Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-08

tic2liy styled Ihe American poucy.
Lord Baaconsfeld knew very well what
| he was about, and had he not
been opposed 10 a statesman who when
the occasion served could be as
sensational as himself, he might have re-
manned in power to the end of his life.
He knew that the average Briton, like
| the average citizen of all countries, is filed
with a narrow but intense provincialism
which he mistakes for patriotism; that he
demands an attitude toward foreign coun-
tries of naughty self-assertion that he
| delights in visions Of conquest and of
the extension of British trade; and that
he particularly glories in having all this
served up to him in grandiloquent way,
with as much pomp and circumstance as
possible. So when Lord Beacensfeld, re-
turning from Berlin, rhetorically pro-
claimed that he had brought back :. Peace,
with Honor" he tickledthe midrifs of the
groundlings, and was declared to be the
greatest statesman Of the age. Aud though
Lord Beaconsfield's foreign policy did not
ultimately produce the benefits he had pre-
dicted, his failures might have been for.
given him had he been prepared with a
new series of sensations.
Now Mr.. Blaine evidently moves on
plane of craftsmanship which runs parallel
to that of Lord Bsaconsfeld. When he
entered the State Department he had al.
ready prepared several dazzling surprises.
He was not content to follow the cautious
and conservative presidents OF his prede-
cessors. He was not satisfied to ''let well
enough alone" He had determined
upon creating as much sensation as pos.
sible, and when we reflect upon what he
might have done in four years in this way,
we cannot seriously regret that his oppor-
| tuuities should have been curtailed. 1t is
popularity Of Mr. Blaine's class of
minds that they are too inpatient of
research to equip themselves thoroughly
! for the work they have in hand. They are
prone to put much confidence in their
luck and in their audacity, and to rely
far more upon the support of the lingo
element than upon the calm judgment of
those who really comprehend the situation.
Thus when it occurred to Mr.. Blaine that
the Isthmus Question afforded him an op-
portunity to appeal strongly to the Ameri-
can lingo sentiment. he plunged headlong
into the business, and did not examine it
enough to ascertain that negotiations had
long since been entered into between Great
Britain and the United States on the sub.
| iect, and that they had resulted in treaty,
which continued to bind both the powers.
| Mr.. Blaine either never knew this, or had
| forgotten it. He was aiming at the pro-
duction of sensation, and he succeeded
in producing much greater one than he
had anticipated. But Notwithstanding the
extraordinary blunder which he then com.
mitted, it is not to be doubted that his
action met the approval of the lingo ele-
ment, which looked upon him as very
brilliant and promising Secretary of State:
The Chile, Peruvian affair gave him an
other opportunity, which he availed him
self of promptly to entangle the country
in unfriendlY relations with Chile. About
the same time he narrowly escaped quar-
rel with the French Government over the |
pork question. In his zeal for Protection
he caused to be prepared pamphlet on the
cotton trade of the world, which bristled |
with the most convincing free trade argu
ments. Bat he wrote letter to preface |
it in which he committed dreadful havoc |
among the facts and figures Of the report,
and perhaps he considered that if they did |
not agree with his conclusions, it was SO
much the worse for them. In all these !
matters he exhibited quite the Beaconsfeld |
spirit. He was not seeking to be right, |
but to be popular. 1t mattered nothing to
him that the country could not afford to
fall out with its neighbors or with the
powers of Europe; that it was not in a
condition to threaten or talk arrogantly |
and that its policy abroad had always been
peaceful and conservative for the best of
reasons. He only desired to evoke the
kind of applause which follows what may
be called ACCOMPLISHMENTS, and no
douot ho accomplished this end to certain
extent.
And though it is perfectly clear to all
who reflect and examine that his foreign
policy would in a short time have seriously
endangered our relations with half the
world, and might have involved us in sew.
eral wars, it would be mistake to con-
Glade that this is likely to be the universal
| Judgment. On the contrary it must be
expected that our lingo element, which is
unquestionably sufficiently large, and which
is always ready to applaud what it calls
"vigorous foreign policy" will continue
to retain fondness for Mr.. Blaine and his
methods, and to lament the untoward cir
cumstsnces which deprived the country of
his consummate guidance after go short an
experience of his wonderful capabilities.
We do not suppose that MIR. Blaine ever
consciously modelled himself after Lord
Bsaconstield. We believe the resemblance
between them TO be the natural effect of
similarity of temperament. So long more
over as we possess lingo element it will
have it's public opponents, and they will
| find their reward in voicing the "bun-
"combe' tendencies of their admirers. 1t
would be unphIlosophic to waste time in
regretting the existence of such statesmen.
but when they do gs. into power, and be.
gin, as Mr.. Blaine did, to "make the fur
'.fly" in all directions, it is certainly for the
best good of the country that their expert
ments in diplomacy and foreign policy
shcald be as brief as possible.
TIE PROTECTED GLASSES.
The Chicago T'ribaae has just done good
service to the cause of Free Trade by max
/ ing compilation showing from the census