National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-13
The "PoIicy" of a Subordinate.

The "PoIicy" of q Subordinate.
II Secretary Frelinghuysens South American
policy were trne less popular in England II
would be more cordially accepted at home. Eng.
land always praises the foreign policy in the
United States that lets her have her own way all
over the globc.-Ne,v York tribune.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen has indicated no
policy as to South American affairs ox-
cept to adhere TO uniform precedents in
the regulation of diplomatic intercourse
with foreign nations. If Mr.. Blaine was
sincere in instructing our ministers to
pursue only friendly methods with Chilli,
in rendering the good offices of this Gov
ernment in the settlement of peace
with Peru, then his policy ought to be
as popular in England as Mr.. Freling-
huysen's.
The fact is, a Secretary of State cannot
have any policy except to well and faith
fully discharge the duties of that office,
under the direction of the President, or
else to betray his trust.
If the incumbent of the office should
Mt any time take it into his head that he
was a much greater man than the Prcsi-
dent, and should take the liberty of pal
tering in n double sense while pretend
ing to be recording the order of
his superior, then he would be
pursuing a policy of trickery and
fraud. If, in rendering the good offices
of the Government in contro-
versy between two friendly nations
under the Presidents direction, he should
instruct our ambassador in language
which, hastily read, would seem to en-
. force the Presidents views, but which
upon being examined, should seem Ia
contain crafty words of authority to dc
unfriendly and eXasperating things, il
would simply prove him to he an uniaith-
ful minister.
If Mr. Blaine sought precip pitatea war
with Chill, through instructions which
meant peace or war according to the dis
position of the ambassadors, then the
revocation of the war-making power thus
conferred in violation of the Presidents
known purpose, was a wise act, ordered
by the President and honestly performed
by the new Secretary,
The New York Tribunc and the Post of
this city are the recognized organs of
Mr.. Blaine. Do they wish us TO under
stand that he meant to violate intera-
tional law and usage by asserting a con-
troll for the United States oyer the affairs
of other nations, and that he cunningly
betrayed the President into seeming APP
proval of it by Juggling with
words and framing instructions
which contained meanings that
he knew were never authorized ?
If he was innocent of these intentions
then he did nothing to foil the Presi-
dents policy, and was only II Secretary
in fact as in law. If he did not try TO
get up war with Chill behind the Presi-
dents back, then the British applause
must be equally divided between him
and his successor.
The letter of Mr.. Blaine to our Min
lister at Mexico of June 10, 1881, refers To
instructions on the lst of the same month
Whenever there is demand for any let
ters of Mr.. Blaine's it always happens
that they get before the public out OF
their chronological order. The letter
which Mr. Blaine's. friends allow to be
published on the subject of the dispute
sbetween Mexico and Guatemala is bad
Enough. In it our peace-making states
man ~exhibits his desire for harmony be-
tween AMerican Republics by accusing
Mexico of haSing asserted unjust claims
as to boundary. lie said
When Mexico became Republic she did not
desist from claims founded on an imperial policy
of conquest and absorption, while Guatemala, re.
sisting the progress Of the Mexican arms and dis.
putting, step by STEP the ground already conquered
never has reached q settlement with her more
powerful neighbOr in regard TO the relative exten'
sion OF their jurisdictions over the disputed zonC
between the Gulf Of TehuNntepec and the PENN
Bula of Iucaan
Here is dogmatic declaration, made
without inquiry, that Guatemala has suG
fercd injustice from Mexico-a judgment
in advance of hearing in case where
we had no more Jurisdiction than mar
has over the clothes-line Of his neighbOr
Then Mr.. Blaine was ready with gooC
offices between wicked and offending
Mexico and good and outraged Guate
mala. Here is peace making with ven
geance. The American republics mus
be fostered and sustained yawar agains
Chill on account Of Peru, and another
against Mexico ON account of Guatemala
How brilliant! Compared with such {
policy the traditional visit of the enraget
bull to a china-shop was quiet and or
derly,
The Mexican Minister of Foreign Re
lations took Mr.. Blaine down several peg
by telling him that, as has been proyec
on another occasion, the complaints o
the Gualemalau Minister are not sincere
and the government Of General Barrio
knew how different the facts were from
those presented to the Government a
Washington"
The country is well rid of Mr. Blaine
ub-a-dub policy.