Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-02
NO 90.

aid, countenance, counsel. or announcement
to any other claim whatever against Peru
during my Secretsryship. and to this claim to
the extent only of asking that Landreau might
have the privilege of appearing before q
/ Peruvian court and have his rights, whatever
they might be, decided by Peruvian author
| ity."
Q-ln an earlier part of your remarks you
spoke of Mr.. Trescot going on fools srrand.
What do You mean by thatg Al meant
that there seems no possible need of
Mr.. Trescots seing in Chill, il he is
simply there 10 be helpless witness
of the utter spoliation of Peru. That could
have taken place without the presence of
special envoy of the United States, who, for
hidden to protest, actually appears as aiding
and abetting the spoliation. What mean
| by spoliaton appears plainly enough from
| Troscot's original dispatch published Satur-
day morning. He says Chilli demands the
absolute cession of the entire province of
Tarapaca, and besides that, twenty millions in
money, payable in l6 years. during which
time africa Is 10 he occupied by Chill, and il
the twenty millions is not paid. africa is to
he absolutely annexed 10 Chilli, Besides all
this. Chilli appropriates the guano deposits of
the Lobos Islands. Mr.. Trescot adds that il
Peru refuses these conditions Chilli will de-
cline further mediation of the United States.
In other words she is willing and glad to ac-
cept the mediation of the United States il
that mediation can be used to induce Peru to
| submit quietly TO destruction. But If the
United States special envoy cannot be used
for that purpose, Chilli will have no more
TO do with him and he can pack up and
come home in the meek and lowly frame of
mind that would befit such returning Jour
ney.
The demand of Chill is equivalent to the
1-k.f e Al. IL
takes from the latter country the great body
of her guano and all her nitrate beds, and
thus deprives her of her sources of revenue.
What Chill is taking from Peru is relatively
a far greater loss to Peru than the loss of
the eleven seeding States would have been
to the American Union far greater than that,
greater indeed, than II the Pacific coast had
joined the rebellion and gone out forever
That would have taken all the cotton lands,
and all the precious mineral lands from the
United States and would have DESTROYED our
power and our very existence. Precisely
that fate is TO be inflicted on Peru, and Chill
now permits the United States to mediate on
ly on the condition that she will promote this
wholesale destruction of friendly republic,
destruction MS complete and as cruel as the
partition of Poland.
Q-But if Peru pays 10000, 900 in the
next ID years. Is not africa to be redeemed.
and perhaps also the Lobos islands? Al do
not precisely understand from Tres
cots dispatch whether the Lobos Islands are
subject to redemption, but no matter wheth-
er they are or not, Peru is not left with the
power to raise twenty million cents. Chill
evidently w ,nted the territory. not money. The
Lobos Islands would sell at auction for twice
twenty millions. and Chill will derive q very
large amount from their ownership. africa
and the Lobos Islands will be as completely
in her possession ~ Tarapaca. OF course
Chilli is entitled to war indemnity, and all the
instructions sent out from the Depart
ment while ] was Secretary recognized that
fact in the fullest degree.
She is entitled, the old phrase went, to
indemnity for the past and security for the
future. But Peru ought to have been allow
ed to pay cash indemnity, and ought not to
be subjected to the destruction of her nation
ality. The territorial indemnity demanded
is very valuable.
The province of Tarapaca contains wonder
full beds of nitrate of soda, which are capable
of producing an enormous revenue. Under
Judicious management this Province il es-
timated to be worth from thirty to forty mil
lions year. Besides this province, Chill takes
the province of africa and the Lobos Islands
both of very great value. The Lobos Islands
are not seized by reasons of contiguity or for
off the coast Of Northern Peru, estimated
to contain several million tons of guano, and
worth very large sum in ready cash. Hum
boldt, when he visited Peru in 1904, declared
il to be the richest country on the globe in
natural wealth. But Chill will leave II among
the poorest. She is taking all the rich slices,
as an epcure carves the tidbits from piece
Of game. She will take the guano and the
nitrates and leave to Peru the desert and the
mountains.
Q-How has Chill been able to make suc.,
a complete conquest of Peru? A--Peru was
exhausted by her extrayagant outlays on rail.
roads, amounting in the aggregate to more
than $500, 900 900, and she had no navy and
only disorganized army. Chill got iron clad
ships from England, and material Of war
from the same source. Chilian soldiers
marched to Peru clad in uniforms of English
cloth, with English muskets on their shoul-
ders. English sympathy has stood behind
her at every step in her conquest, and English
commercial interests receive tremendous
impulse from Chili's aggrandizement. think
the result Of this Peru-Chiian war destroys
American influence on the South Pacific
coast, and literally wipes out American COM
mercial interests in that vast region.
Q-Do you blame England for the result?
A.-To blame England would be childish
England is always bold, energetic, and vigi.
lont in spreading her commercial power.
admire her ceaseless activity. but do not
believed in having it exercised at the expense
Of the United States. Especially do dis
like to see England winning great COM
mercial triumphs in field that legitmately
belongs to the United States, and which the
United States could readily command if she
would. Chilfs victory throws the whole
Peruvian business into English hands. The
export Of guano and nitrate is already nearly
100000 tons per annnm, and will rapidly in
crease. all from Peruvian territory ami
all now absorbed by Chill. English bankers
will furnish the money. English mer-
chants will transact the business, and
English ships will carry the cargoes. Over
800 ships are already engaged in the trade.
Chill. will gain from it in two
years more than the entire cost Of her
war, and England will absorb business az she
absorbs the trade Of Portugal, of Egypt. Of
Australia or Of Bengal.
Upon being asked whether the instructions
to Mr.. TrescOt contemplated war with Chill,
Mr.. Blaine said: "The United States surely
never intended to make war on Chilli, AMI
cannot imagine TINT any one was afraid Chill
would make war on the United States. The
n - &ps.. -