Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-26
rIELDOF POLITICS.
ron cEEvEl4sD AND RsFoax.
Nswssh,s Great Aaeetsnx-mr. Belmont o.
nlasue's GaaSreas Clsina.
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Nevsyk,s Great N1eetoux-Wr' nesmoet %
nlasuss aanSreas Cistns.
new York Hersid.I
TIA .yelYersonjop club, OF Newark. held
: lerre n,ass.rneeting at the Grand Opera
HOUSE hat evening which was marked by
srcat enthusiasm from beginning TO end.
serafor Mcpherson presided. lie said
shsS Mr.. Cleveland has earned the place be
rcids A. the sstimation Of the people by his
esifbSuI administration OF the governorshlp.
senator McPherson's speech was received
with rrcst enthusiasm, and at tee close he
Wss Given three reusing cheers.
Hon, Perry Belmont was the next speak.
ar. Az he stepped forward the applause
was 30 great that II was some time before
he could begin speaking.
After being introduced, and referring to
his inability TO he present At the meeting to
which be was invited last April. Mr.. Bel
mont read portion OF the letter which he
had written at that time from Washington
10 the chairman Of the Jeffsyonian Club,
In which he said that in It's foreign inter-
coure the United States must return to
the democratic policy Of Me-. Marcy, but
not 10 lie absurd "iiugo" imitation at
tempted by Mr.. Evarts's immediate sue
cessor. aud must return TO that democratic
policy in order that among other things
our influence and prestige among the span
ish-speaking rations and peoples on tnis
continent which suffered so much in the
DAYS Of the Landresu claim may be re-
stored and rec aablished.
BrAIN. NOT THE CHOICE OF HIS PARTY.
He insisted that so large was the Repnb-
Ncan revolt against the nominee OF the
Chicago Convention that the campaign to-
day has become Mr.. Blane's own contest
rather than that OF his party. and the sue
cess Of Mr.. Cleveland would be the victory
Of the honest sentiment OF the whole coun-
try. Irrespective Of party. He also insisted
that should such a candidacy as that OF Mr..
Blaine be successful 10 this country the
presumption against any man holding pub
lie Office would be very unfavorabie. IL
would also be a.doubtiui honor 10 hold
position In the public service should The
presidency have been stained AFTER the
published record Of Mr.. Blaine.
now BLAINE NuDDLED OUR roREIGS RELA-
TIONs.
Mr.. Rein ont devoted bis attention prin-
cipally 10 Blaine's course 10 our foreign re-
latlons while the Republican candidate was
Secretary Of State. lie said that while II
IN auite true that questions concerning our
foreign affairs are comparatively uninterest-
ing 10 most OF us, although the day has
been. the time will assuredly return when
puch quo stions are OF supreme moment to
every American. Our general indifference
10 the conduct Of the State Department,
except In isolated cases Of American citi-
xenship abroad, IA probably owing IN the
fact that we have been almost exclusively
concerned with home affairs ever since the
civil war, and what was termed the recon-
ftruction period.
The speaker indicated how injurious to
growing American interests has been the
questionable and erratic course OF The
Department OF State in 1881. Mr. Eyarts's
administration beQueathed to Mr.. Blame
financial scheme for the settlement OF the
difficulties between the South American
States Of Chile and Peru which, II carried
out, would not have received the approval
OF this country. Mr.. Blaine, upon enter
ing the Department OF State, at once began
10 promote the interests Of this enterprise
with his accustomed energy. The whole
course Of this diplomacy was injurious in
its ultimate effects and threw discredit upon
our position by reason OF the hesitatlng yet
arrogant tone in which our Ministers were
instructed 10 communicate the wishes OF
this Government. But much more repre-
benslble was the course taken in regard 10
another attempted financa! operation on
the part OF still another company having
interests in Peru.
TIE LANDREAU CLAIM.
The Speaker OF the House who wrote to
Warren Fisher was still the same man who
wrote the dispatch OF August 4, 1881, at
the suggestion OF the notorious Shipherd,
who actually. In the Department OF State
itself, supervised the sending of that DIS
patch, which was written in accordance
with his wishes and interests. That dis
patch contains the following instructions
10 our Ministers: "You will tlke especial
care TO inform both the Chilean and Pc
ruvian authorities OF the character and
status Of the claim. in order that no de-
finitiye treaty Of peace shall he made in dis
regard OF the rights which Landreau may
be found 10 possess" The demand made
was for the payment OF the claim, and
demand made in this manner was an
obstacle 10 the signing OF treaty OF peace.
That there may be no doubt rs TO this pro-
position. l will recall the testimony OF Mr..
Blaine himself when asked as follows: - III
Chile had refused to make such stipua'
tons, would not our Minister have been
bound to resist TO the extent Of his interest
the signing OF a treaty OF peace without the
stipulation (Answer) Yes. SIR" The
one great point in all this matter Is that the
Landreau claim itself was never the claim
Of an American citizen, but OF French
man, who had himself appealed in VAIN to
the French Government. and that Govern
ment had instructed its diplomatic agent;
In South America 10 have nothing to do
with IL.
HELPING A FOREIGNERS LITTLE JOB.
The Landreau claim cannot under any
possible construction be termed an Ameri-
can claim. Certain Spectators were inter-
ested in its prosecution by Landreau, him
self foreigner. a Frenchman who had
been repudiated Icy his own Government,
which had refused any diplomatic nterfer-
ence In his behalf. The sum and substance
Of II ali Is that during that whole period the
State Department became the tool OF specu-
lators interested in South American terri
tory, and. instead Of holding our tradition.
al attitude Of friendly neutrality to the
States Of South America. our authorities
were instructed TO Use their influence 10
import false and foreign elements into the
negotiations for peace between two bellige-
rents, both Of whom were friendly TO the
United States. and our political and CONNER
cial position in South America received
blow which was only modified by suisse
guent complete reversal OF the policy then
inaugurated. The distrust created in South
America as to the wisdom and honesty OF
our policy opened the door TO the diplO-
matte agents of European Powers. and
European Influence was thus strengthened
upou this continent.
BLAINE DULLES SMALL NATIONS.
Mr. Belmont called attention 10 the
marked contrast between the aggressive in
siruetions to our foreign ministers to the
smaller Powers Of South America and the
approval given by the Secretary Of State In
1881 10 the apologize tone OF Mr.. Lowell
In bis relations with Lord Granville, who
represented greater Power than Chile or
Peru.
The apology made by the special sup
porters Of Mr.. Blaine for bis failure 10 en-
force in proper and digniied manner the
rights Of American citizens arrested by the
authorities OF Great Britain has been that
the President OF the United States, being at
the point OF death at that time, could not
be consulted by the Secretary OF state.
This, Mr.. Belmont said, il a weak defence
and an unsatisfactory apology, for IL was
not necessary that President Garfield should
be consulted about the well-known and
established rights OF American citizens IN
Great Britain. And this, too, when the
action In regard to South America was en-
tirely upon Mr.. Blaine's own response
bility, In which nc went much further than
the ordinary discretion OF an American
Secretary OF state without consultation
with the President.