, 1881-04-16
Hogging the Hog Trade.
The Pi.med knight picks mp the cannts'
nnsl defends the Csssfttuthsnai rfsnts
sf American 0oss.

el American oos>s
There is blood in the face of the moon.
At last we are to have spirited foreign
policy. The diplomatic atmosphere DIS
ties with sharp points. 1t is n'pplns
and an eager air. Secretary Blame is
determined that his official position shall
be no sinecure if he can help it, and he
backs his disposition to make his once
effective, with a courage Of opinion and
an evident determination t. stand by
American interests, which cannot be too
highly lauded To Justify what We say
of ths manly and patriotic attitude o.
Secretary Blaine, We have only t. refer
Our readers to his spirited despatch-ca
hlegram despatch al that-ot the 10th
ultmo, addressed 10 Minister Noye', g
Paris, touching the condition Of our ex-
port trade in pork, as affected by the re-
cent statements of the British Consul at
Philadelphia. Is has the true ring.
There Is both craftsmanship and pluck
about 1t. Secretary Blaine, after inform
ing Minister Moves that his (the latter 81
course respecting the pork decree OF the
French government is approved by the
home government, proceeds TO post our
representative in Paris rs to the distinc-
ton between ,richinosis and hog cholera.
The British Consul at Philadelphia, with
an ignorance of the subject of hogs and
hog diseases which Is surprising IN Brit
ish official, had shouted in the ear OF
pork CT nsuming Europe that our Amer,-
can hogs had trichinosis the very worst
way. The effect was, Of course To knock
the very bung and bottom ont OF the pork
especially to France, which actu-
ally went the length OF prohibiting the
importation of American built porx into
that land of frogs. Chicago walled when
it heard Of this, Cincinnati trembied, and
Milwaukee, St Louis and other pork
centres shook with fear Of disaster. At
this crisis Secretary Blaine steps into the
breach, like plumed knight that he is,
and the warrior he always shows himself
to be when the interests Of his country
are in peril He takes up the gauntlet
for the American hog as hog thar
would scorn to be thought guilty
of trichinosis Of any other tricky
thing whatever The American hog
rests on his reputation 1t is dear
to him as the apple of his owners or
chard. He does not shrink from the
butchers knife, but he bushes with
shame before the vile breath of slander.
He may sometimes be compelled TO ad-
NIT the soft impeachment Of cholera,
when he has eaten carlessiy Of some
thing that doesn't a,re= with him, hut
as to trichinoss-never. or, hardly ever.
The man at the head of the State De-
partment trusts not the tale. He knows
the hog of his country, knows him init
mately, has combed his hair with his
bristles and partaken Of his wholesome,
succulentand fattening flesh, and during
an acquaintance Of years has never met
fact upon which tn bas 50 vile charge.
Secretary Blaine, therefor. gives the
French, and through tham the rest #
Europe, to understand that the personal,
commercial, and constitutional rights Of
the American hos-on foot, or in barrels,
drawn out in the linked e.seetiiess Of
sausage, or sewed mp in mummy cloths
as hams-will be asserted and defended
by this government. This may lead 10
trouble, but the State Department, uu-
der the new Administration, is not afraid
Of that when :. principle is al stake. The
concluding sentence Of the dispatch is
written in that clear, incisive, fearless
and uncompromising tone which marked
some Of the documents of the better days
of the Republic. Deny" says Secre-
tary Blaine to Minister Suyus; "deny
in the strongest terms the report of the
British Consul, should the French Minis
tiers appeal to it as justifying them IN
interdictins or restricting the American.
pork trade" Washmston's advice to
beware OF entaneling alliances and COM
plications is well enough i'll its way, but
when the character and value of Ameri-
can hogs are assailed, the case IS altered.
We congratulate the Secretary on the
vigor and learning with which he has met
the crisis, and augur from i, an admins
ration Of which nobody, from pigs to
politicians, Will have any cause t. com
plain. Let him take for his motto Cice-
ro's famous saying, .SaLcs iard,tm, and
the people, and the peoples pork, will
whoop him up as long ss :here is rag of
our banner Tapping In the breeze.