, 1881-03-11

Mr.. Blaine Is not n statesman likely to seek
that retirement from public Wow, TINT quasi
out-of-slsllt-oIt-of-inild 0bscurity, which
piaco in the Cabinet might n!ford. lie Is not
compelled 'by necessity, political or pursonal,
nur does lle rs matter of taste rctiro from
Congress to the Cabinet for rest from the
active consideration of public n1talrs In
which he las always taken n conspicuous
Imrt. On tho contrary. Mr. Blufno becomes
Secretary of State In Garfleld's Admlnlstra-
t!on TINT lie mny find greater and a wider
field Ut active and progressive craftsmanship
tl,an ~ afforded In the Senate ur tho &1louse.
1t Is more thun likely tllat the State Depart
ineut during the next four years will furnish
,nore nctiyLty to National politics than 1t las
fur Init n century.
Mr. blaine llas an opportunity for accom-
plisEng q Grcat American international COM
,nerclal system. without precedent In Its
magnitude md incompatible III its great
benefits.
On the north of tho present limits OF the
United States arn tho British, provinces, OK.
te,tltng from the Atlantic to the 1'aciAc,
| most Of which are included iu tho Dominion
OF Canada. 10 the south Of us lies unfoTtu-
| nate, poor, and feeble Mexico. md beyond
| this to tic lst!lnus the smaller States In
| clnLel In the Central American group.
| Southeast OF US liu the Spanish West Indian
| Islands, fertile and productive, and 10 which
the people Ut this country pay larga tribute.
These several States, from Hudson's Bay
10 tho 1stllil,us Ut Panalna, naturally forM
what may be called m exclusively American
systula,, not merely puiltlcal, but IN tho mat
tur Ut natarnl products a,Nt reciprocal cont
McrclA! Interests. They hayc varied climates
and productions, speak various languages,
havn different habits, customs, forms OF gov.
crniilemt ntld religious, but they hAye iii
Identity Of interests, tho same absence Dt
serlous European. alliances, tho stronEes& In
lNren1ents for the closest commercial! seta'
tlu1as, and hay9 essentially the common feel
lug that rs agatst the rest Of the world they
should bu 4 unit.
No one mt madmRn proposes that these
sstutes should be consolidated, or TINT ti,e
United States should annex thom, either by
forcu, by negotiation, or otherwise. Wtnt,
ever extension Ut tic tcrrltory Ut the un!ted
States stny taku place III the future must
taku pace under thu heatthtul frultion oi
tInlc and ly tho free choIcs Of people tmpos
sla!s to be kept separate nny longer.
a1r. nlalnu's opportunity IL hot In the line
Ut all atlnexut[0niat. but In tlle more usefu
work OF !,.cludlng tho wllols continent nortl
Ut Mexicu under ons system OF CONNER
etal regulation, wlIereby oas and the salnt
tnrlit law. tho sa,ne sca!u OF dutles and In
ports, the saue cllst01tl-housa rules, shRl
prevail everywhere alike IN the United State:
aild i'll the Doin!pion Provinces; mud at TIL
EaIllp tfmD 4 liberal reciprocity Ut trAdo To TX
J tend to Mexico. Central America, aud tn
: West Indies.
Tho United Statcs exhibit the grand sys
Q tc'n Of no less than thtrty-etglt States con-
!! tafnlnx over u. .ooo, 600 people with an Inter
State Tree trade, md Will all thclr yaste
! Interests. climates, productions, and wants
: tremendously exchanging commodities undo
i QUO connon tartF. aud one common systel