest and noblest sense
Of the word. They have been victories for the
United States. but not necessarily defeats for
other nations. Rather have they been victories
in which both sides have won, and which, there
fore, have left no ranking stings behind them,
but rather mutual qualification They have
demonstrated that American foreign policy can
be Loyalty American without being offensive TO
the rest Of the world; that IT can be vigorous
and alert, even aggressive, without being bus-
terfng or provocative; that it can be practical
and straightforward without being undignifed
or sordid, and, above all, that the United States
can play its part among the nations Of the world
as the peer OF any in power and sovereignty
without involving itself in any Of those entang-
ling alliances which have been the boyle Of the
timorous for a hundred years. 1t is a record in
which the Republican party and the whole
uT.idp