The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-29
no gIxeoIsn IN ELAINE.


ground upon which this government
firmly planted itself in the matter OF the
Alabama claims. Chile withdraws and
apologies for the Malta note, expresses
the most sincere regret for the Baltimore
ARRAY and offers 70 refer il TO our own
supreme court for arbitration. While. as a
court, orr highest tribunal could not
undertake this work. the excellent sugges-
ton OF General Aiger Of q special commits
SION could be made 10 include one or more
members Of our supreme court, even as i've
OF the judges sat upon the electoral COM
mission.
Among The gratifying incidents Of this
Chilean controversy is the revelation that
Mr.. Blaine, who has for years been stig-
matized IS lingo" statesman by his
political enemies, proves 10 have been the
most conservative member Of the cabinet,
joining his voice to those of Secretary Of
War Elkins and Secretary Rusk in adyis-
ing against hasty action toward Chile.
This complete settlement Of the Chile
difficulty is welcome news 70 the men OF
brains and heart in both the great
political parties. The letter Of
William r. Grace, an eminent
Democrat Of New York city, published
in our columns yesterday, reflects
the sentiment of the thoughtful and IN
telligent members Of the political opposi-
ton 10 the administration, while the
division of feeling in the cabinet and the
moderate views Of an old soldier. like Gen.
eral Alger, indicates the moral and hu-
name aversion of intelligent Republicans
TO var with Chile until every honorable
effort for peace had been exhausted. The
voice of able Democratic journals, like the
Louisville CouvieT-JourTal. has been in line
with the views Of ex-Mayor Grace, and the
New York Tribune, . stout friend of Mr..
Blaine's policy of moderation, says:
Between this country and Chile there Is no
question whatever except such as can be settled
ty two gentlemen sitting a. table. And the
gentleman sitting al one side of IL need say
nothing except, when the other gentleman has
told his story, simply 70 ask: "Well, ell this
being said, what do you think would be your
due as gentleman? Here are differences OF
view; 70 settle them should you say that on the
whole We owe you an apology or do you owe Us
one% Then what? Well, there Is this to be
taken Into account: That q well-bred gentleman
with sense OF honor that stands alone, and
does not need TO have tributes paid 20 il by any
body, can afford 70 submit TO sights or disre-
spect from any body who is angry, bat who can
not strike successfully from the shoulder or
ring the bell with the pistol. And between na-
tons what? Nothing but this: That a nation
really great does not permit itself to lose its
temper-bEt waits. 1t does not like 20 be iostled
IN tie procession or insuited on its way but il
does not get itself into quarrel upon mere pre-
texts The main quality, the staying quality
OF great nation, is that ii IL not easily dis
turbed in its temper; that i; stands for peace.
The ignorance-the political hoodlum-
ism--of both parties is always for war;
but the brains, the intelligence, and the
saving common sense of both parties is
always against war as settlement of con-
troversies, except as last resort. Peace
with honor is always preferable TO war.
War. as General Sherman phrased it, is
cruelty; necessary cruelty sometimes. but
even the most Just and necessary war in
wolves evils that humane, Christian ma
tons never contemplate without feeling
Of deep regret. Mr.. Blaine. Mayor Grace,
the editor of the Louisville Courter-Tournal.
and General AIger are all men old enough
TO remember our own great civil war; they
do not forget its horrors; and they are all
honorably anxious not to inflict those hor-
rors upon Chile until every resort that be-
comes great Christian power. like the
United States, has been exhausted to OBJ
tam peace with honor. There are stupid.
or unprincipled people today who talk
lightly of our great civil war as if it was
but last years military picnic, but the
statesmen of both parties, North and
South. know that, outside of the horrors
Of war IN shape Of bereaved homes, our
government feels today the burden of evils
which date back to our civil war for their
origin. The "greenback," child of our
civil war, is really the parent Of all the
financial heresies and cheap money"
vagaries whose buzzing fill with bees the
bonnet of thousands of men of both
parties.
Mr.. Blaine, so far from being lingo"
statesman recognizes the duty OF Christian
nations toward one another, and especially
OF the stronger toward the weaker: he re-
membered the sympathy manifested by
republican Chile for our own republic in
its day Of desperate fight for existence; he
remembered the chaotic condition of Chile
when it was trying to change its pilots on
the heels Of great evil storm which had
left the ship OF state racked and strained
by stress Of weather; he remembered the
extreme Ignorance and passionate nature
OF the Low class of Chileans who attacked
the Baltimore's crew, and he manifested
that forbearance ard patience that is
always Characteristic of large-minded, in
telligent and magnanimous men; he knew
that q hasty war against Chile would
make it impossible for the United
States 10 ever be other than hated,
feared and distrusted by all the Spanish
American republics of South America
result in commercial sense not desirable.
Mr.. Blaine was in fun sympathy with the
policy so lately ayowed and urged by our
government Of peace against war, and the
substitution Of arbitration in place of war,
and II is splendid vindication of Mr.
Blaine against the Old charge Of lingo
ism" that he urged the president to hold
hls hand 10 the last minute. The "Silly
huly cry Of some newspapers that
the United States should not only
make war upon Chile 10 vindi-
cate a principle, but should make it
war Of conquest. has no support from
Mr.. Blaine, who knows that a war 70
conquer Chile and absorb her territory