The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-07-18
BUSY BUT QUIET
Blaine q Very Industrious Secre-
tary of State, But Makes No
Noise About 1t.

Noise About 1t.
WASHINGTON, July 15.-Mr. Blaine Is very
busy secretary of state, though far from be-
Ing a noisy one. He has disappointed the
hopes Of enemies and the fears Of friends
VINO expected theatrical and demonstrative
conduct Of foreign affairs There has been
no eagle screaming or f1ap-doodle; no often
sive advancement of American pretensions;
no aggressive intermeddling in the affairs of
other nations; not q bit of bull-in-a-china-
shop diplomacy, in fine The history of 1881
has not repeated itself in 1889. The admin
istration of the state department has been
modest, reticent, dIgnlfied and deoorous to
the outward view. So far as its methods are
observable, and so far as it's results have
been developed, it is judioious, intelligent,
firm and effective. There is q disposition to
explain the contrast with eight years ago by
dwelling upon the differing traits of charac-
ter of Garfield and Harrison, and attributtng
the better counsels that prevail in the state
department to the guidance and restraint
of firmer hand at the White House. A
more agreeable explanation and one more
generally accepted by unprejudiced persons
Is that years have brought wisdom and ex-
perience has taught lessons
1t is growing upon the understanding OF
those who were puzzled by some of the early
incidents in the history Of this admin1stra-
ton that Blaine has lost neither ambition
nor energy; but that his energy Is restrained
by Judgment, and that his ambition has lost
the intense personal tinge and is concentrated
upon worthy achievement in the line OF
duty. Instead of laying plans for the future,
he is doing the work of tho present. Instead
of building up party he is managing de-
partment Instead of running the admtuis-
tratiOn he is conducting its foreign affairs,
with all the force and capacity he has, and.
SO far as the most Jealous critic can see, with
single-minded devotion to the public inter
est and frank loyalty to his chief. This af
fords scope large enough for any reason
able mans ambition. Never, since the set
tlement of the Alabama claims dispute, has
so wide and fertile field been open to the
achievements of American diplomacy as
now. The present administration has such
an opportunity for service and distinction,
in the conduct of foreign relations, as has
not been offered to any government for
generation.
Mr.. Blaine knows this we'll enough No
public man can help knowing it. John
Sherman knew it, and that is why he was
willing to give up his place in the senate for
the state department There is matter
enough in our existing relations with Great
Britain alone to make the reput alton of one
diplomat It Is believed here that the secre-
tary of state is making most careful study
of these relations into which he is putting
all the energy and capacity of his nature.
1t is certain that he is in frequent and close
conference with the British minister, who is
reported to have come to America under de-
tailed instructions and fully charged to do
everything in his power to reach an under
standing on all the points in dispute be-
tween the two countries. There is good
ground for the belief, which has become very
general in Washington, that MI. Blaine and
Sir Julian Pauncefote are deeply engaged in
the consideration of a broad basis of agree
ment upon which the two countries can ac-
commodate all their differences, if not in the
actual framing of a treaty. to be presented
to the senate some time next winter.
The time is ripe for such a general
treaty, and the preliminary work for
it has been done The minute de-
tailed examination of the fisheries ques-
ton by the Chamberlain commission fur
nishes a wealth of material and clears the
/
Behring sea question there are no minute
and complicated details to examine. The
object to be reached there is an agreement
between the United States and Great Britain
TO ioin in Invitations to an international
conference to take steps for the protection
of the seal nurseries. The other points to
be settled, the Canadian canal tolls and the
privileges to be accorded the international
railways, are simple, though vastly conse-
quential They do not call for prolonged in
! cubation by a mixed commission All the
affairs between this country and Great
Britain are in such condition that treaty
negotiated directly by the secretary of
likely to prove quite as salts
factory as one painfully hammered out by
special commission. Another considera-
tion in favor OF direct negotiations Is that the
dominion of Canada would have to be repre-
sented on a special commission. and both
nations have learned that this doubles the
difficulty and delay and the risk of ultimate
failure. Besides, il the secretary of state
could identify his name with an acceptable
and successful treaty quieting all present
causes of quarrel between the United States
and the British dominioDs, he would win for
it a plouder and more enduring glory than
that enjoyed by many presidents. The ex-
pertinent is worth trying for man who has
has put away future ambition and
resolved to win such renown as Is to be had
In the station in life in which God has placed
him.
There is reason to believe that the British
government would be glad to settle all
points of difference In blanket treaty. This
was plainly shown by its attitude In the
Behring sea question Another straw Of in
ference is to be found in a rumQr current
here last week. When the application Of the
Canadian Pacific for permission to bond it's
Maine line was withdrawn, it was said, it was
because the question was going to the state
department for settlement. The overture
from the Ottawa government for reciprocity
in the lumber trade may be another betray-
ing indication of what is going on between
the governments Naturally the British min
lister would not proceed far without con-
sultation and common action with the gov
ernment at Ottawa. IJ is easy to see one
thing; That any attempt to adjust by treaty
the relations of Canadian railroads to Ameri=
can traffic will have to be very prudently
and delicaGely made to escape trouble in the
senate. A committee of that body is now in
vestigating the same subject and is likely Go
have views of its own. F. A. earle.