The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-31

tween the United statss and Great
Britain has reached q stage that II
very Interesting % the people OF
both countries. A few days ago
congress called for the correspoud-
enee between Secretary blaine and
the head Of the British government.
II 10 quite voluminons and shows
the situation In clear light, the posi-
tiOn taken by both sides icing clear
ly Get forth. IL begins Aug. "a, 1852
and eloaes July 18th. 20. The first
letter IL written by Mr.. Edwards,
British Charge d'AfiaIrs ct WASH
ington, filling the vacancy caused by
the famous West political fiascO,
and reflects the color Of the ClsVe-
land Administration. Immediately
Mr.. Blaine appears In the eorres-
pOndenee there 10 . change Of color.
at grows virIle, robust. and Ameri-
can, and instead Of the vaeillstIens
and compromises Of Bayard the
American contention IL set forth
In no uncertain manner by an ex-
pert who IL familiar with the subject
and Q diplomatist who IL . match for
the biufi1ng Salisbury. The presen-
tatIon Of the American claim made
by Secretary Blaine strikes respon-
sivs chord In Congressional senti-
ment. There was no dissent from
the opinion heard at the Capital that
the rights Of the United States had
been maintained with conspicuous
force and ability. The general view
was voiced by Gov, McCreary, the
leader Of the minority on the For
eign Affairs Committee. He dcclar-
ed that the position taken would
commend Itself to every American
citizen, and he hoped the President
and Secretary Of State would pur-
sue unfalteringly the policy % well
conceived"
The Chicago Inter Ocenn, In
speaking Of the matter very proper
Iy says: Every American citizen
who has the honor Of his country at
heart niust take solid comfort In the
reflection that James q. Blaine IL
the present Secretary Of state.
However bitter q mans partisan
preIudIces may be, he can not, 10 he
he q genuine patriot, fail tn note
with satisfaction the highly favor
able light In which the United States
In made 20 appear In the Blaine
Salisbury correspondence over the
Behring Sea controversy. Even
the English press does not claim the
contrary, and one London paper
which stoutly defends Sallsbury's
position has the frsukness TO con.
ceds that Mr.. Blaine has shown
himself very much the superior Of
the British Premier. The Democrat
ic press, for the most part, comedies
that the aecrctary's course IL to be
approved, rather than otherwise.
There il nothing Of the jiugo about
Il, nor yet of the turnkey.
Nothing IL more noticeable In the
Blaine letters than their temperate
tone. Nothing disturbed the writ
er's equilibrium. The charge Of
PartisanshiP did not rufiie feather,
and even the garblIng Of the Adams
letters was shown up without the
slightest Indulgence In asperisy.
Mr. Blaine 10 Q master Of the art OF
expression. He never uses words
for rhetorical ornamentation. nor
yet for eoneealment. His style II
as clear as crystal and as free from
passion As the multiplication table.
Webster aud Marcy each conducted
q memorable diplomatic sorrespon-
dence, one with the British Govern
ment, the other with the Austrian,
anO now Mr.. Blaine has furnished .
companion piece for the same, and
one which can not fail TO command
admiration throughout the world Of
diplomacy.
The questions at Issue are very
simple. and in fact resolve them
selves into this one: by what su-
Ihority does Great Britain claim now
any rights In Behring Sea which
were never eIGimsd In the same
waters until 1890? During the en-
tire time Of the period Of Russian
ownership Of Alaska and then dur
ing the period subsequent to our
purchase, down 10 the date mention |
ed, the right maintained by Mr.. |
Blaine was not questioned or In
fringed upon by England or any
other power. Il is really Q misnomer
10 call those waters the 'Behring
Sea-" The old term, Rehring
Straight, IL far more appropriate.
Mr.. Blaine presses this question, but
Salisbury evades IL, falling back
upon the general denial Of the right
Of this country to treat these waters
~ "closed sea-" The truth II that
in order to justify the high-handed
outrage OF certain Canadian ships
the British Government was obliged
TO fall back upon that generallxa-
ton. 10 Secretary Bayard had been
equal TO the emergency Of four years
ago he would have secured Q promps
Of the wrong, but, finding
Q putty man In charge Of the State
Department, the British foreign
Office sustained the Canadian deprs-
dators in the evident hope OF being
able TO close out the matter during
the Bayard regime. Failing In this,
the contention u for arbitration,
when In point Of fart there 10 moth
ing Co arbitrate. |
THE week just past has seen but
little change in the weather or In
business. The drought hiss con-
.Inued, no rains having fallen In
his vicinity. A drive round the
presents Q kad sight Of
blasted corn-felda aud fields too
1art TO pIow, This would be dis |