The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-02
BLAINE AND PERU.

Mr. Blaine has lately been subjected to
an interview on the subject of his rela-
tions to the Peruvian affair and his views
on the subject He had spoken of Mr..
Trescot going on fools errand and was
asked what he meant by it. In answer he
.says:
I meant that there seems no possible
! need of Mr.. Trescot being in Chill if he is
simply there to be a helpless witness of the
utter spoliation of Peru. That could have
taken place without the presence of spec
ial envoy of the United States, who forbid
den to protest, actually appears as aiding
and abetting in the spoliation- What |
mean by spoliation appears plainly enough
from Mr.. Trescot's official dispatch pub
lished in Saturday mornings papers. He
says Chill demands the absolute cession of
the entire provine of Tarapaca, and, be-
sides that, twenty millions in money, pay.
able in sixteen years, during which time
africa is to be occupied by Chill, and if the
| twenty millions are not paid africa is to be
absolutely annexed to Chill. Besides all
this, Chilli appropriates the guano deposits
of the Lobos Islands. Mr.. Trescot adds
that if Peru refuses these conditions, Chilli
viii then decline the further mediation of
the Unites States. In other words Chilli
is willing and glad to accept the mediation
of the United States if 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 end
Chill 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 journey. The de-
mand of Chill is equivalent to the destruc
ton of Peru, for the reason that it 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 relative
" 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 if
the Pacific coast had joined the rebellion
and gone out forever. That would have
taken all the cotton lands. all the sugar
lands and all the precious mineral lands |
from the United States, and would have |
destroyed our power and cur very exist |
ence. Precisely that fate is to be inflicted |
upon Peru, and Chill now permits the |
United States to mediate only on condition |
that she will permit this wholesale de
struction of friendly republic, destruc |.
ton as complete and as cruel as the parti-
ton Of Poland 2 But if Peru pays SEQ
900, 900 in the next sixteen years. is not
africa to be redeemed and perhaps also
the Lobos Islands? A. / do not precisely
understand from Mr.. Trescots despatch
whether the Lobos Islands are subject to
But no matter whether they
are or not, Peru is not left with the power
to raise &C, 000 900 cents. Chill evidently
wanted territory, not the money. The
Lobos Islands would sell at auction for
twice $50, 600, 900, and Chill will derive
africa and the Lobos Islands will be as
in her possession as Tarapaca
Of course Chill is entitled to war indem-
nifty, and all the instructions sent out from
he department while / was Secretary rec
ognized that fact in the fullest degree
She is entitled as the old phrase went, to
indemnity for the..past and security for
he future. But Peru ought to have been
allowed to pay a cash indemnity and
ought not he subjected to destruction of
Il 81
demanded is very valuable The province
IF Tarapaca contains the wonderful
beds of nitrate of soda, which are
capable of producing an enormous reve-
1ue Under judicious management this
is estimated to be worth from
s3e, o00, 900 to SAC, 600, 900 year Besides
his province Chill takes the region of
africa and the Lobos Islands, both of very
great value The Lobos Islands are not
eized by reason of contiguity or for mill
AIRY defense. They are three little islands
,fs the coast of Northern Per-. estimated
o contain several million tons of guane
md worth a very large sum in ready cash.
when he visited Peru in 1904,
declared it to be the richest country ON the {
lobe in natural wealth. But Chill will 7
cave it among the poorest, She is taking
II the rich slices as an epieure carves the
idbits from piece of game. She will
axe the guano and the nitrates and leave
0 Peru the desert and the mountains
The next question asked was: How has
hill been able to make such complete
0nquest of Peru?
A. Peru was exhausted by her extrava-
ant OUTLAWS on railroads, amounting in
ae aggregate to more than 5000, 900 ZOO,
nd she had no navy and only disorgan
.ed army. Chill got iron-clad ships from
.ngland and material of war from the
anne source. Chilian soldiers marched to
cru clad in uniforms of English cloth,
18th English nlskcts on their shoulders.
nglish sympathy has stood behind her
every step in her conquest and English
interests receive a tremendous
npulse from Chisi's ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
mink the result of this Peru Chilian war
estroys American influence on the South
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