New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-07
from the petty politicians who fill the boa'u
of CorOners.
AROTT MR.. BLAINE.

AROUT MR. BLAINE.
,s oor,o;n New-York newspapers are rlgh'
Mr. blaine is not Republican lie Is oecc-
INV Of state in a Republican Cabinet; he mas
boon for thirty years leader, and for at least
lis thu. time the most conspicuous leader, Vi
.ho Ronublican party. But 1.-THE New-lork
uor,Id,, and Evening Post" knowing more
,han ANYBODY else about it, are sure that he Is
NOT \ member of the party of which he Is
ioader They assert that he is not Protection
;st because he believes IN keclproeaV' ino9
imagine that Reciprocity is somehow at war
18th Protection, and therefore tell the world
tha. Mr.. Blaine is at war with the. President
and his party. ,oo,,,o
OF ne see Is Mr. Blaine likely to become
.ho Damocratc candidate for the Presidency Z
r. NOT why not? Are his opinions on the tarii
onestion the same as those OF Grover CleVe-
,and9 II there Is a broad dividing line be-
tveen them. is not Mr.. Blaine plainly on the
Republican side 1t would delight some TOOL
;sb nesons of the Democratic persuasion 20
belieye that Mr. Blaine had brought into the
democratic party one large hatful OF brains
Rut is there not considerably more than an even
chance that there is mistake about such prog
nostications? Mr. Blaine denounced tne NC
Kinley bill, says "The Herald" and his letter
70 Senator Frye was strong denunclatlon OF
that measure. saws 1.-THE Evening Post" well
is there any truth In these assertions Wnen
Mr.. Blaine wrote his letter Of July IL, ls9o,
10 Senator Frye, Directing that the proposeu
tariff would not open the market Tor ahoIner
bushel of wheat or another barrel OF PORK he
had in mind the sugar duties and nothing else.
In the same letter, and the same paragraph from
which this phrase Is quoted, he said: 40
not doubt that in many respects the Tariff Dill
nendinr in the Senate is just measure, and
that most of its provisions are in accord win
the wise policy of Protection" 1hat was AI'
Blaines idea at the time when, according 10
"The Herald" his antagonism to the meas uie
was most intense. He believed in RECIPROCITY
because he held it in accord with the wise
nolicv of Protection" He objected to the re-
moyal of sugar duties without compenSating
benefits because he thought it not IN accord
with the "wise policy Of Protection" IL ne
succeeded in stating his own idea plainly ana
Secretary Blaine generally does he was a rro-
tectionist throughout, and supposed hlnlselI
more faithful and wiser Protectonist thah
those from whom he dissented.
Obviously Mr.. Blaine saw, what many Dem
ocratic journals still refuse to see, that Reel
procitv is help TO Protection and not at war
with it, The one and the only provision 10
which Mr.. Blaine ever made objection was me
admission of sugar free of duty without com
rensating concessions from sngar-produclhg
countries. Not one line or word from Mr. Blame
can be quoted Directing to the Protective poIlcy
If the new tariff The one objection that he
did make the Senate removed, by the heH-
nrocity clause under which treaties have now
been negotiated with Spain and Brazil. Inc
great sugar-producing countries are now opened
TO American trade by virtue OF the very tarin
which the Democratic newspapers represent Mr.
Blaine as opposing.
It is not exactly Of material importance
whether the Secretary of State ever got h1o
excitement about the matter and smashed MS
new silk hat, as Senator Blackburn has assert
od His mind was al that time intent upon one
thought the extension of foreign trade by means
If reciprocal arrangement with sugar-produclng
countries and he was not content with any
measure which seemed to close the door against
such arrangements. Tho Senate and the House
modified the measure, so that the President nae
been enabled to carry out the plans advocated
bv himself and the Secretary OF state. Bu'
still there are newspapers which represent tht
Secretary as intensely hostile to the whole tarllf
and to the Protective system OF which he has
been for many years most able and eloquent
advocate. What bother they would have tf
explain away their statements if Mr.. Blame
should happen to be nominated for the Presi'
dency next year, and should consent to be
candidate,