National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-06
MIR. Trescot's Mission.

in the play, abruptly asked the country
man: What did yer steal my dog for ?"
he did not honestly believe the person
addressed had thus appropriated the ami
mall He was moved by mood of mind
known in the vernacular of earlier New
| York as mussy" When the bewildered
rustic denied the larceny, saying, al
never stole your dog" the explanation
was not accepted by Nose, for he was not
in quest of explanations. Indeed, the
dramatist represents him as saying: "If
] don't have muss ] shall spic." Ac-
cordingly he event in" after exclaim-
ing, Then Pm liar, am | ?" and show
cred his blows upon the really unoffend-
ing person before him.
1t became desirable recently that the
Chilian government should assure our
Government that its overthrow of Cal
deron in Peru was not a defiance
of the United States There was
no good reason for supposing it
was. But it suited the interests of Ger
tain parties TO haze Calderon at the head
of the Peruvian government, and they
hoped to have him reinstated by Chill on
the ground that otherwise the United
States would be aggrioved. Whether
Chill should take from Peru with strong
hand her war indemnity, or whether
Peru should be so plundercd by individ-
uals in collusion with her pretended gov
ernment, that the plunderers could satisfy
Chilli and themselves, too-this seemed TO
be the question.
The President did not assume that Of
fense was intended, and therefore de-
sired Mr.. Trescot to approach the subject
in friendly manner which would make
friendly reply the natural one. There
was to be no menace and no buster. II
was with this full understanding that
MIR. Blaine prepared the instructions.
They were submitted to the President, who
suggested changes. The revised letter
was submitted TO him, and still he found
changes necessary. 1t does not appear
from Mr.. Blaine's statement that the sec
ond revise was submitted. 1t will strike
the average mind as singular that Mr..
Blaine, who is usually 50 acute could not
reduce to writing the Presidents views
without two revisions. 1t is entirely
possible that they entertained different
desires as 10 The reply chill ShOuld make. An
unfriendly reply would rule Chill out of
share of the guano beds of Peru, and
leave them to satisfy whatever claims
might be allowed by u Peruvian gorcrn-
mcm set up Ly The claimants. A friendly
reply from Chill would place the peace
negotiations between the two countries
largely under the influence of the United
States, and each would have her own.
Whether Mr. Trescot most desired q
favorable or an unflvorable response
from Chill could not well be known. He
knew the Presidents wish, and he un-
doubtedly knew Mr.. Blaines wish. MIR.
Motley was recalled from England be-
cause he persisted in being Mr.. Summers
ambassador rather than his Governments.
1t was not to be presumed that Mr. Tres
cot would follow Mr.. Motley's example,
but it was prudent to suppose that the
manner of his inquiry might partake
somewhat of his opinion as to what true
answer would be.
Judging from Mr.. Blaine's organs
through the country, he had seriously
determined to whip the whole creation
on paper. 1t is reasonable to suppose
| that the organs would fain have had Mr..
Trescot, upon arriving in Chill, cock his hat
forward like Nose, throw off his coat, ele-
yate the cigar in hismouth toa perpendicu-
lar and in Il "mussy" tone, thus address the
Chilian government: "What did yer seize
Calderon for, sa-ay2 Do you know Jim
Blaine amt a-going to stand any non-
sense? If you don't say you did not
mean it, Pm ordered to go home. May
be you'll have to put Calderon in charge
of Peru again. You'll hear from us on
that hereafter" If Mr.. Trescot had
met such expectations as these he
would of course have done it in
the most courtly and diplomatic
manner but Chill would have none the
less heard the menace, which proper pride
could not brook. The hand would have
been the hand of Arthur but the voice
would have been the voice of Blaine.
How much better it was that the Pres-
dent decided to trust none but himself to
judge of Chilis answer, and if it was un-
friendly, then to satisfy himself that the
inquiry had been made in friendly terms,
and not in u manner to compel an UNI
friendly reply.