New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-18

mattcr-that OF an absolutely neutral spectator,
or OF friendly me liator having an equal re-
gard for the RIGHTS and interests of both the
recent bclligcIruts. Either General Nurlbut or
General Fitzpatrick might, under Instructions
from Washington, have renewed the offer with
entire proprety and perfect respect for inter
national law and customs. But for them to do
so without bringing upon their Government
the charge Of unwawan.able interference IN
the quarrel, in the interest OF one country or
the other, it was essential that they should alb
stain from the slightest exhibition of partisan
feeling. Their duty was to maintain an attl-
tude Of dignifed and amicable impartiality.
What the two Ministers really did was eX-
actly the reverse OF this. 1t is said that, be-
fore receiving his commission aS Minister to
Chill, General Fitzpatrick had offered his sword
to that country and SOUGHT service in the Pc
ruvian war. Whether this be true or not, he
became an ardent partisan OF the CHILEAN side
of the quarrel from the day he reached San
tiagO. and gave assurances on all hands that
his opinions and sympathies were those OF the
United States. He thus totally incapacitatcd
himself for any service as a peaccmaker AMI
rendered it impossible for this Government to
make use of him for any diplomatic work that
did not closely accord with the purposes and
wishes of the Santiago Cabinet. General Ilurl-
butts performances at Lima were even worse.
He not only espoused the part of Peru, but
openy sided with one OF the political
factions in that distracted country, as
sumng to recognize one of two claim
ants of the chief executive power and
issuing sort of manifesto lccturing
the other for pretending to be President. a
day or two later the official recognized by
Hurlbut was summary deposed by the Chill
ians and Invested of every shred OF authority.
Then our Minister informed the CHILEAN com
mandcr that his country had no right, under
international law, to annex any o. the territory
of Peru as an indemnify for war expenses.
The Gillian general was naturally unwilling
10 accept an ayOwcd partisan of Peru as the
dictator Of the terms of peace and thinking
The affair might be- serious, got his ironclads
in position to dcmolish our wooden ships IN
the barbor of Caao i'm case of any hostile
demonstration on the part of our Government
There is good reason for saying that Cen
crdl IIuTlbut's Instructions contemplated no
assumption Of dctatorial airs toward Chill or
of special partiSanship in behalf of Peru. II"
WAS directed To use his efforts to ald peace
negotiations. and To express on the part of the
United States the hope that such negotiations
could be- concluded without the integrity Of the
Peruvian territory being destroyed. This Was
a very different matter from telling the con
qucror nation that she had no right to annex
foot of the domain OF her beaten and pros
tratc enemy. Instead of friendly suggestion
to Chill, General IIurlhut treated her to
threat Minister Washburur might with equal
propricty have notified the Germans at the
close Of the Franco-PruSsian war TINT they had
no right to annex any French territory.
The conduct Of the wo Ministers is not
crcdtahle to American diplomacy. They had
an opportunity to win for the United state,
the increased respect and good will of both
Chill and Peru by aiding in the speedy settle
mcut Of a dispute which both aic anxious
to terminate. Their action has served 10
good purpose unless it be To demonstrate
afrc,h that men may be popular politicians
and energetic stump speakers without having
tie capacity to succeed in the career OF dIpIo-
Iuat,-