Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-25
MR.. BLAINE ABOVE PARTY.
Praise for the Secretary OF State from
Political Friends and Opponents.
HIS MANLY STAND IN THE BEHRISo SEA coRRE-
sPoSDESoE-HB VIGOROUS DEFENSE OF MINIS
TER PHKLPs-wHAr A PROMINENT pKNocRAr
SAYS ABOUT IT.

Mr.. Blaines old-time admirers are well
pleased with the manner and matter Of his
Behring sea correspondence. While there has
been no progress toward a settlement of the
controversy, though the agreement almost set
lied BY Minister Phelps under the former ad-
ministration has since been repudiated by Lord
Salisbury and the tone of the correspondence
has grown less friendly toward tine close, the
grasp Mr.. Blaine has Of tho situation and the
vigor of bis expressions and power of his srgu-
ment is commented on with considerable en-
thusiasm. The verbal agreement which he has
tried to hold Lord Salisbury to was that made
with the democratic minister. From Lord Sal
isourys correspondence it appears that the
British minister Of foreign affairs had an idea
that Mr.. Blaine would be ready TO agree
that his predecessor or another party had
biundered and that the position of her msjesty's
representatives had been misrepresented II
Lord Salisbury had such an idea il was very
promptly dispeiied by Mr.. Blaines vigorous de-
fense of Mr.. Phelps and the declaration that in
him the United States put it's trust This has
received a great deal OF favorable comment
from men in both parties, who admire the
broad views and manly course Of the Secretary
of State. That Lord Salisbury should have at
tempted to play upon party feeling is severely
criticised. The contrast between this subtle
attempt on Lord Salisbury's part and the gen.
erous and manly position of Mr.. Blaine is re-
garded as most honorable TO the latter.
DEMOCRATIC VIEW.
A prominent democrat said to a STAR re-
porter on this point:
"A less able man than Mr. Blaine might
have seen in this situation an opportunity to
put his predecessor in an unfsy orsble light be-
fore the country and to claim all the credit in
the controversy for himself. But he gives Mr..
Phelps full credit and sustains him in a way
that must be pleasing to every patriotic Amer
Icsn. Mr.. Blaine does himself and the country
great credit for this, and carries away the
honors OF the contest A settlement was almost
concluded when be took hold of the question,
and it has now been thrown back to where il
was when the negotiations first opened But
Mr.. Blaine has done this: He has stated the
contention and claim of this government
clearly and strongly-more clearly than it has
ever before been put he has worsted Lord
Salisbury in the argument at every point, has
put her majesty's government on the defensive
and has made our claim the only fair basis for
q settlement"
MODIFICATION OF THE oRpERs TO REVENUE CUT
TERs
There ID much doubt about the matter of the
modification OF the original orders sent to the
officers Of the United States cutters in Behring
sea. That some modification of the orders was
made appears beyond question, but one thing
pretty certain is that it was not such as to be a
back down" upon demand Of the British
minister. Neither Mr.. Blaine nor Sir Julian
Pauncefote wanted to provoke collision. and
it is believed that the modifying orders were
merely precautionary, in no way compromis-
ing Mr.. Blaine's position.