New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-07
Mr. R1l1yE IND MR. FRgLIyGHUYSEN

MR. BLAINE IND Mr.. FRELINGHCISEN.
The publication of the full correspondence
on the Chili-Peruvan trouble brings to light
some facts which up to this time have been
misunderstood, or at least not clearly compre-
hended. In the letter of Secretary Frgclin-
huysen revOkng the instructions of Mr. Blaine
to Mr. Prescott the following occurs. After
recitng the Presidents good will toward both
Chill and Peru, and his earnest desire for peace,
AIr. Frelinghuyscn adds:
And you will consider revoked that portion Of your
original instruction which directs youon the contingency
therein stated "a follows
"You VIII say TO the CmIan Government that the
President considers such proceeding intentional
and unwarranted offence and that you will communicate
sucn an avowa to the Government OF the United states
with the that it viii be regarded by the Gov
eminent as an OF such unfriendy import as to require
the immediate suspension Of all diplomatic intercourse
You will inform me Immediately Of the happening OF
such contingency and instructions will be yo
The manner in which this para graph is
wrenchcd from its connection in Mr.. Blainc's
letter of instruction is disingenuous and
unfair. Instead of presenting the truth, il
III effect presents an unTuth. We propose
now to quote Mr.. Blaines words in their
proper connection, and ask the candid reader
for his opinion Oh such garblng as the fore
going disrloscs We do not stop to character
ize it further than to say that an Official dis
patch from the State Department is the
last place where it ought to be found
The portion Of Mr. Bainc's dispatch, Of
which the foregoing is practically pcrversion,
proceeded to narrate the steps by which the
United States, in plain compliance with the
wishes of Chill, recognized the Caldcron Gov
1. q. Pin 4
United States, proceeded to destroy that Gov
eminent. 1t was the judgment Of the Presi-
dent, rs expressed by Mr.. Blaine, that this
course was discOurteous to our Government.
Mr.. Blaine then adds:
Unable to understand this sudden aud, giving due re-
gard the professions Of Chill this unaccouGtahc
change Of policy this Government instcteds Minister
at Lima TO continue TO recognize the Calcrou Govern
mcn until more complete Information would enable it to
send further Instructions If prc.cu Information is
correct, immediately upon the receipt of this cOmnGu
cation they arrested President Calderon ANA thus far
AZ was in their power extnguishcd his Government.
The President does not now insist upon
the inference which this action would warrant.
He hopes that there is explanation
which will relieve him from the painful impression that
was taken IN rescnfu reply to the continued recogn
ton Of the Calderon Government by the United states.
IT, unfortaHaiel he Shod he mistaLen, ant Sth Hio
tire be GUOired, yOur dUty wW be JTiet one You Will
say 10 the Gillian Government that the President
siders such proceeding intentional and unwar-
ranted offence, and that you will communicate such an
avowal to the Government Of the United sates, with
the assurance that It viii be regarded by the
Government as IN act of such uniriendly import
rs 10 require the immediate suspension OF
all diplomatic intercourse You viii inform me i'm
mcdiatelv OF the happening Of such contingency, and
instructions viii be sent you. BIT do not ohhci-
ate stch an occurrence From the information before
the Department. Of which you possessed is more
probable that this will be explained by an aeg Il
on that the conduct and language Of the United sntcs
Minister in Perm had encouraged the CalderOn Govern
ment to such resistance Of the wishes OF Chill as to rem
der negotiation of satisfactory treaty Of peace with
the Caldcrcn Government i'm possible.
Mr.. Frelnghuysen not only fails to quote
the preceding words in Mr.. Blaincs dispatch,
but also the subsequent words. In emitting
to quote the off" on which the entire instruc-
ton was made to depend, Mr.. Frclinghuysen
radically and totally changed the character of
what Mr.. Blaine said. In emitting to quote
Mr.. Bane's expression of belief that he
" did not anticipate the occurrence Mr.. Ere
linghuysen once more offended against candOr. |
1t is noticeable, moreover, that at the time Mr.
+ relinghuysen wrote this instruction, January
9. it was entirely too late to affect the ques-
ton to which it referred. The point to which |
Mr.. Blainc's contingent instruction applied
would have been passed by several weeks |
before Mr.. Frelinehuysen's instruction could
reach Santiago. Indeed that point was
safely passed before Mr.. Frclinghuyscn wrote
the instruction at all. This simple fact seems to
reveal the mwccome truth that Mr.. Freling- |!
huyscn wrote his garblcd paragraph with the |
of affecting political issues at home |
rather than diplomatic issues i'll Chill or Peru.
We are not now arguing that Mr.. Blaine's |
instructions were right or wrong, wise or nm |
wise. We are only declaring that it was Mr.. !
Blaine, right to have those instructions hon
esuy quoted, and that Mr.. Frelinglmysen COM
mitted an offence against official propricty |
in disappearing his predecessor in matter |
30 important and in a manner 50 ccnsuiable.