Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-04

South AMERICAN REPUBLIcASs TO MEET
IN washington.
The following is a correct and complete
copy Of Mr.. BIaine's letter, which the New
York Herald Of Tuesday, published in arr
incorrect and gsrbcd form:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHrSGToS, Nov. 20, 1881.
Sta: The attitude Of the United States With
respect to the question Of general peace on
the American continent is well know n through
It's persistent efforts for years past to avert
the evils Of warfare. or. these efforts falling
TO bring positive conflicts to an end. through
pacific counsels, or the advocacy of Impair
tial arbitration. This attitude has been con-
sistently maintained, and always with suci,
fairness az TO leave no room for imputinx
to our Government any motive except the
humane and disinterested one of saving the
kindred States of the American Continent
from the burdens of war. The position Of
the United States. as the leading power Of
the new world, might well give to its Gov
eminent a claim to authoritative utterance for
the purpose Of qnieting discord among its
neighbors, with all Of whom the most friend
ly relations exist. Nevertheless. the good
Offices Of this Government are not. and have
not at any time been rendered With a show Of
dictaion, or compusion, but only as exhibit
ing the solcitous good will of common
friend.
For some years past, CROWNS disposition
has been manifested bv certain States of Ten.
trail and South America To refer disputes al
fccting grave questions of international re-
lationsbip and boundaries to arbitration
rather than to the sword. 1t has been on
eral such occasions u source of profound sat
isfaction to the Government of the United
Etat IN aaa fhut ia in
measure looked to by all the American Pow
ers as their friend and mediator. The Just
and impartial counsel of the President in such
cases has never been withheld, and his efforts
have been rewarded by the prevention of san
culinary strife or angry contention between
peoples whom we regard rs brethren
The existence Of this growing tendency
convinces the President that the time is ripe
for a proposal that shall enlist the good will
and active corporation of all the States of
the Western Hemisphere. both North and
South, in the interest of humanity and for the
common veal Of nations. lie conceives that
none of the governments of America can be
less alive than our own to the dangers and
horrors Of state of war, and especially of
war between kinsmen lie is sure that none
of the chiefs of government on the continent
can be more sensitive than he is to the sacred
duty of making every endeavor to do away
with the chances of fra,ricidal strife, and he
looks with hopeful confidence to such active
assistance from them, ms will serve to show
the broadness Of our commoa humanity and
the strength of the ties which bind us all to-
gether as a great and harmonious system of
American Commonwealths.
Impressed by these views. the President
extends to all the independent countries of
North and South America an earnest in
vitation to participate in general con
gress, to be held in the city of Wash
ington on the 22d of Novemcr. 1882,
for the purposeof considering and
discussing the methods of preventing war be-
tween the nations of America. He desires
that the attention of the congress shall be
strictly confined to this one great object: that
its sole aim shall be to seek way OF perma-