New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-07-06
BEdCONSFIELD IND BLAINE.

Mr. Blaine has been denounced by the English
press rs an "American lingo of mn extreme
type One journal styles him BcacOnsicld
beyond the sea" Others charge him with enter
tanning grandosc and reckless schemes of con
quest and empire. One of the mildcst critics
takes it for granted that he will distinguish
"his term of Office by some feat of spread
"eaglesm." With what the English writer's de-
light 20 call IN consensus of public opinion
respecting the dangerous tendencies of Mr.
Blainc's American diplomacy" II is altogether
probable that Mr.. Mongrcdicn will bc cncour-
aged 10 write another tract 20 he circulated IN
this country for political effect conformity by the
Golden Club and the British Peace Union.
Whether the tract be published or not the
American iicc-tradcrs aud their Democratic
allies have received their cue. Mr.. Blaine il 20
be sayagcly assaulted rs the Great American
lingo who threatens TO drag the country into
war with England. Canada, Spain, South
America and the remainder OF the universe.
Now il is necessary to ascertain at the outset
what Jingoism really is. This can be easily
done. for the word is of recent origin and the
idea has a distinct personal type. The popular
songs sung in London during the palmlcst days
of Lord Reaconsiield's administration contained
such rcfrains as BY lingo, yes W WILL and
Jmgoisln became the accepted sign and symbol
of his foreign policy. Now what were the char
acteristic features of that policy Mr.. Glad
stone will be an unobjectionable witness, since
ne cannot De suspected of having any sympathy
for JingOism. In his great speech delivered
after the return of Lord BcaconSield from
Berlin. Mr.. Gladstone arraigned the Govern
ment of the day for entering into momcntous
cugagemcnts and exceeding the lines Of ordi-
nary precedent without obtaining the consent
of Parliament; and above all for pursuing
"fcttious interests with zeal and geedncss As
if they were the most real and vital things in
" the world
This definition can be easily illustrated. In
contracting for the purchase Of the Suez shares
in Transporting the Scpoys to Malta for the pur
pose OF mcnacing Russia, in acquiring Cyprus
and assuming a protcctOrate over Asiatic
Turkey in making secret compact with hnsSia
on the eve of the Berlin Congress, and in drag
eing the country into useless war i'll Afghanls-
fan. ord Bcaconsfcld worked and intrigued in
the dark The engagements were made, enor-
nous RESPONSIBILITIES were incurred, and ordi-
nary preccdentS were exceeded; and the con-
s.ut of Parliament was not obtained until the
country was rrevocabv committed to new
and hazardous policy. His circuitous diplomacy
multiplied the obligations Of the English people
without promoting the safety of the colonies or
the welfare of Christcndom. 1t was policy OF
illusions and shams serving no useful purpose.
Cyprus proved worthless possession; intrigucs
with the Turks did not impair Russian intlu-
cucc: the advantages acquired in Egypt were
frittered away in the Dual Control; India was
NOT one whit more secure when the Afghan
bloodshcd was over: and the South African
proyinces were not strengthened by the forced
annexation of the TranSyaa and the conquest
of Zu'uland. A reckless and unwarrantable as
sumption of responsibility and the pursuit OF
fictitious interests were the characteristic fca-
lures of that policy of intrigue, obliquty and
shams, which was known rs English JingOism.
American Jingoism must consequently he
diplomacy of this type II must enter into
momcntous engagements and exceed the lines
of ordinary precedent without the authority OF
Congress 1t must also pursue shadows and
illusions rs if they were the most real and
vital things in the world Now let lis subject
Mr. Blajnc's conduct of the State Department
tn Mr. Gladstonr's tests. As Secretary of State
he yavp notice to the European Powers that the
United States would exercise supervision ana
authntiiy over the proposed Panama Canal.
and subsequently offered n nasteily argument
IN favor Of tho nbf0salipn of the Clayton
iniWef Treaty, lie action vie wholly IN 40
fotd with rtevnnz Presidential messages and
resolutions 1T Congress, aud strictly III line
with the Monroannrline, lhn traditional policy
of the Government, 10 neither acted without
constitutional warrant nor exceeded ordinary
"A ,,.I. IL a I4 Iu
taIy of Statcf lie sought to make peace be-
twccnwaI1ing States in South America,und when
his instructions were misunderstood, he sent
special ENJOYS to mediate between conqucror
and conquered in the name OF great industrial
and peace loving Republic. lie also invited the
South American States To a Peace Congress to
consider a plan for avertng war by means of
arbitration, and for stimulating commercial in
tcrcourse between the United States and the
minor States on the American Continent. Were
these fictitious intercsts-the control OF an inter
oceanic highway, the promotion of peace among
the SPANISH American communities, and the
cultivation Of friendly relations that would have
beneficial effect on the country exporttradc
Are peace and the Monroe Doctrine Illusions
and shamsl
Evidently Mr.. Blaine is a very inferior type of
Jngosm; or else Mr. Gladstone gave mis-
leading definition of it. He sa very good Amcr-
can, but very poor Jingo. Mr.. MOngredicn in
his forthcoming tract would better ignore the
official records Ct Mr.. Blaine's conduct of the
State Department, and confidently assume that
he will annex Canada because he once remarked
at Woodstock that the incorporation OF the
Brti,h-Amcrican provinces III our Union
would be- a vast addition TO our strength" and
that he will rapidly enter upon career OF con-
quest and ruin, declaring war upon Spain, Great