Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/114

 86 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS fully accept as my vindication.&quot; His second term was a continuation of the policy that had character ized the first. His foreign policy was steadfast, dignified, and just, always exhibiting a conscien tious regard for the rights of foreign nations, and at the same time maintaining the rights of our own. He instructed the ministers to China and Japan to deal with those powers as &quot;we would wish a strong nation to deal with us if we were weak.&quot; Dur ing the insurrection in the island of Cuba, which had lasted for several years, a number of Ameri can citizens had been arrested by the Spanish au thorities, under the pretence that they had been furnishing aid to the insurgents, and American vessels plying in Cuban waters had at times been subjected to much inconvenience. Then matters culminated in the seizure by Spain, without justifi cation, of an American vessel named the &quot;Vir- ginius.&quot; The excitement created in the United States by this outrage was intense, and many statesmen were clamorous for war. But the presi dent believed that pacific measures would accom plish a better result, and, by acting with prompt ness and firmness, he soon wrung from Spain ample apology and full reparation. Political troubles were still rife in certain states of the south. The result of the election in Louisi ana in 1872 was in dispute, and armed violence was threatened in that state, Early in 1873 the presi-