Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-10-03
4 LANCASTER, PA. October 8. 1889.
Mr.. B,aine.s Speech.

Mr.. Blaines eloquent address to the
International American Congress is very
rood reading. 1t is full of worthy senti-
nlents admirably expressed and the only
criticism we have for 1t Is that the for
cirners who do not know the man may
he led to hope for a line of action ms
liberal and enlightened MS these senti-
ments. The address will no doubt draw
more comment from Europe than II viii
receive i'm America and il seemed to lie
framed as an answer to the alarms eX-
pressed by European Journals at this
Congress of American nations. MIR.
Blaine announces that this conference
will form no selfish alliances against the
older nations, will tolerate no spirit OF
conquest, permit no secret understand
ing. He talks very picturesquely about
there being no room In America for an
Z artificial balance of power by standing
armies, and about the rule Of friendship
replacing the rule Of force. Turning
from the rhetorical beauties of Mr..
Blaine's speech, and searchingfor phrases
that may hide traces of his real policy
when the International Congress gets To
work, the reference to ocean highways
seems to hint at subsidized steamship
lines, but the remarks on the advantages
OF enlarged commercial intercourse are
hard TO reconcile with Mr.. Blaine's views
about the exclusion Of foreign products.
It IL absurd to plead for enlarged inter
course while advocating high taxes on
importations even TO the very simplest
products--the raw materials for manu-
facturers.
There Is one sentence in Mr.. Blaine's
speech worthy Of particular attention.
II might be taken as text for tariff re-
form. Mr.. Blaine said " Like situa-
tions bcget like sympathies and impose
like duties. /" Can this be meant for n
hint that our brilliant premier contem-
plates q customs union Of American ma
tions, q great system of" like duties v
and an extension of our free interstate
commerce to all the nations of the New
World? He speaks Of the common and
equal interest between the American ma
tions. Of the drawing together by rail
way lines and sea routes of the politica
aud commercial capitals of this hemis
phere. 1t is true that he says the con
ference will form no selfish alliance.
against the nations of the world, bu
Just what this may mean is not plain
~ the conference is To do anything a
Ill II must I've to some degree selfish. Mr.
BIaine's high tariff notions are founde,
openly ON the most pronounced selfish
ness. National selfishness is patriotism
This talk about selfish alliances Is yer,
beautiful, indefinite and useless senti
mental twaddle. Possibly the sioutl
4 Americans may take hint from II no
to receive other parts Of the speech to-
seriously, as their Spanish ways shoul'
help them to tell exuberant vcrbosit.
from talk with meaning.
Altogether Mr.. Blaine managed t
make very ornamentalspeechw withou
saying much, and the country must wni
until the Congress meets In six weeks &
find out what he proposes TO do with tn
United States end of the discussion. A
present II would seem that our brillian
secretarx,Qf state must either send th
q sis Mtssssinne with nothing but
pleasant memory of great junketin
expedition, or he must himself do son,
lofty tumbling from his high protcclio
position.