New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-21
BRITISH CHARGES AGAINST MR. BLAINE.

BRITISH CHARGES AGAINST MR.. BLAINE.
The British press, on both sides of the ocean,
considers Mr.. Blaine bad man. Naturally,
the bogus reasons are given here; the real rea-
sons come to light on the other side OF the
water. Examining the English Journals, we
perceive three reasons given: that Mr.. Blame
does not favor British free trade: that he was
not in favor of having American citizens pun
ished for words spoken here, on the plea that
they had never ceased to be British subjects
and that he desired, by diplomacy, in the inter
est of his own country, to lessen British lnfiu-
ence and the advantages of British merchants
in trade on this continent and in South America.
To the first of these accusations, which APP
pears in nearly every English journal that has
commented upon the nomination, we fear Mr..
Blaine must plead guilty. He is in favor OF
building up American industries, as England
for many years built up her manufactures until
they were thought strong enough TO defy COM
petition. If this is fatal charge against Mr..
Blaine, he must fall, for he does believe in pro-
tectng American industry.
The secord charge, that Mr.. Blaine has tried
to protect American citizens, is most strongly
stated by The London Telegraph, which says
that one Costello. naturalzed citizen, deliv-
cred speech in this city in 1865, containing re-
marks deemed reasonable to the British
Crown that he was arrested in Ireland IN
1867 tried for this offence and sentenced to
penal servitude for sixteen years, on the ground
that, having once been British subject, he was
forever subject to the British Crown. The 1tte-
qrdph charges that Mr. Blaine organized Con-
gressonal agitation which resulted in the re-
lease of Costello, and in the final REIMBURSEMENT
by Great Britain, in the treaty OF 1870, OF her
claim of perpetual allegiance. This charge
seems to the English paper to justify the
severest condemnation of Mr.. Blaine. But if
the British claim of perpetual allegiance was
reasonable or just, why was it finally surren-
dered7 If it was not reasonable nor just,
wherein did Mr.. Blaine do wrong in urging
such peaceful but earnest assertion of our rights
that Great Britain was led to abandon the
clam7 On the statement of facts made by The
Telegraph itself, we are unable to see that the
accusation against Mr.. Blaine is worthy of
notice.
The Pal Mall Gazette makes the third charge,
in an article quoted on Thursday 1t alleges
that Mr. Blaine desires to lessen British lnfiu-
ence and British commerce on this continent.
| But that journal does not accuse him OF resort
| ing to any improper, unreasonable or reckless
means. In fact, it says. with emphasis OF
course he does not propose to drive us out
with the bayonet He is not a lunatic, but
avery able and shrewd Yankee born in
| Pennsylvania we may add. This admission
makes the charge empty. If it is not proposed
to 90 about quarrelling with or bullying other
nations but only to assert the rights and exert
the influence of the United States in a proper
way, what business has England to complain 7
| The Pail Mall Gazette says Wherever he can,
abe will Dust us from the position which we
hold whenever an opportunity offers he Will
use it to the uttermost to replace our influence
and our trade by the influence and the trade Of
the United States, and he will regard it as his
chief object to promote great American con-
federacy under the @gis OF the Governm ent
u at Washington, which would tend to increase
the export trade of the United States at the
sexpeLse of that of Great Britain" Now this
may all seem very terrible to British editors and
manufacturers but we are at loss to see why
any American should be Mortified. A con-
federacy is peaceful league which the nations
of this continent, or of any other, have right
to form for their mutual advantage. If we can
effect such treaties with other nations, perma-
nently advantageous to our trade as to them,
We should like to know what right Great Britain
has to Objectf
1t was expected that the British press would
not approve of Mr.. Blaine But the charges
made against him are not calculated to make
his countrymen turn from him III horror. 1t is
not exactly crime in this country, as yet, to
protect American indu stries, to protect Amer-
can citizens, or to promote American interests
and trade At least we think not.