National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-27
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Mf. blalne IN MS testimony DelOFe inc
House Committee on Foreign Affairs on
Monday took square issue with Shipherd
upon every assertion made by the latter
which could in any manner reflect upon
the former. Mr.. Blaines denials TO Mr..
Shepherds assertions must be accepted
as sufficient in the absence Of proof
to sustain those assertions The ex-
Secretary fortified his denials by some
letters, the statements in which, though
er pdrie, will be taken as true. We are
inclined TO think the shipherd element
in Mr.. Blaine's South American relations
is rather beneficial than otherwise. IL
serves to divert attention from the late
Secretary'sstrange course toward Chill, his
devious conduct toward President Arthur,
and his unwavering devotion to the Lam
dreau claim, and to present him in the
character of stern rebuker of the sinful
but absurd Shipherd. Mr.. Blaine never
had any improper transactions with Ship
herd. And, as for Shipherd, he evidently
never had any transactions with any
body beyond such as were based upon his
own breath
Mr. Blaine emphasized the element
most damaging to him in the whole busi-
ness when he read his own dispatch 10
Minister Hurlbut of August 4, 1881, which
had not attracted general notice before,
buried as IL was in the mass Unpublished
correspondence and obscured by Ship
herd fog. In that dispatch he exhibited
remarkable zeal for the Landreau claim,
and insisted that IL should be mort
gage upon any territory which might be
ceded to Chill containing guano deposits
discovered by Landreau. ltwas Landreau,
and not Peru, whose interests Mr.. Blaine
seemed most TO consider in the event Of
territorial conquest by Gillian event
which he did not then appear specially
to deprecate. He says:
desire also to call your attention TO the fact
that in the anticipated treaty, which is to adjust
the relations Of Chill and Peru, the latter may
possibly be compelled to submit TO the loss Of ter
ritory.
This was not in the "'Ercles vein to
tear n cat in" in which Mr. Blaine swore
subsequently that Peru should never,
never be dismembered He then goes
on to say that " if the territory 10 be sur
rendered" (poor Peru } "should include
the guano deposits which were discov-
cred by Landreau, and for the discovery
Of which Peru contracted to pay him
a royalty" (no if there, but apositiveas-
sertion of the claim of Landreau), then
the Peruvian government should, in the
treaty, stipulate with Chill for the preser-
walton and payment to Landreau" (happy
Landreau) "of the amount due under his
contract" He proceeds to say that IF
transfer be made to Chill " it must be un-
derstood the Landreau claim shall be
treated as proper lien" "and that Chilli
accepts the cession with that condition
annexed" This is not enough. He re-
iterates his direction to Mr., Hurlbut in
the following energetic words:
You will take special care to inform both the
Chilian and Peruvian authorities of the character
and status of the claim, in order that defnitive
treaty of peace shall be made in disregard to the
rights which Landreau may be found to possess.
The integrity Of Peru cuts no figure
here. Chill may tear her limb from
limb if only Landreau is protected. All
the time it is Landreau. Shipherd was
not factor. He is only useful as a
sand-bag for Mr.. Blaine to exercise upon
as witness. The public is expected to
cease all inquiry when Shipherd is de-
molished. But what becomes of the
hysterical passion of Mr. Blaine for
Peru and his heroic anger toward Chill
when here he parades his own indiner-
ence to Chilian conquest of Peruvian
territory if only Landreau can have a
! mortgage on Chilis acquisitionP
This was all sent to Mr.. Hurlbut under
date of August 4. And yet Mr.. Blaine
said yesterday that there was no decided
action taken during the late Presidents
| Illness
Mr.. Blaine was on his high horse yes
terday "playing an open hand" as he is
reported in one paper. He came very
near demolishing the President, and
actually commenced hostilities with Eng
land, But poor Peru, the Little Nell of
nations, how she will grieve to learn
that only for Landreau's sake did Mr..
Blaine make mouths at her enemy.