The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-06-14

George William Curtis ON MIR. Blaine
The Hartford Post, in view OF the recent ex-
pressions Of George William Curtis and Har-
per's Weekly, calls attention to his previous
notices of Mr.. Blaine. March 20. 1881, Har-
per's Weekly had the following editorial on
'The Opening OF the Administration"
1.-THE selection of Mr.. Blaine for the State
Department shows that the President means to
have party behind him. Mr.. Blaine as an
alert brilliant UerSdtile public mar, 1oih larger
personal tolloaoing than any other Republican
leader, although unquestionably certain events
in his career have alienated the sympathy OF
many Republicans whose approval is worth
mans winnings. AS Secretary of State his
course will be regarded not only without pre-
jadice, but with the most friendly anticipation
The Administration begins, there
fore, with an admirable manifesto, and with
Cabinet TO which no part OF the party openly
objects The friends of Mr.. Blaine
will be its warm supporters. The friends OF no
other 'stalwsrt' leader can complain that they
have not been recognized
November 5, 1881, Mr.. Curtis thus comment
ed upon the foreign policy of Secretary Blaine
as shown in his letter on the Panama canal:
"The letter of Secretary Blaine, upon the
Panama Canal, was written on the 9th 81
June last, and is now transmitted to the Sem
ate under the resolution lately adopted. The
letter states, with admirable frankness and
firmness, the traditional and reasonable posi-
ton of this cOuntr u, and 1t tciH be universally
sustained The position is that which was
stated by the administration OF President
HAYES By our situation, our interest in a
waterway across the Isthmus is paramount; We
have solemnly guaranteed its neutrality by
treaty with Colombia, and the guarantee
ueeds no assent from any other power. AS
Mr.. Blaine truly says, 10 time of war We could
No more permit the passage of armed hostile
expeditions through a Panama canal than over
the railways that connect the Atlantic and Pa
ci6c shores of this co2ntry; and We should
take all necessary precautions to prevent an Of
fensive use of such canal against our inter-
ests, whether upon land or ses The Secreta-
nv points out that the United States have rec
ognized European guarantees OF neutrality re-
specting European States, and did the sug-
gested European guarantee contemplate a
channel of communication in the immediate
neighborhood OF foreign States, and in
which their interests were necessari-
ly commanding, the United States
would find no fault. They desire to live at
and the character Of their arguments prove,
and they claim no more than they willingly
grant The letter is temperate and dignifed
document, stating our position 10Th blended
spirit and courtesy and decision. 1t Is capital
ly adapted to meet auy such proposition as a
| Joint European protectorate, had 1t been ad-
yanced But whether the project was merely
| a tentative rumor or design seriously enter
tanned the letter has suficed to arrest it, aud il
| is another illustration of the skill and ability
Nth tghich Mr.. Blaine has managed the depart
nlent cOnfded to aim. He has what may be
called the american instinct, essential quail
ity in our Foreign Secretary, yet restrained in
its official expression by an equally American
tact and good sense"
Again in an article o." The Administration, !"
June 4, 1881, Harper's Weekly said, and Mr..
Curtis is the editorial writer:
"Secretary Blaine's prompt and energetic ac-
ton in defence of nstnralized citizens and OF a
threatened hostile commercial policy in Europe
toward certain American exports showed adj
nirable vigilance"
The Post remarks that ''the fact stands
boldly out, that these expressions of confidence
in the Republican candidate we're written long
after the virulent attacks on Mr.. Blaine, when
he stood before the country,so far as his record
Is concerned, precisely as he does now"