The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-16

W nat drugs nave been administered TO
dull the moral scnsibiltics of those who
shout for Mr.. Blaine in the face of evil
dence that would have driven any New
York Alderman out of canvass in the
palmlest days OF Tweed? Even Mr.
Blaine thought the publication of his let
tiers would ruin him, and said so TO Multi.
gan lie has been wondering ever since
why they didn't.
But, says the bgotcd partisan. "This
has all been told before. 1t is burnt pow
der" Such an argument would recall
from Canada Jake Sharp's Doodle alder
men, and make them eligible for their old
places at the fall election. A previous
conviction is good plea against the in
Fiction of punishment under the penal
code, but it has never been received us q
testimonial OF good character.
Eleven days after Mr.. Blaine had
brushed the dust from his knees, and
while yet he was convalescing from the
prostration which had been caused by the
sunstroke, or by his msadventure, or
both, his name was placed before the Gin
cinnati Convention for the Presidential
nomination. The orator on that occasion
was one who has the gift OF being eloquent
upon the slightest subject. and whose
artist brush can linn seeming portraits
Tor which no mortal ever sat. Else how
would the delegates have been told hv
him that the chop-iallen hero OF the Null
gan letters was "Plumed Knight" that
the artlul dodger who had been claimed
by both political parties during the pre-
ceding session OF Congress was "the Leader
OF Leaders, and that the only Speaker Of
the House we have ever had who made
no speeches was 'the Rupert OF debate?n
But the phrases sounded well, and neither
the orator nor his audience carefully
weighed their appropriateness The con
vention preferred Hayes TO Blaine, and for
something more than four years the latter
sat in the Senate, recovering from the
somewhat violent exercise 10 which he
had been subjected lie participated in
the debates, and thereby gained in reputa-
ton. lie was during all that time, 10 all
appearances, true TO his party obligations.
II he ever had furtivc meetings with the
Southern Democrats with whom he had
cOnspircd for the defeat of the Ku KluN
act in 1871, and OF the Force bill in 1879,
the fact never became public. Ills lcgis-
lativc career ended when he became See.
rotary OF State, or Premier" as his
friends rapturously designated him, under
Garfield in 1881. As a legislator lac had
not been great; indeed, ut times, rs We
have seen, not even respectable. IL is us
Premier that we have next TO consider
him.
The brilliant FOREIGN policy" Of Mr..
Blaine is familiar 10 all readers Of the
Blaine press. His first aim was o. form an
alliance with the strongest powers ON our
own hemisphere, aud lac selected Gautc-
mala and Peru! Had he not been checked
by President Arthur, he would have de-
velOped continental or, as We might saw.
hemispherical policy which would have
insured Us the hatred Of Mexico and Chill,
~ preliminary to the building upoi trade
with our sister American republics. That
he thus selected the weakest Of those r..
publics for friends, aud the strongest for
enemies, in no wise impeaches the wisdom
OF the general principle upon which his
brilliant foreign policy" was founded;
this was only an error OF detail in carrying
It into effect. But having made his choice.
who can withhold admiration for the elan
with which he moved forward TO tho ne.
complshment OF ais ends? With what
energy he addressed himself TO the ainiu bile
task OF pushing Guatemala into n quarrel
with McXicol With wi at splendid cour.
agc he disrcgardcd all rules OF comfy and
good ncighborhood, while lac laborcd TO
impress upon the Guatcmllan govern.
ment that Mexico had given cause
for oiicnsc in regard 10 tho boundary be-
tween those two countries II Mexico had
been our enemy, or II her southern b0un-
Diary had In any manner concerned US any
ordinary statesman could have done this,
but 10 get mp quarrel between our next
door neighbor whose good will was valua-
bile, aud was ours, and her ncNt-dOOr |
ncighbor beyond, ON aqucstion 81 boundary
that could by no possibility concern us, this |
was an achievement worthy of the greatest
Of living statesmen. Ills Benevolent pur-
pose was never carried out, but Mexico |
felt his strong hand aitorward In the oppo. |
sition Of his friends In the Senate 20 the |
commercial treaty negotiated with her by |
Gen. Grant under the Arthur admnisira- |
ton.
But all his diplomatic movements palcd |
their Intellectual fires IN the presence OF his I
mastery handling Of the relations between |
Chill aud Peru, 10 the settlement Oi which |
lac invited himself. There shonc out in |
dazzling brilliancy the high stalccrait Of the |
great Premier.
Peru had been yanquishcd by Chill IN a /
war OF her own choosing. PROSTATE At the /
feet OF the victor she gropcd about Tor
giound on which 20 stand while ncg0liat- |
ing peace. Her government had been con-
sumod In the flames Of war, and q new one
must be- erected, Professionally. which /
could secure recognition hy Chill, aud |
with which that government would deal. /
After long trbualion this seemed 10 have /
been accomplished, and Chill recognized
Peruvian government headed by Caldrfon.
Our government followed In the fcc1gni-
ton. A claim 10 the ownership or right
10 work extensive Peruvian guano beds
was set up by one la1drcau, Who ap-
pearcd 10 have Immediately secured good
understanding with this Caldcron. The
correspondence between Mr. Blaine aud
our now minister 10 Peru, Mr.. lluhbut,
together with testimony taken IN the
House OF Representatives on this subject,
shows deep solicitudc on the part Of our
government lest harm should come Ia this
private claimant through n government
la Peru not approved by him.
hut Chill had military possession
OF gOOdly part Of Peru, aud
Calcdron ruled only upon condition that
no military operations should be attempted
or permitted by him within the CHILEAN
lines. Offending against this condition. he
was arrested 10y Chill one day. aud his
paper government was crushed up aud
put in the wastc-baskcL. Mr. Blaine came
nj once 10 the front to demand an cxpla.
nation. Chill was by him held 10 be In
some sort Ia contempt Of the authority OF
the United States In thus oycriurning a
government the latter had followed her in
recognizing Statesmen less brilliant"
than Mr. Blaine thought that, inasmuch