National Republican., 1874-07-11
spEAF FER BL1INFS LETTER.


fore the public makes whatever he says or
does o subject Of profound interest to the
journalists and politicians of both parties,
and of no party at all, who are Just now en-
deavoring to create out of every little Incl
dent and circumstance an issue, or frac-
tional part of an issue, in the Presidential
campaign of 1876. 1t is, therefore, only
natural that his recent letter, accepting
denomination for Congress, should be
copied and commented upon by the jour
nails which take such a profound interest in
I5him, and in the party to which he belongs.
There is nothing very remarkable in the
letter to ordinary people, but to the able
editors who imagine themselves called upon
to regulate the affairs of the republic, it is
| full of meaning and significance. The New
York Tribune, not the old IriETHe, but the
| Tribune which is endeavoring to tear down
what it labored for so many years to build
up, believes that the politics of Maine, in
| these modern days, belong to the antedi-
luvian era, and that Mr.. Blaine's letter is
an excellent illustration Of their ancient and
musty flavor. The young gentlemen spe-
cially trained to perpetuate the ideas of the
late Mr.. Greeley are dreadfully provoked
that the Speaker of the House should dare TO
allude to protection 10 American industry,
and denounce him as wasting time dis
cussing distinctions witt the Troglodytes. -
Taking it all in all the criticism is funny
one, more especially when it is recollected
that these same youngsters within the last
thirty days hired the pen OF Mr.. David A.
Wells-the pen which poor Mr.. Greeley
used to tell the country in such vigorous
English was paid by British gold-to write
three or four columns in favor of the retifi-
cation of this same reciprocity treaty. What
revolution Iii David A. Wellsva member
of the TrbnD6 editorial staff writing free
trade articles under the Gothic headline
Founded by Horace Greeley and the
same journal sssailing Mr.. Blaine for doing
that for which the great dead editor would
have commended him
The New York World and the Chicago
Tribune discuss the letter from other points
of view, in keeping with the sentiments Of.
their editors Free trade is the special hobby
Of Mr.. Horace White. In the opinion Of
that gentleman Mr.. Blaine's letter of &C.
ceptanos means the raising Of the Protection
banner IS the main issue in 1879, [they are
all terrified at 1875, with Mr.. Blaine as
the candidate of tho Prntaction party. Mr..
Blaine, says Tribune, evidently believes
that the Republican party is made up alto
''gether of proteotionists, and will enter the
next Presidential campaign as the open and
'ayowed enemy Of free trade" No one
knows better than the Tribune how utterly
untrue is this statement. Protection has
never been made q distinctive plank in any
Republican platform, nor Is it likely. to be
in the future The wish is father to the
thought with the Tribune. The New York
organ of the Democracy, whose principal (
aim at the present time is to sow dissension
among the Republican leaders, presents the
subject to its readers as 'san attack upon
the President" an ingenious hiss from the
copperhead snake ''But" 7" it says "the
'chief purpose Of Speaker BlAine's letter is
'To raise an issue with President Grant, pre-
'paratory TO eontestihg with him the noni-
nation for the Presidency in 1876. He
selects for attack one of the most important
measures of the Administrstion-the pro-
posed reciprocity treaty between the Do
''minion of Canada and the United States, |
nov pending in the Senate" The World
is a very smart paper, especially in mis-
representation Of its opponents it has all
the low cunning and cheek of the lowest |
class of criminal lawyers. The above in |
terpretation Of Mr. Blaine's letter shows |
how unscrupulous it'can be whenever the |
opportunity of making a point presents |
itself But in this the World has entirely |
overshot the mark, and defeated the end it |
hoped to accomplish.
In the first place, the reciprocity treaty Is |
not an Administration measure, and nobody |
least ofaIl the Rorld-hss been authorized |
to say that It is. 1t is extremely doubtful that
it will receive the support of evea Mr.. Fish, |
who sent it to the Senate, so thai the little |
theory of the World lacks the very essen
tial element of foundation in fact. 1t was
submitted to the Senate and, before the ses- |
sion closed, ordered to be made publit in |
order that we might have discussion otits |
advantages and disadvantages by next win
ter, when it will come up for consideration
and action. In Maine 1t so happens that it
is of more importance than in other sections
of the country, and it was the most natural
thing in the world that Mr. Blaine should
have treated of it in his letter accepting d
denomination for Congress, more especially
as the Democratic party Of the State mad
declared for Free Trade. If the assamp-
tons of the World be correct-the assump-
tions upon which it strives to show that
Mr.. Blaine has made an 'iattack upon
President Grant and the ADMINISTRATION
it must accept the corollary that its own
party, the Democracy, squarelF and fairly
indorse the Administration. The positions
of the three '1eading" organs upon the sub
ject are simply absurd, week and inconsis-
tent ..s III. #r. .