New-York tribune., 1906-12-27
FOREIGN RELATIONS.

There was peculiarly pregnant reminder OF
the growth of the United States as nation in
the Washington dispatch in yesterdays Tribune
containing Secretary Roots account Of the ex-
pansion and reorganization of the State Depart
ment- Figures CLEANED from census reports and
from statistics of manufactures and commerce
afford indiceS of growth in certain directions
Of unmistakable and very great Importance.
But, theoretically at least. such growth might
be attained by a mere confederacy of commu-
mites devoid Of the essential characteristics Of
nationality 1t is in the development of foreign
relations that the growth of the nation, as
nation among nations, is most clearly TO be per-
ceived and estimated
The time is now long past when an injunction
against "entangling alliances" could properly be
interpreted as a prohibition against any init
mate relationships with foreign powers, or when
responsible American statesmen could fttingly
make the rhetorical demand, what do we care
for 'Abroad'?" The compulsion of civilization
has come upon U.S. It has become essential for
us TO enter into close relations with all other
powers, cultivating a reciprocity OF rights and
responsibilities, and hence greatly to care for
Abroad" and for its estimate of US. Every
immigrant who has come hther in these twelve
decades, every American who has gone abroad
for travel or for business every commercial
transaction in the vast bulk of what is now the
second largest foreign commerce in the world.
has required the giving or taking Of hostages of
international comfy Independence and in
timacy are, OF course, TO be differentiated We
have maintained the one while developing the
other. Nor is there any rational fear that our
independence will ever be impaired through our
paying that decent respect to the OF inion Of
mankind" which we prOfeSsed at the inception
of our Independent life. But no fantastic de-
fusion that independence necessitates either
hermitical boorish habits should be permit
ted TO interfere with the progress of that which
boasts itself TO be "Earth's Biggest Country" to
the assured and recognized status of "Earth's
Greatest Nation"
II is TO be assumed that all thoughtful men
will appreciate and concede not only the desir-
ability but also the necessity of such a busl-
nesske reorganization and expansion Of the
State Department as will enable the government
TO conduct its multfarious transactions with
other lands In systematic and accurate fash
iOn In dealing with ourselves In the Treas
ury. the Postoffice, the Interior and other de-
partments such conduct is required We can
surely not afford TO be less punctilious and cor
rect in our dealings with the outside world
Nor will ii, we trust escape recognition that
the government must have not only the CON-
pletest technical appliances for the transac-
ton Of external business, but also the most
through the State Department If it is to COM
mand the respectful attention of the world,
must be the voice Of the nation. Accidentally.
alien governments may understand our federal
system Of checks and balances and reserved
rights and all the rest of it. Practically they
want responsible authority TO deal with an
authority comparable in responsibility with their
own, and such an authority must be pre-
sented to them in all our transactions if the
United States is TO fill with credit and with
profit to itself its due place among the nations
of the world. Nor does that mean any infringe
ment Of state rights by the federal govern
ment or any exaggeration of centralized power.
1t simply means that the states shall not only
give, in the words Of the Constitution full faith
and credit TO each others acts. but shall also
all Of them, give full faith and credit to the
constitutional acts of that federal government
OF which they themselves are the constituents.