New-York tribune., 1921-03-20

Ns'@fScf - 'esAoDAC Az GNSSY cCucSs AVA .
Cortissoz surely does not overesti-
mate the Importance of Reid's serv-
ice upon the peace commission which
framed at Paris the treaty terminal
ing the war with Spain. Here was not
only leadership in q complex task
successfully carried through. BY our
victory we were suddenly brought face
to face with world politics. There
were few enough who had the vision
to see the Philippine problem in its
full consequences to American life.
Reid both saw the truth and possessed
the intellectual acumcn and political
skill to count powerfully in the ma
tion's decision. His point of view,
resolutely upheld and destined to be-
come the law of the land through the
Supreme Courts. Interpretation Of the
Constitution, was thus expressed in one
of his many letters to the party lead
ers, this one addressed 20 Senator
Chandler:
"The real danger in our sudden
expansion lies in the cowardly
tendency of SO many of our public
men to do nothing against admitting
anybody and everybody to full part
nership in the American Union. It
has been only little while since one
could get anybody in Congress to-
admit the possibility Of dealing with
the Sandwich Islands in any other
way than by making them state in
the Union. Everybody seemed to
consider it natural, as we'll as certain,
that Cuba would come in some day
as a state. But if Cuba and the
Sandwich Islands, why not Hayti and\
Santo Domingo and the Philippines
and Porto Rico? And yet everybody
seems bent on taking the first step
by treating Porto Rico exactly like
a domestic territory in training for
statehood and stretching out our
grotesquely inapplicable Dingley tariff
bodily over it,"
There are many proofs OF Reid's con-
spicuous service in organizing the ma
tion's newly found resolves upon world
affairs. Hay wrote him: "The other
day, in Cabinet meeting, the Attorney
General said the constitutional reIa-
tlons of our new possessions had no.
where been defined as clearly and ably
as in your speeches, and every man
present agreed" Senator Davis wrote:
Il do say most unfeignedly that your
papers upon the questions which have
arisen from the cession of the Philip
pines have done great work in sup
port of the convictions and forecasts
which impelled the commissioners to
insist upon that cession." And later:
Il am still firm in the faith that we
did great---a very great-thing for
our country at Paris"
Looking backward to these years, u
is already possible to pay proper trib-
ute to the courage and vision of these
views upon American expansion. Popu-
lar appreciation at the time came
slowly, of necessity. The country
that had been peculiarly self-sufficient
for century and more must obviously
need time in which to adjust itself to
the foreign problems beginning to
press upon it.. The accident Of war
flung major colonial problem in our
lap. Trade expansion, the approaching
end of commercial isolation, followed
in its wake. The year 1898 is simply
convenient mile-post by which to
mark the Beginning Of that new Amer
lea which, but twenty years latar, was
to enter with all its blood and treasure
into war involving the destinies of
world.
IT is impossible to read the con-
cluding chapters of Reid's life, cover
ing his long service in London, from
1906 to 1912, without constant reference
to 1893 and to 1914 In many respects
this is the most interesting period in the
two volumes. 1t began under the fairest
auspices. The friendship with Roose-
velt was of old standing dating back,
in fact, to the cordial support of the
young Assembly,nan at Albany. In the
Department of State at Washington
was his oldest and best Of friends,
John Hay, who wrote thus:
81 have refrained from saying
anything to you about matter
which, as you know, isevery near TO
my heart, wishing to leave the
President the pleasure of talking to
you first, but cannot help telling
you with what long looked for de-
light shall countersign your
commission as Ambassador to Eng
land. When that is done shal! feel
like intoning my nunc dimittis. 1t
will be the crowning act of friend
ship and close association Of forty
years. This for the personal side of
it, without referring just now to the
great and lasting advantage to our
interests and to our honor and pres
tige abroad which will come from
your embassy"
Ambassador Choate wrote To him /.
With your large and varied expe-
rience in public questions, your diplo-
matte record and the important part
you took in making the last great
treaty that changed the map Of the
world, your complete success may be
foretoid."
With 1914 in mind. there is hardly q