Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-14

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.
The following letter was sent to Pres
ident Arthur to-day by ex-Secretary
Blaine:
WASHINGTON Feb. 5.
To the President Of he United States.
The suggestion of congress OF all
American nations 10 assemble in the city
of Washington for the purpose of agree"
ing on such basis of arbitration for in
ternational troubles as would remove all
possibility of war on the Western Henri
sphere was warmly approved by your
predec; ssor. The assassination OF July
md prevented his issuing invitations to
American states. After your accession
to the Presidency acquainted YOU with
the project and submitted to you draft
for such invitation. You received the
suggestion with most appreciative con-
sideration and after carefully examining
the form of invitation directed that 1t
be sent. 1t was accordingly dispatched
in November to the independent govern
ments of America North and South, in.
GLIDING all from the empire Of Brazil to
the smallest republic. In communlca-
ton addressed by the present Secretary
of State on the 9th of last month to
/ Prescott and recently sent to the Senate,
| was greatly surprised TO find propo-
sition looking TO an annulm ent OF these
invitations, and | was still more sur
prised when | read the rea sons as
signed. quote Frelinghuyse,'s lam
guage:
The United States is at peace with
all nations of the earth and the P'esi-
dent wishes hereafter 10 determine wheth-
er it will conduce TO that general peace
which he would cherish and promote for
this government to enter into nego,ia-
tons and consultation for promotion OF
peace with selected friendly nationali-
ties without extending a like confidence
to other peoples with whom the United
States is on equally friendly terms. If
such partial confidence would create
jealousy and i'll will, peace, the subject
sought by such consultation, would not
be promoted. The principles controll-
ing the relations Of the repu blics Of this
hemisphere with other nAtionalities may
on investigation be found so well estab:
lished that but little would be gained at
this time by reopening a subject which
is not novel."
If correc tly Iapprehend the meaning of
these words it is that we might offend
some European powers if we should hold
in the United States congress OF ''se-
lected nationalities of America. This
is certainly new position for the United
States to assume, and one which | ear
nestly beg you will not permit this gov
eminent 10 occupy. European powers
assemble in congress whenever an obi ct
seems 10 them of sufficient importar &c
to justify il. | never heard OF their
consulting the government of the Unit ed
States in regard to the propriety OF the II
so assembling, nor have | ever known Of
their inviting an American representative
TO be present, nor would there in my
judgment be any good reason for their
so doing. Two Pre- sidents OF the United
States in the year 1881 adjudged It ex-
pedient that An .erican powers should
meet in congress for the sole purpose OF
agreeing upon some basis for arbitration
Of differences that may arise between
them, and Cor prevention as far as posi-
Die of war in the future. If that move
ment is now 20 be arrested for fear 1t
may give offence in Europe, voluntary
humiliation of this government could not
be more complete, unless we should petit
ton the European governments Tor the
privilege of holding the Congress.
| cannot conceive how the United
States could be placed in less enviable
position than would be secured by send
ing in November cordial invitations TO all
American governments to me ct IN Wash
ington for the sole purpose Of concerning
measures of peace, and in January re-
calling the invitation for fear 1t might
create jealousy and i'll will on the part
of monarchial governments in Europe.
1t would be Difficult, to devise a more
effective mode for making en- emies OF
American governments and it would not
add to our prestige in the European
world. Nor can | see, Mr.. President,
how European governments should feel
Jealousy and ill-will'' towards the Unit
ed States because of an effort on their
part TO assure lasting peace between the
nations of America, unless indeed 1t be
in the interest of European powers
that American nations should at IN
tervals fall into war and bring reproath
on the Republican form Of government.
But from that very circumstance see
an additional and powerful motive for
American governments to be at peace
among themselves. The United States
is indeed at peace with all the
world, as M Frelinghuysen well
says, but there are and have been seri-
Gus troubles between other American ma
tons. Peru, Chill and Bolivia have
been for m ore than two years engaged In
desperate conflict.
1t was fortunate Intervention OF the
United States last spring that avert
ed war between Chill and Argentine Re-
public. Guatemala is at this moment
asking the United States to interpose its
good offices with Mexico to keep off war.
The Sc important facts were all commun-
ios ted in your late message to Congress.
II is the existence or menace of these
wars that influenced President Garfield