National Republican., 1881-12-08
Tho Presidents Proposition TO Eng
land.

III lnNlI uNllNth W NUCe'
The Presidents Proposition To Eng
land.
The most important part Of the message, as
respects foreign relations, discusses the compca.
tions arising from the proposal OF Columbia to
European powers TO guarantee the neuIro 1 y of
the contemplated Panama Canal. The President
not only approves the strong representations
which were made by Secretary Blaine at the de-
sire Of President Garfield but makes the import
ant announcement that formal request has been
made to the British government for modinca-
tion OF those clauses of the Clayton Bulwer treaty
that may bearupon the subject II has been known
that the course OF Secretary Blaine in this matter
had been fully sustained by the President and
public opinion will heartily support the Adminis-
tratou in the position 1t has taken.-NciV York
Tribune.
What could possibly be more Tribune
ish than the above? Public opinion will
heartily support the Administration in
fully sustaining the course of Secretary
Blaine in making strong representations
at the desire of President Garfield |
True, what Mr.. Blaine did ut General
Garlield's desire was TO commence nego-
tiatons with Colombia for carrying more
fully into effect the treaty of 1916, by
which the United States guaranteed its
protection to that Republic and neu-
trality of any canal cut through its terri
tory. True, this is only what is uni
versally desired by ourpeople. No intel
ligent friend of Mr. Blaine will claim for
him any special credit for declaring anew
the determination of this Government not
10 n1ln,u iytb n,,,o1 TO hn Iar
European control. And if there had been
any boldness in it, the Tribune says the
declaration was made at the desire of
President Garfield How, then, can it be
called "the course of Secretary Blaine ?"
Why not the course of President Gar
field?
But. says the Tribune, the President
not only approves the strong repre-
sentations which were made by Secretary
Blaine at the desire of General Garfield,
but makes the important announcement
that formal request has been made to
the British government for modifca-
fion of those clauses of the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty that may bear upon the sub
ject"
"The course of Secretary Blaine in this
matter" is then referred to as though he
had made the demand upon the British
government. But the President says in
the message:
Foresceing the probable reliance of the British
government on the provisions of the Clayton. Bull
wer treaty of 1880 as aiIordng room for share in
the guarantees which the United States cove
nanied with Colombia four years before, | have
not hestated to supplement the action ofmy pro.
deCessor by proposing TO Her Majesty's govern
ment the modification of that instrument and the
abrogation of such clauses thereof ms do not COM
port with the obligations Of the United States to-
ward Colombia, or with the vital needs of the two
friendly parties to the compact.
Here is bold and vigorous movement
But it was no part of "the course of Sec
retary Blaine in this matter" 81 hare
not hesitdied," says the President, "to sup.
picmed The action Of my predecessor" with
the proposition to Her Majesty's govern
ment.
1t is not at all probable that Mr.
Blaine will thank the Tribune for its
oflicious and misplaced laudation. He
will not strut in the borrowed plumes
which the Tribune seeks to stick in his
hat. He will not rest his reputation as q
diplomat on having obeyed the direc'
tions of General Garfield, or being sus
tanned therein by President Arthur
This Government has been committed
by treaty for thirty-fye years agains
allowing European Intervention on the
1sthmus of Panama, The notice by Mr.
Blaine, under President Gariields direc
tion, TO the European powers of adher
ence TO our well-known policy was wei
enough in view Of the Panama Cana
project. 1t is ludicrous, however, TO treat
it as the "Blaine policy" or anybody's
else of this generation, and then to pa
tronize the President for brayely follow
ing ii. The proposition to England tC
modify the treaty which Mr.. Clayton was
disgraced for having made, and which
has been held up as II barrier to the as
sertion by us Of the American doctrine o.
American control on the American con
tinent, is step of vast importance, ant
may shortly become the leading nationa
topic Let it be distinctly remembered
that the proposition is President Ar
thurs, and that it is his policy. The
Nation is sick of the mean and puerl(
talk about the duty of the President tC
personate somebody else and carry ou
some imaginary policy supposed to hay,
been bcqueathed to him by the dead o
marked out for him by the living. Tit
people see that he has IN individualit,
Of his own as strong as that of any of hi
contemporaries, and that he is not Dor
rowing ideas from others.
The IriJune's efforts to belittle tn,
President would not be worthy of motto,
We're they not part of an extended sys
tenn in that line. The cranks who rul
that portion Of the Tribune which is no
financial are less adroit than any other
of their class, and their clumsy meannes
in this case afforded suitable text fo
the remarks we have made.
A CALM, dignifed, able, and candid
message-such is the verdict Of the coun
try.