Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-27
An IxTEREsTINs WITNESS.
Mr.. Blaire's Second Appearance Before
the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Dramatic Scene Befsreen the Ex-SeerefaSS
Gsd Representative Belmont.
W.surxerox. April 2s.

Before the foreign affairs committee. today,
Blaine began by saying he desired to correct
the press report that he had read letter from
ex-senator Eaton upon the subject
In answer to the inquiry by Williams, the
witness said none of these South American
dispatches were prepared during the Presi-
dents sickness.
Il am glad this question was put, because
the press have wildly stated that /, as de
facto President. had assumed certain line
of policy which might plunge the country
into war" Blaine, in illustration of this
4 point, mentioned the fact of certain dispatch
es which were blocked out before the Presi-
dent was shot, remaining in statu quo until
after the succession of President Arthur.
In explanation of President Garfield
views on the subject, Blaine said Garfield
in conversation with me said Lincoln directed
4 Secretary Seward to bring all foreign mat
tiers to him, and not to the Cabinet unless he
so desired. Mr.. Blaine continued, from that
time forward never submitted anything to
the cabinet which involved permanent pol.
icy or change of policy, and no step which
would involve change of policy on the part
of this government was ever taken by me
without first submitting it to the President,
and receiving his entire approval and drec-
ton.
the instructions given Prescott
In reply Blaine produced the original draft
of the instructions given Trescott, which he
read and pointed out the corrections made
by. the President, some of them at his
(Blaine's) suggestion, and commented upon
the corrections and their wants and dement's.
He added:
| do not by any means find fault with the
President for changing his mind, but this is
the original draft of instructions to which
President Arthur gave his assent, and which
following the precedent, l kept. desire To
state most solemnly that the assumption that
ever interpolated line or syllable in the
dispatches, sitter it was agreed to by the Pres
ident, is as false as the lie circulated over the
country that during the Presidents sickness
| was blocking out foreign policy of my
own.
The witness stated he never made an ex-
animation of the Cochet nor Landreau claim.
He had considered the Landreau claim as
res adjudicata.
Belmont propounded a series of questions
in regard to the terms ''good offs" and ''ofi-
cially,' and a somewhat lively tilt ensued
between the examiner and the witness which
was suddenly brought to a climax by Blaine's
remarklng with some emphasis: II hope,
Mr.. Belmont, you will be a gentleman.
shall be one, and shall treat you as such.
am not in a police court to be badgered.
l must answer my questions in my own way
and you must not attempt to correct me-
Belmont disclaimed any lack of courtesy
or desire to badger. He entertained respect
for the witness. both on account of his age
and the high position he occupied.
The witness explained ia some length Just
what instructions were given to Hurlbut in
regard to the Landreau claim, that he should
simply use good offices to secure hearing
for Landreau in the coasts of Peru.
Mr.. Blaine explained at length that the
| Lanareau claim was owned by an American
citizen, who was an American citizen when he
obtained title to the claim, that Hurlbut was in
structed in regard to it, that while this govern
ment would not undertake to cOnstrue contract
between the Peruvian government and j. C..
Landreau, he (Hurlbut) was to call the
attention of the Peruvian government to the
injustice of their not according Landreau a
hearing in their courts, and to ask that some
means be taken to afford him a hearing. l
was adventuresome enough, added Blaine, to
ask foreign government to give an Ameri-
can a hearing in its courts. You will find
| further, he continued, that the instructions to
| Hurlbut say that in event his claim is fairly
arbitrated in his favor, that it ought to be
treated as a lien on the property of Peru in
the event of a settlement of difficulties with
Chill involving the accession of Peruvian
territory. Well, it was not fairly arbitrated
and the property has gone the way of all the
world. England has gobbled up the guano,
and a million tons of it are now advertised in
London, worth probably S60,00O,O0O.
Blaine continued with much earnestness
English bondholders put up a job of war
upon Peru and it was for loot and booty, Just
I md
India. The English fleet was upon the west
coast of South America all the tine ready to
swoop down. They made mistakes who
speak of this war as the Gillian war, it was
the English war on Peru, and take the re-
sponsibility to so put it, and / dared to ask
that a hearing be given humble citizen that
dares be out over night and my foreign pol
icy, to quote the expression j that it would have
driven this country into war with Chill had
it not bcen thwarted. Why is it believed all
over Chill that the United States got out just
in time to save sound thrashing, that hair
Drained secretary of state was just about to
involve her in war when she was saved by
his removal and we are laughed at and car
TONED in their papers? The little gather
ing of SOC, 900 people on the west coast of
South America would have given US a terri
HE thrashing!
| So we let the dismemberment of Peru go
on, all England to bag the spoils, and (pausing
and adding with much emphasis) history will
hold the United States responsible for it.
The examination proceeded for some time,
and lapsed into continuous rattle of repair
tee and counter retort, which frequently con-
vulsed the spectators with laughter and left
it matter of some doubt which was the ex-
aminer and which the witness. The climax
was reached, however, when Belmontldepre-
catingly remarked: Well, Mr.. Blaine, am
through now with any more nonsense.
Blaine responded: Well, I am very glad
you are, Mr.. Belmont. In fact, may say
| am exceedingly glad
Belmont inquired: Do you know who
were behind the Landreau claim?
Blaine replied that he did not. That neither
the Landreau claim nor Cochet had ANYTHING
more to do with the policy of this govern
ment towards the South America republics.
than did the bottom of the ship which bore
Hurlbut to Lima.
Az Belmont had not concluded the exami-
nation at 10 minutes past IL, the committee
adjourned till tomorrow.
AN INDIAN OUTRAGE.