Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-02-09
BLAINE VS. ARTHUR.

BLAINE VS.. ARTHUR.
From the assassination of President
Garfield it has heen evident to every
one, who paused to notice and reflect,
that sooner or later q conflict would
break out between Blaine and Arthur
similar to that which had previously
existed between Conkling and the
late President but it was not SO APP
parent how that contest would be
opened, or how it would be conduct
ed. Garfield maintained an attitude
of quietude, and allowed Arthur and
his New York senators to open their
campaign in their " way; but Gen.
Arthur has not followed the example
of his predecessor. On the contrary,
instead Of waiting and allowing Mr..
Blaine to secure that favorable time
and opportunity for which he evil
IDENTIFY waited, the President himself
took the initiative and put Blaine up
on the defensive, which attitude the
latter now seeks to convert into one
Of aggression. The diplomacy Of the
lsee Secretary Of State in regard to
past and existing difficulties between
Peru aud Chilli was not the basis up
on which that parsonage would have
preferred to have placed his aspira-
tons to the Presidency in the coming
contest for that Office. Indeed, the
opportunity furnished him of inter-
fering In the affairs of those two ma
tons may yet prove a rope long
enough and strong enough to strangle
him politically, and Arthur has al
lowed him the benefit of all its posi-
bilities. In this way the next pres
idential campaign has opened unex-
pectedly, and will probably increase
in intensity until long after the
troubles of the South American Re-
publics have been settled and forgot
ten. In his recent letter to the Pres
ldent. Mr.. Blaine reminds Gen. Ar
thur that the invitations issued by
him met both Gen. Garfield's and his
approval /; that they contemplated a
congress of American nations at
Washington to arbitrate and settle
international difficulties; and that
their anulment or withdrawal for
fear of giving offense to European
powers would be a position unfit for
this country, if not a voluntary humil-
iation scarcely less disgraceful than
if we should petition them for the
privilege of holding a congress. As
vet, the President has returned no
answer, but while his friends regret
that it should have been necessary to
raise such an issue, and while they
think it will do the Republican party
no good, they at the same time de-
clare that without the consent of
Congress the administration had no
right to inaugurate an assembly that
would certainly involve the nation in
an expenditure Of over a million of
dollars, if not in war. On the other
hand, Blaine not only denounces the
President in private as incompetent
and his cabinet as figureheads, but
asserts that in the action taken by
him he looked forward to the estab-
lishment of such a community Of feel
ing and interest between this and the
South American Republics as would
lead to the only profitable foreign
commerce now within the possible
reach Of our merchants and shipping.
The distance to Peru and Chill is so
great that few feel any concern about
them, and as the trade sought for by
Mr.. Blaine can only be obtained
through 4 considerable modification
Of the tariff, he is likely to encounter
great opposition from the protection
lists of his party.