Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-11

what Republican Politicians Think
of the Controversy.

A Washington special 10 the s.. Louis
e Els5l can says: A Republican S=nator, who
was very intimate with General Garfield, and
who al-O Is q friend Of Blaine. as well as on
good terms with President Arthur, saws at
the Rcpub icaIs OF the Senate all deprecate
this controversy between Blaine and Arthur,
and are extremely sorry that Blaine, IL it Is
Blaine, has found it necessary 70 make this
issue. 81 certainly can do the party no
good, and whether an Issue can be made out
OF iJ to the advantage either OF Blaine
or OF the administration is a mat
ter upon which We are not yet
well enough informed to decide.
Peru and Chilli sre a long way off,
and they are even further from us in their
national habits, characteristics and aspjra-
lions than they are geographically. l con-
fess that have not as yet been able 70 learn
the exact cause of all this row and do not
expect to learn Il until the documents sent
from the State Department ere printed,
which will be in a week, and | am informed
that they will I'LL quite a large volume.
Even then the case will not all be before us.
But whatever the merits Of II may
be the Republican Senator's only de-
precate the present situation, and it
is needless to say that the Democrats
are very much rPjOiced at it. They feel sure
that out of the sntsgOnism that will be
created by this controversy the fsctional
contests in the Republican party will be re-
newed, and will only result to the benefit OF
the Democracy But do not really think
thst YOU will find dozen men in the Senate
who have read even all Of the matter that
has been printed, which is but a fractional
part OF the whole, or who are prepared, as
vet, TO give an intelligent opinion regarding
T.: but when the matter is published you
may be sure that the documents will be
studied with a good deal Of interest.
There are good many In the Senate
who, irrespective of the authorship Of the
circular-letter or the policy which it in
wolves, are Of the opinion that it is not with
in the constitutional province Of the EXeeu-
tive CT Of any OF his Secretaries to commit
the government 70 any such policy without
the approval OF Congress. This would seem
to be especially true, in view Of the fact that
the invitation extended to the governments
contained a proposition to defray some pOr-
tion az the expenses of the conference,
aud there could be little doubt that IL
the plan should be carried out as wss
suggested Il would cost the cited States
not less than half q million dollars. For
that reason in the Senate certainly, aud l
have no dOuDt Congress will he very much
inclined TO say that the executive depart
mrBts have trenched upon the Tighs of
Congress. and have exceeded their own con-
sritutiOnsi functions In attempting to in
augurste measures which, In the nature of
things. T. was not possible to execute with
out the aid OF Congress"
A not less prominent Republican on the
House side, also friendly to Blaine, an init
mate friend Of Garfield aud a man who Is
disposed to cordially support the admins
tratiOn of President Arthur, said tonight:
"We are a good deal in the dark about this
whole business, and are very sorry that is
has been thOus bit eXpedient to make such
an issue. Most Of our people at home care
very little about any contests between Chilli
and Peru, and would fiud It difficult to grow
very warm over the intestinal contests Of
arms Of any OF the petty South American
States. Our education, interest and sympa-
thy do not lie in that direction, and any is
sue which may be made, or may be sought
TO be made in that matter must OF Decess itY
be forced one, and cannot, It seems to me,
arouse any very earnest sympathy on the
part Of our people. At present We are not
fully advised in regard to It, but are wait
ing developments.