New-York tribune., 1886-08-26
MIR. ELAINE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

IT, was to bc expected that the enemies OF
Mr.. Blaine would criticise his speech unfair
ly. Journals which have staked their entire
influence and reputation In trying TO maintain
that MIR Blaine is neither a parrot nor states
man. but only dishonest demagoguc, could
not he expected to admit the force or the dig
nitv of his remarks. Where his speech is Gle
valcd in tone, where it appeals to the loftcst
impulses Of patriotism, where it brcathes The
true spirit of craftsmanship, they call It's Dig
nity dulness. Where it deals briefly and point
cdIy with local and cphemeral issues, they
affirm that he exhausts his power of argument
In his anxiety lest these local issues should cause
defeat Such criticism is easy. but not honor
able.
His worst enemies do not pretend that MIR.
Blainc's comments on foreign affairs are un-
worthy Of the Nation, or in any respect unfair
to the Administration which he criticscs with
dignifed reserve of language. 1t would have
been exceedingly easy for him TO klndle the
passions OF a Maine audience by speaking III
terms Of just severity regarding Canadian treat
mcnt and the betrayal of American interests
by q British Adminstra ion at Washington.
But Mr.. Blaine prefers to deal with the qucs-
u
tributes to public enlightenment history OF
the British precnsion regarding the threc-mlle
limit, which is singularly convincing. 1t there
appears that the precise claim now set up by
Canada has been twice put forward by the
British Government and twice abandoned upon
convincing proof that IT was not in accordance
with the Treaty of 1918. If these facts arc no
crediiable to the British Government, If they
show that the British officials have repeatedly
tried to wrest from the weakness or ignorance
Of American administrations that which they
well knew Great Britain had no right TO claim
and have twice found American administration
abundantly able and firm, SO that the unwar-
rantcd claim was pcrforce withdrawn with ad-
mission of its unsoundness, the recital reflects
sill more severely upon the present Admins
tration. which has not only manifested incapac-
iiy but strange readiness to lie guided 10y ii
British Minister in the treatment Of questions
at issue The truth is that it is neither friendly
nor honorable in Great Britain to set up again
a prccnsion which her statesmen well know Is
not justified by the Treaty of 1878. but it i,
disgracefu to the United States that an Amer
lcaD Administration has not met with reSolu {
and DECISIVE answer both the unjust preiension
and the wrongful seizure Of American vessels
which have followed.
Mr. Blaincs dignIlicd reserve does not dc
prlve his censure Of severity, when he contras 5
the conduct of the Administration toward Great
Britain with its conduct toward a powellcss
clghborng Republic. On that branch of the
subject too, Mr. Blaine might have employed
stronger language and mafshalled more damag-
ing facts with Strict proprlety. 1t would moi
have been difficult for him TO show how a pow
crful ring of land spectators, represented by
influential persons in Mexico, at Ncw-Yolk and
at Washington, has been plotting to involve two
countries In war i'll order TO gain $25 1000 OOC
for itself. IL would not have been difficult tc
show the relation of parties TO this scheme
with the Admin ST aion in Washington. and
with controlling men of Mexican border States
An Administration ready to use the power o.
the United States Government in order TO en-.
rich a ring of corrupt spectators who are re-
presented in tic Cabinet by their attorney
might naturally have been expected TO emplo,
its utmost power against neighboring Rcpub
lie, even at the risk Of war; in order 10 grasI
for some fayoritcs still richer spoil But Mr.
Blaine has confined himself TO the record al
ready made public. so that even hatred canno
suggest that he has gone beyond the limit
which propricty may fix for defeated candidate