The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-08
An American Political System-Mr. Sew.
ards Circular.

ard'S Circular.
from the Times.
The circular note addressed by Mr.. Seward
to the Government of Spain and the represen-
tatives of the South American Republics which
are engaged in the war with that power, seems
likely to be productive of benefcent results.
The proposal to hold Conference at Washing
ton with a view to the consideration and adjust
ment of matters in dispute between the par
ties, has been accepted in behalf of Spain, and
it is understood, will also be accepted by the
other belligerents The suggested Conference,
then, will certainly be held and, with or with
out the further Intervention of our Govern
ment we may expect that the war which has
for some time crippled the commerce and i'm
perilled the safety of the allied Republics will
be brought to an end An armistice will take
place pending the results of the Conference,
and the good offices of the President are avail
able in the event of failure on the part of
the plenipOtentiaries to arrange the terms of
peace.
Both the resolutions of Congress and the
proceedings of the Department of State have
a wider significance than may Immediately
appear. Originating in a desire to promote
the interest of sister Republics, they are in
dicative of the controlling influence which the
United States are gradually acquiring in
nent. The moral support given by this
country to the Republic of OfMeXico has suticed
to terminate the French occupation. And
though the sympathy we entertain for the Re
publics engaged in life-and-death struggle
with Spain has not taken, and in the nature
of things cannot take, the form of force, its
expression by our Government is producing
very marked effect 1t suspends the war at
once with a fair prospect Of terminating it
/ on n LASTING N
which the influence of the United States is
being thus exercised is legitimate and unOb-
/ jectiOnable. Without putting forward any
abstract pretension, without assuming contro-
verted authority, or wounding the pride Of
another nation by the gratuitous affirmation Of
/ abstract doctrine, we are laying the founda-
ton of far-reaching influence. The wise use
of events as they arise is enabling us to esta-
blish the prestige this nation is entitled to as
the great arbiter in questions relating to the
! Western hemisphere. Assured of the hearty
concurrence of the lesser Republics, we may
hope that the quiet but persistent pursuit of
this policy will gradually lead to the establish
ment of an American political system-a system
framed with exclusive reference to existing
circumstances and securing to every part of
the continent the uninterrupted management
of its own concerns. OF this system the United
States will be the central figure, the main
source Of its strength and the guiding spirit
of its movement.
The tendency to such a state of things is
recognized in Europe, where the inability of
distant Governments to deal with political
emergencies, international in their character
on this continent, has for years been pro-
claimed by leading publicists. In 1853 the
London Times deprecated the then projected
interference of France, Spain, and England in
the affairs of Mexico, ON the ground that any
interference short of absolute control would
operate mischievously. 70 interfere in any
way, the Times contended, would be to
''work injustice TO existing private interests, :"
without solving satisfactorily the problem of
order and government in Mexico. Effective
interference, it was admitted, would be that
which the United States alone could render.
In this respect, English opinion has gone
ahead of opinion in this country. We have
never proceeded further than a proposition
for protectorate over Mexico, while England
has again and again urged upon us Mexican
absorption, avowedly for the reason that
Europe is powerless in all that relates to in
ternal administration ON this side of the At
lantic. The doctrine was practically reafiirmed
by England and Spain when, with wise fore
cast, they broke loose, in the opening of 1862,
at Soledad, from the tripartite treaty of the
previous September. France accepts the same
conclusion by its withdrawal from Mexican
soil. Everywhere in Europe the principle is