Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-02-04
The ChIlIPerurIan Muddle.


administration in regard to Chil-Peru
Wan affairs, snd the complete reversal
by Mr.. Arthur of Mr.. Blaine's policy
concerning the interference Of the United
States to prevent Peru from being viz
tually obliterated as a South American
power by Chilli, is still attracting general
attention and exciting universal com
ment 1t is now being freely charged
against the plumed knight of Maine
that he was solicitous for the pres
ervation of Peru, not from motives
either of humanity or public policy, but
solely from private interest, ard 1t has
been openly alleged that he was largely
connected with the Peruvian company"
OF which so much has been written and
published. There charges have, 1t is
said, emanated from the manager Of the
company himself, who has threatened to
make some startling disclosures as soon
as Minister Hurlbut returns home, which
will probably be in about twenty days.
Blaine are, however, Indignantly denied
both by that gentleman and his friends,
who have demanded a committee Of in
vestigation. This investigation his enc
mics, ''tLe stalwarts, at first seemed dis
posed also to demand, under the impress
sion that the charges would be substan.
tiated, and the ex Secretary would be so
badly injured that he would never again
trouble them as q formidable obstacle in
the way of their political designs. Later
reports, however, show that this faction
Of the Republican party is weakening
very decidedly, and the idea is gaining
ground that if the subject is pressed, Mr..
Blaine will not only come out triumphant
from the inquiry, but that he villas
he has threatened he can-sh0w that
Grant, Sheppard, and other public men
of that stripe, are the prominent
Americans who are really connected
with this Peruvian company, and who
had tremendous nitre and guano specu-
lstion in their eyes.
Whether any, or all, these reports are
true or not, it is impossible to state, but
il is not at all unlikely that where there
is so much smoke there must be some
fire. 1t may be that Mr. Blaine, when
Secretary Of State, was really sOlicitous
about the future Of Peru, and felt that it
would be impolitic for her nitrate depOs-
its and guano beds to be seized upon and
held at such high ransom by Chilli as
to make them virtually the property
Of that republic for evermore, inasmuch
IS that would take from Peru all that is
valuable in her territory, and henceforth
leave her poverty stricken, weak and
| helpless, and with her influence in the
| family of South American republics
entirely destroyed. But, again, so com
mon has it become under Republican
rule in. this country for public position
and public influence to be exerted for
advancing private interests, that the
charges against Mr. Blaine must be
received with a certain suspicion from
which only thorough and
impartial investigation can relieve
him. One thing is very certain; if the
stalwarts weaken, and manifest fear at
pushing the proposed investigation, it
may be regarded as quite conclusive evil
dence that Grant and kindred spirits were
mixed up in this Peruvian company's
scheme to despoil both Chilli and Peru,
for while the country has learned, long
since, naturally, to expect to hear Of
Grants name being connected with all
sorts of questionable enterprises of this
nature, it is not strange that his friends
should wish to spare him the additional
obloquy which this scheme would cast
upon him, and so, to save him, would be
even willing to forego, for the present,
the opportunity to kill off Blaine.
It seems likely, therefore. that before
the Chili-Peruvian imbroglio is finally
disposed of, the country will be treated
to some very interesting reading, and
another huge speculative scheme like the
SANTANA Bay affair may be brought to
light. 1t will, in all probability. at any
rate, result in one great benefit to
the country, even if for the sake of
Of personal regulations it may be deem
ed best to adopt a general whitewashing
policy, and allow the whole affair to be
passed over in silence. 1t will inevita-
bly, tend to widen the breach between
the Blaine and COnkling wings of the
Republican party, and thus the old
maxim about thieves falling out, etc.,
may in 1884 receive fresh and fortunate
notification.