St. Landry democrat., 1882-02-18
Ex.Secretary Blaine's Letter to Presi'
dent Arthur-The Latter's Position.

L
dent Arthur-The Latter's Position.
As matter Of general interest we give the
following salient points in the recent letter of
ex-Secretary Blaine to the President:
Mr. Blaine starts out with the statement
that the suggestion of Congress of all
American ma tions to assemble in the City Of
Washington for the purpose of agreeing on
such basis of arbitration for international
troubles as would remove all possibility Of
war on the Western Hemisphere was warmly
approved by President Garfield, and that the
late Presidents assassination prevented his
issuing the invitation to the American States.
The ex-Setretary adds that President Arthur,
after his accession, received the suggestion
with most apprec;ative consideration, and
after carefully examining the form of invita-
ton, directed it to be sent. Mr.. Blaine says
he was greatly surprised at the proposition
looking to the annullment of such invitation,
and at the reasons assigned-which he inter-
prets to mean that we might offend some Ep-
ropean Powers if we should hold in tie
United States a Congress of selected nation
alities' of America Mr.. Blaine expresses the
opinion that, - if that movement is now to be
arrested for fear it may give offense in Europe,
the voluntary humiliation of this Government
petition European Governments for the priv.
lege of holding the Congress" He says
he cannot see how European Governments
should feel jealousy and ill-will " toward
the United States because of an
effort on our. part to assure lasting
peace between the nations Of America, un-
less indeedit be to the interest Of the European
Powers that the American nations should at
intervals fall into war, and bring reproach on
republican governments. He ad IS the asser-
ton that the invitation was not his, but Pres
ident Arthur's, who spoke in the name Of the
United States to each of the Independent ma
tions of America, and that ito revoke that
invitation for any cause would be embarrass-
ing; to revoke it for aVowed fear of Jealousy
and ill-will on the part Of European Powers
would appeal as little to American pride as to
American hospitality" Mr.. Blaine concludes
as follows:
Beyond the philanthropic and Christian
ends to be obtained by the American Confer
ence, devoted to peace and goodwill among
men, We might well hope for material ad-
vantages as a result Of a better understand
ing and closer friendship with, the nations Of
America. At present the condition Of trade
between the United States and it's American
neighbors is unsatisfactory to US, and even
deplorable. According to the official Stats
tics of our own Treasury Department, the
BALANCE . against US in that trade last year was
$120, 900, O00-a sum greater than the yearly
in the United States This vast balance was
paid by US in foreign exchange, and very
large proportion of it went to England where
shipments Of cotton, provisions and bread
stuffs supplied the money II thing should
change or check the balance in our favor in
European trade, our commercial exchanges
with Spanish America would drain us of our
reserve of gold coin at rate exceeding $780,
OO,0O0iper annum, and would probably pre-
cipitate the suspension of specie payment in
mt Ct,oh OF horn, ,,,;rr h.,
worse than a little jealousy and ilI-wiW
abroad. do not say, Mr.. President, that the
holding OF Peace Congress will necessarily
change the currents of trade, but it
will bring us into kindly relations with all the
American nations; it will promote the reign of
peace, and law, and order; it will increase pro-
duction and consumption, and will stimulate
the demand for articles which American man
ufacturers can furnish with profit. 1t will, at
all events, be friendly and suspicious begin
ming. in the direction of American influence
and American trade in large field which we
have hitherto greatly neglected, and which
has been practically monopolized by our COM
mercial rivals in Europe" nan
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
A Washington dispatch of the Sd says:
Ct 1t is understood that after the circular in
vtation for an International Congress was is
sued. another set OF instructions was given
Prescott, auth orizing him, when he left Chilli,
to return by Buenos Ayres and Rio de -Janeiro.
The date of meeting, as the circular stated,
was put at remote day, in hopes that the ex-
listing differences in South America might at
that time be arranged and all take peace
able part in a general Congress. When the
Presidents attention was first called to this
second instruction to Prescott to visit Brazil
and the Argentine Republic with express ref
erence to this International Congress, thus
ptecipitating the whole matta, he sim
ply directed that Prescott should not go on
that mission, and the President has not
revoked the invitation to an International
Congress; but it has been understood that, as
Congress is now assembled, it is proposed to
submit the whole subject to it, and that he
will be controlled in his action by its will. The
instructions do not refer to Europe, or to any
other friendly Powers than those which were
to be reached by invitation to the Interna-
tional Congress Whether Mr. Frelinghuy-
sens phraseology admits of broader con-
struction is not the question which concerns
the President. What he directed simply was
that Prescott should not have a consultation.
and negotiation with two out of all the friend.
ly Powers on this continent"