Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-04-28
BULLY AND COWARD"
BLAINE-BELMONT COURTESIES.
Another spicy Gross FIre-The Ex-
Secretary eFrIblg out OF Temper
An Explosion at the Close of she
Proceeding.


Proceeding.
WASHINGTON, April 27.-When the For
elgn Affairs Committee assembled to-day
both Messrs. Blaine and Belmont gave
evidence from their manner and expression
OF countenance that they were prepared
for an unfriendly encounter. Mr.. Belmont
first presented copy of Mr.. Evarts' report
to Congress on the Landresu claim, which
Mr.. Blaine said yesterday omitted the word
''Unofficisl." In referring to Secretary
Fish's letter of instruction to our then Minis
ter to Peru upon this same claim, Secretary
Flsh's qualification OF his instruction at that
time with the word "unoffieial" IS at the
root OF the present difficulty between Blaine
and Belmont, Mr.. Belmont constituting
Mr.. Blaine's omission of this qualification
in his dispatch to Hurlbut to signify that
official pressure upon Peru in favor Of the
Peruvian Company was contemplated.
Mr.. Blaine started to read every letter,
when Mr.. Belmont stopped him, aud stated
that he had chosen to read only portion of
the letter which did not contain the dis
puted word
Mr.. Blaine said: "Yes; Evarts uses
the word in one place and omits it in
another, showing It's utter inconse-
quentality."
Before Belmont could proceed, Mr..
Blaine said that Mr. Belmont had
exhausted two hours OF the time OF the com.
mittee yesterday In q circle. He repeated
his question six, eight or ten times over
or course he has the right, but is all based
on the fact that he made two misc ROTATIONS
absolute, palpable interpretations, and this
course Of his is to establish his justification.
Iu doing that he has not yet touched upon
it. "While l have the largest possible
stock of patience, l would rather
that he come directly to the
points that would like to be heard upon,
hut iteration and reiteration and iteration
and reiteration of the same question in
order TO vindicate Mr. Belmont for having
made the blunder to misquote me in two
particulars is little two exhsusting. He
has made two palpsble Interpretations, and
has made an explanation OF them, when, as
a gentleman, as l understand him to be, he
ought to state frankly that he did it''
Mr.. Blaine, who had been standing and
speaking with a good deal OF excitement, re-
took his seat, and Mr.. Belmont Jumped
from his chair. but, before he could reply,
the Chairman broke in and said:
Il desire tosay that the Chairman, repre-
senting the committee, is reluctant to put
this examination. Mr.. Belmont insists on
his right to examine in his own way. l
have no doubt that Mr.. Blaine will exercise
the virtue of patience, and / presume that
in pursuing that course we shall finish the
examination much sooner than II we were
to restrict either witness or examiner"
Mr.. Belmont-"Of course, Mr.. Blaine's
object is plain enough. That is to avoid
direct issue"
Mr.. Blaine-(Rising and striking the table
augrily with his clenched hand)-"What
issue ?'
Mr. Belmont-"An issue which must be
met"
Mr. Baine-"What issue?'
Mr. Belmont (also rising angrily and
striking the table)-"I will not answer a
single question that you ask from this time
to the end Of the examination. You have
stated what 1 deem to be entirely incorrect.
You have attempted to place me in false
position. In this you will not succeed.
said that the quotation marks were a mis-
take of the printer, and your language
bears the construction put upon It. The
careful reader will agree with me, and the
careless reader may be Influenced by your
speech"
Mr.. Blaine ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS you
are now trying to copy"
Mr.. BelmOnt-"I would not copy you or
any other. The commencement of this ex-
animation this morning relieves me of all
consideration which mentioned Yesterday,
and which, intended to observe to a man
who had held the Office of Secretary OF
State. You have placed yourself on a level
with anv other witness, and l will examine
you as SUCH"
Mr. Blaine (angrily)-"What do you
meau?"
Mr. Belmont-"I mean this: That you
have been before this committee and before
this time have nOdnau0ran n fbraafap
Mr.. Williams Qnterrupting)-"I submit
that this is not in order"
Mr.. Blaine-"This is intolerable. The inso-
lepce of this young man is intolerable."
Mr.. Belmont-"You have brought it on
yourself"
L have no more regard for your inso-
lence," retorted Mr.. Blaine, ethan have
for that OF boy in the street.''
Mr.. BelmOnt-"Mr. Blaine has had due
experience before the committee, and be
has endeavored to threaten them. He has
done it for the last time. He will not do it
to me-"
Mr.. Blaine Gin disgusted tone )-"This is
too trlfing. l bope that the committee will
protect itself. 1 have no power"
Chairman Williams finally restored a
measure Of quiet, when Mr.. Belmont pro-
ceeded with the question:
"Did not the resolution Of the House of
Representatives, to which you have refer
red, simply authorize the State Department
to exercise the kindly offices of the govern
ment in behalf Of this Landreau claimant,
this lobbyist, who had been hanging around
the capitol, and who had trumped up a
claim?"
At this point Mr.. Dunnell, with some
vehemence, interrupted with protest: Gas
a member of this committee ! protest
against this style of putting a stump speech
into the body of the question"
Mr. RaIrnOOt NJ nt7upoI hot
stump speeches had been permitted to be
injected into the witness reply, and that
the committee should have enforced Mr..
Dunnell's point at the start.
The rasping between Messrs. Belmont and
Blaine continued throughout the exami-
nation. Mr.. Belmout's questions were
directed to inducing Mr.. Blaine to interpret
this dispatch Blaine's answer was to
read the dispatches and stop then, saying
that he was unable to add ANYTHING further
That's all there was in it.
Mr.. Belmont asked what claim Landreau
had upon the good Offices OF this govern
men;?
American citizen"
Mr.. Belmont said no evidence Iexisted Of
his naturalization.
Mr.. Blaine replied that the Senate had
passed upon that question in confirming
him as United States Consul.
To this Mr.. Belmont replied by reading
the names of several United States Consuls
who are not citizens of the United States.
Mr.. Blaine said he was ignorant of the
matter stated by B lmOnt, but If the facts
we're as claimed, it was matter to look |
into, as the law is explicit that none but |
citizens can be United States Consuls.
Representative Walker suggestsdd that |
another investigation seemed imminent.
Mr.. Belmont then referred to the instruc- !
70 NJ nd Io4-
81 must confess that was greatly surprised |
at the publication of that dispatch. l |
thought l had an understanding |
with the President that the dis |
patch should not be published until |
Trescott's return from South America. |
When heard that 1t had been sent to the |
Senate / telegraphed Immediately to the |
White House, and urged that It |
might be withheld from the Associated |
Press. That evening / sent a note to the |
President, stating my reasons why it ought |
to be withheld. twas, however, published, |
and believe there have been no more per
nicious results from improper publication |
of the STAGE Department dispatches than |
have resulted from them Prescott consid- |
cred his mission at South America ended, |
and from that day there has been no earthly |
use of keeping them"
Mr.. Belmont then stated that he had no |
more questions to ask.
At the close of Mr.. Belmont's cross-ex- !
animation of Blaine, a most exciting and |
unusual scene occurred in the Foreign Af- |
fairs Committee Blaine stated that as Bel |
mont, after being warned on Monday, had |
persisted In entirely misquoting hi dispatch |
es, and putting upon them a construction |
III