National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-29
Mr.. Blaine as Defendant and n
Witness.

months connected. and on Monday,
Wednesday, and Thursday of the past
week he was on the witness stand. SO
long as he confined himself to denying
the testimony of Mr.. Shipherd he got
along swimmingly. If Mr.. Shepherds
statements shall not be hereafter sus-
tanned by other testimony Mr.. Blaine's
denials will convince all who do not pre-
fer to take Shepherds word.
But when he came to that portion of
his speech commencing with "Now let
us see what we did about the Landreau
claim" he found himself on dangerous
ground. He first read from his dispatch
to Mr.. Hurlbut of April 4, in which 1t is
recited that Landreau had q contract
with the government in which
it is stipulated that all disputes rs to its
provisions shall be decided in Peruvian
courts, and that in no case shall diplo-
matte Intervention be asked, and that
the Peruvian courts decide that they
have no jurisdiction. Mr.. Blaine then
continued TO read from the instructions
referred to as follows:
While this Government will not, as at present in.
formed, undertake to constr Tie the contract or to
decide upon the extent Of the compensation due
Lnndreau you are instructed to call the attention
of the Peruvian government to this injustice and
say that the Government of the United States will
Crpcct some adequate aud proper means to be pro-
vidcd by Which lpndroau can obtain judicial
decision upon his rights If the constitution Of
the Peruvian courts or the Interpretation of the
law by Peruvian judges dcprives Landreau of the
taNNh
then, in the opinion Of tbs Government Peru Is
bound in duty and In honor to do one Of these
things y2:Suuply an tribunal, extend the
irsdiciun Of the present courts, or submit the case
Of Land eau to arbitration. l 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. If the territory to be surrendered
should include the guano deposits, which were
discovered by Landreau, and for the discovery of
which Peru contracted to pay him royalty upon The
| tonnage remored, then the Peruvian government
should In the treaty, stipulate with Chill for the
preservation and payment to Landreau of the
amount due under his contract. If transfer be
made TO Chil II should be understood that this
claim of an American citizen, If fairly adjudiCated
in his favor, shall be treated us n proper lien
on the property to which it attaches, and that
nexcd As 1t may be presumed that you will be
fully Informed as TO the progress Of the ncgotia-
ton between Chill and Peru for treaty of peace
you will make such effort as you judiciously eau
to secure to LAndrenu fair settlement of his
claim. You will take special care to inform both
the Chillan and Peruvian authorities of the char.
meter aud status Of the claim, in order that no de-
tutive treaty of peace shall be made in disregard
to the rights which Landrcau may be found tC
possess.
The assertion is plainly made in Lam
dreau's behalf, in the above, that Peru
contracted to pay him royalty upon the
tonnage removed" There is no "if'
about it. Mr. Blaine asserts Landreau's
claim as positively as if he were his part
ner or his attorney. He then declares
that in any treaty of peace that may be
made Peru should " stipulate with Chill
for the preservation and payment to Ian
dreau of the amount due under his con
tract"
The closing words of the quotation are
as plain as they are dictatorial, and do
ain effect" declare that no treaty of peace
will be permitted by the United States
unless Landreau is protected in his share
of guano. The words are that Mr.. Hurl
but is to "take special care to inform both
the CHILEAN and Peruvian authorities Of
the character and status of the claim, IN
order that no defnitive treaty of peace
shall be made in disregard to the rights
which Landreau may be found to possess
But Mr.. Blaine had alreddy decided in the
same letter that the right possessed was a
royalty on guano, as stated in Landreau's
contract.
1t is puerile to claim that any qualifi-
cation was here made or intended. Mr..
Blaine clearly instructed our Minister to
serve notice on Chill and Peru that this
Government espoused Landreau's cause
and would not allow Peru to cede or
Chill to take any guano beds on which
Landreau claimed lien. This was
written more than six weeks before
President Garfeld's death, and nearly
five weeks after he was shot. On the 18th
of November about two months after
General Arthur became President, Mr..
Blaine wrote another letter to Mr. Hurl-
but, less dogmatic in tone. The Ian
| uItlu ClulHl, ~ bdiu, illuoI nOlj VI COlTSe,
be pressed in any manner that would
seem to embarrass Peru in the hour OF
her great distress" We quote:
Your previous instruction to use your good
Offices in procuring an adjudication of the Land
Teau claim was made in view OF the possible fact
of which there was wide rumor-thGt numerous
French and English claims were to be presented
In which event WAS anxious that the resources
Dam, hn ip
of other claims to the prejudice aud detrment o
one belonging to an American citizen. You vii
still DO guided by the spirit and intent of that in
struction.
Was this newborn mildness compelled
by the new President or was it the "hedg
ing" of which mention has been made
whereby the ineXcusable zeal for Ian.
dreau in previous dispatches was to be
accounted for when all should come to
the light? On the 10th of December Mr.
Blaine wrote To Mr. Trescot on the subject
Of the Landreau claim, from which we
quote:
While disabusing the mind of the CHILEAN gov,
eminent OF any impression that the United State
medtGtes intervention on behalf Of private claims
beyond che use offs good offices you will say thai
justice seems to demand that Landreau shoulC
have an opportunity TO be heard in support of hi
claim before a tribunal in Peru competent TO de
eide II, and that If decided In his favor treaty o
peace which might cedo territory to Chill SHOULD
not BE- mado in disregard of any rights which MI
!LandTeau may be found, after an impartial judi
cal investigation, to possess
Here again we see the softening inhu
ences Of the check put upon Mr.. Blaine