National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-04-01
BLAINE AND TREsCoT.
a Few Comments from the Press on the
CbIIi.Peru Corrcspondence.


There is no particular spread. cageism about
Secretary Frcliughuyscn's correspondence with
Commissioner Trescot but the position which
he assumes for the United States In the dispute
between Chilli and Peru Is one which squares up
well with the common.scnse view OF a friendly
and dignifed but not meddlcsome foreign policy.
Mr.. Trcscot has been clearly and repeatedly in.
structed TO tender tho good Offices of the United
States In settling peace basis which is fair for
both parties, but to refuse peremptorily to com.
NIT this Government to any scheme for the ag.
grandi2ement Of Chill at the expense Of the vital
Interests of Peru. As the terms Of the alleged pro-
tocol already published rs the basis Of peace are
expressly rejected by Secretary Frclinghuysen's
letters there seems to be no reason for the belief
that Mr. Trcscot has agreed to 1t on behalf Of the
United States or done anything else with reference
to 1t but to frankly represent to the Gillian au.
thorltics that his Government could not approve
II. Why, under the circumstances, Mr.. Trescot
has thought IL necessary TO go to Peru Is cOnun-
drum, for there are but two hings he can do there,
the one being to urge upon Peru the acceptance Of
the protocol and the other 10 labor for its reicc
ton, and, under his instructions, he has no sort of
authority TO do eithcr-Ph thddeiphid Times blaine
We do not see what small hole remains for Mr.
Blaine to crawl out OF. He has said he did not
mean war, though curious dispatch of Mr. Tres.
cot looks as though that gentleman had been in.
sIlrcd by MT. Blaine with other and less peace.
able ideas. Chill is 50 strong and Peru 50 weak,
cables Mr. Trescot, ~ that mere friendly intcrven.
ton VIII not have effect think there is no use
Of my remaining here" 1.-The was prompted by
Mr.. Blaine to use anything beyond mere friendly
intervention lie certainly might as well come
nome. But Mr.. Blaine says he did not mean war
surely he can not complain of my successor"
after reading these dispatches, He should have
waited for their publication before venting his
spleen and his misiniormatiOn in public as he did
last weck.-NcW York Herald.
Mr. Blaine will no doubt read Secretary Freling
huyscn's letter Of instructions to Mr. TresCot with
the liyeliest dssntigOcton. Possibly he viii rush
| into print again IN condemnation Of the policy Of
"my successor IN The state Department" To the
people Of the United States however Mr. Freling-
| huyseus views Ui the functions aud due Limits Of
the diplomatic action Of this Government on tho
west cOusi VIII commend themselves as sound and
sensible II the ChliatS manifested any curiosity
uS TO what we might think OF their offer 10 Peru
Mr. TrCscot was to inform them in n frank and
friendly way that In the opinion of the United
States II is time for them to be magnanmous and
generous; that they should be content with
reasonable war indemnity in money; and that in
demanding the ccSsiOn of TarapaCa and the pay.
mCnt OF S4O,OOOOOO In money they have fixed con
ditions to which IL is simply impossible for Peru,
III her present uisorganzCd state, TO assent unless
she IS willing TO end her national existence. IL
Chili declined to accept our kindly counsel or TO
DC guided by our view OF what i just Mr.. Trescot
became merely spectator oicNents.-Ntp lOre
Tunes
It is clear from this correspondence that MIR.
\ Trescot has not distinguished himself In Chill
either by his industry or his spirit But It is clear
! nom II also that President Arthur has plainly II
not very emphUticHlly protested in the name OF
| Of Chill and Of her English nstigators and nssD.
ciates 10 dI,memher Peru and to destroy the very
fountains OF Peruvian nationality and indepcnd'
| CnCc.--NCtC Fork World
Mr. Blainc's facility for putting his foot into
| II Is becoming Iroycrbial; His latest exploit
occurred in an interview day or two since in re-.
| gard To his South American policy. The st. Paul
| Pioneer Pres remarks that there Is more of dash
| than of diplomacy about the cX.secretary.'-
| Davenport GdsCiic.
| 1t Is little late therefore, now and betrays n
Sight lOrgtIlulness OF MS previous record for Mr.
Blaine to CNpUtiatc on the great loss the United
| States has suffered In not helping Shepherds Pc
| ruygn Company to occupy somewhat the same
position toward Peru as the British East India
| Company was enabled by British bayoncts to oG-
| cupy toward Hindoostan. The only fact that he
! develops by coming TO the defense OF Shepherds
| confidence game Is that he tBluiuc) was and is
hand and glove with shlpherd IN the whole bust
| ness. His plea that he was silent listener
| only to policy which II is the "crowning dis
| grace of the United States" to have backed down
| from needs only one more addendum-vi2-, that
he never met Shiphcrd in his life. 1t will then
| equal the famous plea of the kettle: Cracked
| when borrowed-whOle when returned-and
| never had any kettle. Chicago Neirs