The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-01-17
Mr.. Rlnine niscnrors His Mistake.

of State, has at last decided that |
he will not push to their extreme
the pretentions he had previously
set up about our seal fisheries in
the Behring sea. So long as it was
possible to exploit Il lingo policy
with any hope Of success, Mr..
Blaine did SO; but like good many
other men he has been able at last
to see how utterly without support
war policy would be, and has
abandoned it. - i"&s!t
For some time the seal fisheries
have been a. cause of dispute be-
tween the United STATES and Eng
land. This was in process of set.
tlement in October of 1888, when,
quite unexpectedly, Mr., Sackville
West was detected in the writing
of letter into which he had been
decoyed by Republican politician
in California. 1t became necessary
at once for President Cleveland to
demand the recall of the offending
minister, and thus to suspend the
consideration of Il treaty which had
for some time been under discus
sion. There is no doubt that If this
untoward incident had not occur
red, Mr.. Blaine would have found
the Behring Sea matter settled upon
II basis alike honorable and salts
factory to both countries, as we'll as
to Canada, which is a sort of third
power not directly concerned, from
a diplomatic point of view, but
really more intimately connected
With the matter than England her.
self.
AS soon as Mr.. Blaine took up
the question, he began to exploit
it in his usual spirit. He made the
most extravagant claims, and for
some time there has been a good
deal of talk that these would be
insisted by represent administra-
ton. When he was nominated for
President in 1854, Mr.. Blaine
thought it necessary and desirable
to appeal to certain class of voters
known as the Irish-American ele-
ement. Even with this unexpected
accession of votes, he was not sue
cessful in reaching the Presidency:
but, in spite of this, the Irish vote
remains, although, considered as a
mass, it has not perhaps it's former
Importance. Nevertheless, Mr..
Blaine has deemed it necessary to
cater to it,. ~ certain part of this
vote, comprising, it is true, only a
small proportion of the people of
this nationality, but to Mr.. Blaine's
mind by far the most important
element in his country, would, at
any time, not only welcome a war
with England, but would seek to
promote it.
Therefore itjwas perhaps neces-
sary for the Secretary of State to
carry out his political instincts by
making such an appeal, though he
probably never had any serious
idea that this policy would be in
dorsed by the majority of the
American people. If there is any
thing that they do not want, it is
war withnaiIy country, but espec-
tally with that great power with
whom our relations are not only
friendly but should remain so, for
race reasons as well as for those of
a business character. So, when
the Secretary Of State came to
close quarters he soon discovered
that there was no war sentiment
among the people at large, and
that he would have to modify his
pretensions.
So he falls back practically upon
the contentious of his predecessor
Secretary Bayard, and the whole
matter will, now almost certainly
be submitted to the arbitration OF
some power friendly to both. Sc
much for an attempt to inaugurate
a new lingo policy in the United
States--a policy which could have
no other object than the promotion
Of the personal fortunes Of its
author. From the very necessitie:
of the case the people Of the United
States are not only the most con
servative in the world, but they
are the most peaceful. And any
man temporarily in power who
mistakes this disposition and at
tempts to carry out different pol
icy will soon find how thoroughly
he has mistaken the temper of his
countrymen.
Jurors for the February