National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-31


cot should exhibit the instructions by
which he was to be guided.
The President, in reviewing the in
structions given by Mr.. Blaine TO Mr..
Trescot with his assent, appears to have
thought il wise to make them more ex-
plicit. He accordingly caused Mr.. FREE
linghuysen TO say TO Mr.. Trescot by tele-
graph that he was TO avoid issues which
might lead TO his withdrawal from his
post; that it was the wish of the Presi
dent that our friendly offices should be
extended impartially to both re-
publics Chill and Peru; that q
pacific influence should be exerted
and every issue which might lead to Of
Gense avoided; that questions growing
out of the suppression of the Calderon
government could be attended TO at
Washington, and that IL was preferable
that he should not visit Buenos Ayres on
his way home.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen then wrote these
things more fully, saying: 3" ] send this,
stating the proper construction of your
original instructions somewhat modify
ing them and indicating how they are TO
be executed" lie said.
The President wishes in no manner N dictate or
make any authoritative utterancc TO either Peru or
Chilli rs 10 the merits of the controversy existing
between those republics, as to what indemnity
should be asked or given, as tn a change Of boun.
dnrics or US TO the personnel Of the government Of
Peru. The President recognizes Peru and Chill to
be Independent republics, to which he has no
right or inclination 10 dictate.
And again:
What the President does seek to do Is to extend
the kindly offices of the United States impartially
TO both Peru and Chilli whose hostile attitude to
each other he seriously laments and he considers
himself fortunate in having one so competent as
yourself to bring the powers of reason and persua
sion to bear in seeking the termination of the IN.
happy controversy.
This was only putting in different Ian
guage the first instructions by MIR. Blaine
and emitting the stage thunder and
Colored lights. II would be very cheap
! pcttifogger who could find in il u change
of policy, and very dangerous dema.
gogue who would pretend that our Nation
could further go unlimited. The differ
ence between the instructions of Mr.
Blaine and Mr., Frelinghuysen is in the
tone and expression, and not in the
things expressed. We believe the method
of Mr.. Frelinghuyscn much the better
adapted to inclining the ear of Chill to
| our counsels.
Not even Mr.. Blaine could crowd into
the same space more disingenuousness Of
statement or irrelevancy of conclusion
than is found in his interview. He
likens the condition of Peru to that OF
the South American republics in their
infancy, threatened with q restoration OF
| Spanish rule. He assumes that the guano
beds of Peru will be source of wealth to
the United States while Peruvian, but to
England if mortgaged 10 Chill. He treats
Peru as a province of the United States
which we are bound to protect, and dis.
cusses Chill as an enemy and an ally OF
England.
lie considers the commercial interests
of the United States in the South Pacific
as wholly dependent on the humiliation
of Chill, His policy would compel the
latter country to heed our advice only at
the cannon's mOuth-all of which is
doubtless very brilliant, but none OF
which commends itself to common sense
Mr.. Blaine must regard his political
fortunes as very desperate when he seeks
to repair them by so groundless an at
tack upon an Administration which has
shown him the utmost consideration
The world will wonder, while reading
his interview, whether his zeal for the
integrity of Peru's guano beds, his
friendship for Shepherds friend Arizola' s
friend Calderon, his disgust with Presi-
dent Arthur, and his hatred of Chill are
stimulated by his regret at the loss OF
office or by his hope of the all hail
hereafter. 1t is long, long time, Mr.,
Blaine, until 1884.