Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-19

poNIs " prSNeut ootn the treaty ana
the scheme. The Nicsrauquan job
seems TO trouble.
The friends of the treaty saw that
IT is time that the United States were
doing something. For forty wears
the United States have stood guard
over the isthmus, asserting the Mon,
roe doctrine we have refused to let
any foreign power, or any private
| enterprise build great highway for
commerce through the iSthmus, and
we are simply playing dog in the
manger by doing nothing ourselves
and permitting no one else To do IS
While the going forward IN this
scheme is not without difficulties, the
refusal to do it involves great com.
plicatioss, If we do not do 1t Mic
araugua will give the privi-
lsse to some foreign power.
That power will then have
us at disadvantage If we at
tempt to stop them by the application
of the Monroe doctrine, we must do
il by war, for England. France and
Germany have all warned the United
States that there is a limit to their
patience and tolerance of dog in
the manger policy in respect to hamp
ering the commerce of the world.
THE GRAVITY OF THE QUESTION.
Senator Miller, of California, who
is friend of the treaty, says:
Suppose England or France or any
other European maritime power
should gain a concession from Near
aqua and begin the construction of
canal there, with view of making
the Lake of Nicaragua the naval en-
trepot and harbor of its great war
ships, which would give such nation
complete supremacy over the com.
merce of both oceans and become a
perpetual menace TO not only the
commercial interests of the United
States in the Pacific seas, but to our
western coasts and Pacific states and
cities. What would our government
do? What should it dol Will our
democratic leaders, who oppose the
building of navy, say that we should
stand supinely by and see this great
nation environed and humbled and
humiliated and threatened and defied9
say for one that the national honor,
the national interests, the national
pride, American spirit and Ameri
can manhood forbid that
the control of the isthmuS transit ut
either Panama or Nicaragua shall
ever be intrusted TO any other power
to the exclusion of the United States.
If you ask me whether would resort
to war for the protection of tie inter
ests of the Unlted States in respect of
these isthmus trausits, | answer that
| would at once begin preparation for
war by building great guns, large
iron clad ships and cruisers. Our
position is right, and the statesman
manship which, either through cow
ardice or ignorance of the prodlgious
interests Involved, halts or temporizes
III the maintenance of that position is
too spirltless and. weak for the time
and the national demand. That the
time Is coming, and that soon, when
congress shall be called upon to cons
slider the question of peace or war in
its rolatioS to this isthmian problem
| fully believe. We are drifting and
drifting into serious complications.
! The Deceased Aggressive Policy.
! INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 16.-Blaine's at
torAeys. this morning, dismissed the
libel suit against the Sentinel in the
United States court The principal
ground was, they could not get jus
tice in Indiana, and it was set for
trial cd the 23d inst.
The following is Mr.. Blaine's letter
to his attorneys, instructing them to
dismiss the case:
THE JING0 LETTER
WASHINGTON. d. c. Dee H.
To MesSrs Harrisn, Miller and Eam-Counsa:
GENTLEMEN:-When | requested you, in August
last to bring suit against the publishers OF the
Indianapolis Sentinel for libel, did in the be-
Lief that wrong had been done me by that paper.
but being entirely of a personal aud domestic
character, it could not be fairly tried without
due influence from political consideration ]
confess that was profoundly amazed
to find the matter at once taken up and
the libel suit at once reproduced with all possible
exaggerations in every democratic paper in In
diana except from three members of the demo
cratic party of that state
never heard that word OF dissent or disap-
proval was spoken while the great ma $ OF demo
cratic speakers repeated t.e libel from every
stump in Indiana with vituperttive rancor, with
gibe and ribald jest. 1t was thus made 50 far as
any matter of the kind can he made an issue in
an exciting political campaign, and the demo
Gratis of the state were thoroughly poisoned in
their mind in regard to the question 10 he decide
possible that can expect any other result than
that which informally attends political libel suit
growing out of an exciting campaign in this coun-
try. III were unfair enough to desire a jury
composed of my partisans | could not have
it A properly constituted jury in Indiana would
be composed Of members of both political par
ties in about equal proportions. When visited
Indiana In October was repeatedly advised that
six democrats could not be found in the state
who in a political suit would give a
verdict against tkeir leading party organ
This did not necessarily convey an imputation
| upon their personal integrity citizens but
simply that the blending of party prejudice
would utterly prevent an impartial consideration
Of the evidence submitted ! am perfectly able
to fight the Sentinel newspaper In an Indiana
court but / would stand chance whatever
against the consolidated venom Of the de no
| cratic party of the state. With these surround
ngs and With this prospect it is idle for me to 90
| through the trouble and annoyance Of trial.
| The questions prop0unded by the
bill of discovery have already been substantially
| and fully answered by me- and / willing to
! leave my written statement and answers under
/ oath TO the judgment of the public. do not
| choose to have the case Indirectly concluded by
| a technicality or suffered to die in silence. /
prefer TO make this open statement Of the reason
| which induced me to believe that the prosecution
/ of the would be utterly frutlc5s.
Very respectfully,
| JAMES G. BLAINE.