The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-02-03
Blaine and the State Department.

Washington dispatches say that the publica-
ton of the correspondence between Secretary
Blaine and the diplomatic representatives Of
the United States to Chill and Peru has pro-
duced profound sensation at the national
capitol, and may be expected to excite an
equal degree of interest in other parts of
the world. In this publication is made known
for the first time the policy of the State
Department in reference to the South Amer
lean republics "a policy which has been
completely reversed since the retirement Of
Secretary Blaine and the appointment of secre-
tary Frelinghuysen. Within the space of one
month tnis important change has &C.
CURED, and the measures which Blaine orig
mated and set on foot, presumably with the
full assent and support of the President, give
place to entirely different measures and
plans, which have in their turn received the
sanction of the President 1t is claimed
on one side that this change of attitude has
averted war with Chill, which President Ar
thur believed to DO inevitable unless the Unit
ed States abandoned the role of med-
ator and protector in the affairs of the
South American republics and on the
other side, the friends and supporters of the
vigorous measures inaugurated by Secretary
Blaine see III this sensational reversal of the
policy OF pluck and energy square backdown
which will rebound neither to the credit nor
bQYdliab6 OI Jl1e OnlJ0u DbdUtb as d udllOn III
The eyes of the world.
Mr.. Blaine having beeninterviewed in Wash
ington, has given his version of certain matters
connected with the reigning diplomatic sensa-
ton. He pronounces as false and without
foundation in truth the assertion that his in
sructons to Prescott were drafted and for
warded without the knowledge of the Presi-
dent, and states that not only were the in
structions fully discussed between the Presi-
dent and himself, but after being written
out they were no less than twice sub
mitted TO HIM for criticism and change,
and he has in his possession the original draft
bearing marks of the notifications desired by
the President. Mr.. Blaine recalls the fact that
the President, in his inaugural message speci-
ficilly referred to Trescott's mission and in
structions. He promptly acknowledges the
right of the President to change his mind and
reverse ny policy previously agreed upon, but
for himself says he can see no reason to
take a different view OF the wisdom
of the prior course marked out He
fears that one result of the change will
be the utter destruction of the commercial
interests of the United States on the South
Pacific coast. In the concluding portion of
the interview Mr.. Blaine declares that the
spoilation of Peru demanded by Chill is equiv
alent to the secession of the eleven States in
rebellion in the years following 1861, and the
loss to the Union of the Pacific States beside.
g It amounts, says Mr.. Blaine, Z" to the whole
sale destruction of a friendly republic-a de-
struction as complete and as cruel as the par
ttion of Poland "
PRESIDENT ARTHUR's VERSION.
statement is made, on authority traceable
directly to the Executive Mansion, which con-
tradicts the assertions of Mr.. Blaine in essen
tiaI particulars. It is stated that the President
did not examine or approve the particular
draft of instructions sent by Blaine to Tres
colt, and on the subsequent examination Of
the correspondence was astonished and alarmed
to find that the important notifications or
dered by him had not been made, and that
the text Of the instructions was Euch as
to Immediately invite, If not to provoke,
declaration of war by Chill. Upon the
discovery of the precise character of Bl8ine's
communication to Prescott the President
directed the telegraphing Of counter-in-
structions to ward off the impending mischief,
and with the same object in view Secretary
Frelinghuygen sought an interview with IL e
Gillian Minister and gave personal assurances
that the offensive language employed IN Tres
colts instructions did not correctly represent
the sentiments of the President regarding the
affair with Chill.
The Presidents desire in the whole matter
was to protect the dignity Of the United States
without inviting the hostility of Chill and with
out endeavoring to act as an aggressive inter
meddler in the affairs of other countries. The
spirit aud letter of Mr. Blaine, if they accom-
plishod the one purpose, could not have
done so without inviting the hostility of Chill,
if not open war with that country. This, in
substance, is the statement Of those well in
formed as to the views of the administration
and il will be seen that this explanation leaves
still very sharp and well-defned issue with
Mr.. Blaine.
In 1922 Thomas Moore, on sending a
! nocket- hook to his InnEhar rrrota fha