New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-05
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
SENATOR BLAIR EXAMINED.
HIS CONNECTION WITH SHIPHERD.
THE INTERVIEWS WITH Mr.. BLArNE-MR. BLAIKs
OPINIONS or SOUTH AMERICAN AFFAIRS.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-Senator Blairs cross-ex.
animation was begun this morning but little
real progress made. The chairman, Mr.. Will
Jams, occupied the honr, most Of which was con.
sumed with preliminary questions having only
remote connection with the subject under considera
ton. They were perhaps useful, however, In
showing how Senator Blair was predisposed by his
own opinions to look upon Shepherds project with
more favor than other persons less enthusiastic as
to American influence on the American Continent
would have been likely to show.
Senator Blair is an enthusiast upon this subject
as was shown both by his statement the other day
and his testimony to-day just he is an enthusi-
ast upon temperance and other subjects, concerning
which, as is usually tho case with enthusiasts he
thinks certain things can be accomplished which
many men do not consider practicable. Hispersonal
appearance seems to show how largely the element
Of the ideal enters into his intellectual tenn
permanent He is a tall, grave man, whose bearing
suggests the college professor rather han the soldier
and legislator. He has lofty forehead, and large
mild eyes; sandy hair which is combed up high In
front, and a sandy beard streaked with gray; his
whole expression being one of quiet dignity. hn
appearance to be fair indication OF the char
acter of the man. His favorite subjects are temper
ance education and the like; aud TO those who
know him. the insinuations of improper motives in
this matter thrown out by the newspapers which
are so anxious to damage Mr.. Blaine that they as
sail anyone associated with him, arc almost az
amusing as a charge would be that Robert Collyef
or Cardinal NC Closkey had been making away with
church funds Senator Blair seems ~ have put
more faith in Mr.. Shipherd than most persons who
came in contact with Lin, and so was apparently
drawn closer to him than any other figure IN tins
Peruvian episode. But it Is to be remembered that
Shpherd is a very glib aud persuasive person that
q frat livil dino w
Shipherd in his varicgated career seems to have
made good impression; and that he came armed
with long list of names of capitalists which
necessarily caused even so quick judge OF human
nat Ire as Mr. Blaine to receive him at first with the
respect he supposed TO be the due Of man repre-
senting such interests.
The testimony to-day showed how easily the Sem
ators preconceiyed opinions the subject led him
to fall in with Shepherds notion that Peru would
be helped by corporation of foreign capitalists
which should take hold OF the country and
| save it from dIsmemberment in the
expectation of getting their return in the shape Of
claim that might bo gradually paid. When asked to
detail one of his interviews with Shipherd Senator
Blair said with half smile that he could not do
that with tho afincnce Of statement and apparent
accuracy Of dialogue" Of Mr. Shipherd himself. Re-
garding the legal services he was expected to per-
FORM he said that Shipherd wanted him to examine
the papers and give opinion upon the claim.
Most Of all he wanted TO ascertain the attitude OF
the United States toward Peru. He told shipherd
this was information he entitled to, and he
would do his best to get it for him. His testimony
agreed in all respects with Mr. Blaine's regarding
the interviews with Shpherd, except in triiing
| particular respecting the first interview.
| Mr. Blaine said: Il should say that the whole
interview was not longer than from ten } fifteen
| ,,bo Mr. lair
| an hour Inasmuch as the interview took place
| only nine months ago. it will be at apparent to
the rabid antBlane press that this statement puts
Mr. Blaine in a very dreadful position.
The public are getting about as tired rs the COM
rnittee of this investigation Not half dozen per-
SONS besides the committee were present this morn
| ing Both Democratic and Republican members OF
the committee have expressed dissatisfaction that
the time of the committee Should b. taken up with
the inquiry TO the exclusion Of really important
matters and do not hesitate to say that they he
eve there is moro of 1t than there Is of yester.
DAYS mist Ii curious that with the exception OF
| the missing letters which Smpherd supplled, tho
| committee has facts OF any moment before 1t
unless Shepherds correspondence can be called
facts-which il did not have in the published diplo-
matte correspondence DeIore inc lh'cstIgatioh Do-
| gan.
PRINCIPAL POINTS IN THE TESTIMONY.
WASHINGTON, May 4.-The examination OF
morning before the Committee Foreign Affairs
and was conducted by the chairman, Mr.
| williams, Of Wisconsin The early part OF
| the examination was in reference 10 the
views of Mr. Blair South American affairs in general
He said that he Interested IN the policy OF tho
limited states and the Importance OF Peru in regard
TO its defensive location in OF foreign war than he
was actuated by any pecuniary interest in what he
| did He looked upon Peru as the Key
| To Sonth America, and that the country presented
great opportunities the United States to extend s
influence and build up ally for the future He arst
took an active interest in South American AFFAIRS when
the question the sthmus came up AT
that time he would have given notice 10 the world thas
no foreign power and foreign corporation would be
permitted TO connect the TWO oceans except
| with the express understanding that the work
| should be under the supreme control OF tho
| United States. He believed In North and South
Americans and he believed in the United states the
leading power of the two continents He thought that
the United states the of international
law to preserve the territorial Integrity OF Peru no
looked upon the possession and control OF Peru with any
thing like equal development OF population and re-
sources as vastly important to the United states
in case of foreign war than that OF Chill As basis
for defensive purposes he regarded Peru as OF more I'M
! portance to the United States than Chill.
| senator Blair then explained his meetings with Mr.
| shipherd. The Peruvian Company was first mentioned
70 him by Mr. Cragin while in NewYork and he met Mr.
shpherd In his shpherds) Office. subsequently, about
July 90 he had long interview with Mr. Slipher The
substance IL that there plenty OF substantial
and large amounts OF capital eady 10 emDakl 10 tue
| Peruvian Company. He understood that Mr. shipberd
had practically the management aud control OF both the
Iandreau and Cochet claims There was the most con-
versation in regard the Cochet claim. The matter
was discussed quite largely lie understood that II was
desired TO enable TO raise the Chian Indemnity
and TO procure the evacuation OF Peru by the Ch1an
and IL was his opinion that that could only be
| e0ected by the use Of one both OF the claims
Mr. shpherd desired him TO examine his papers and the
,a and 70 ascertain the attitude which the Governments
and and the pOlicY that tho