The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-02-11
Mr.. Blaine's Peace Congress.

tended to the independent govern
ments of the Western hemisphere
asking them to send delegates to a
peace congress to be held at WASH
ington next November. He says that
the project was cordially approved
by President Garfield, but the assas.
sinstlon prevented him from issuing
the invitations. President Arthur
received the suggestion with the
most appreciative consideration"
and. after carefully examining the
foim of the invitation, derected it to
he sent. Mr.. Blaine was greatly sur
prised to read the following passage
in the letter of Mr. Freinghuysen to
Commissioner Prescott, recently
made public:
"The United States is at peace
with all the nations of the earth, and
the President wishes hereafter to de-
termine whether it will conduce to
that general peace, which he will
cherish and promote, for this govern.
ment to enter into negotiations and
consultation for the promotion Of
peace with selected friendly nation-
alities without extending like conf
dence to other people with whom
the United States is on equally friend
~ terms. 1fsuch partial confidence
would create jealousy and ill-wll,
peace, the object sought by such ON.
sultation, would not be prOm0ed.
The principles controlling the leila.
tions of the republic of this henis-
phere with other nationalities may,
on Investigation, be found 10 be so
well established that little woald be
gained at this time by reopening a
subject which is not novel;"
Commenting on this passage Mr..
Blaine says:
IF 1 correctly apprehpnd the
meaning of these words it is that we
might offend some European powers
if we should hold in the United
States congress of the 'seected ma.
tionalities' of America. This is GER
tainly a new position for the United
States to assume, and one which
earnestly beg you will not permit
this government to occuDy. The
European powers assemble in con.
gress whenever an object seems to
them of sufficient importance to JUS
tify it. l nave never heard of their
consulting the government of the
United States in regard to the pro-
priety of their so assembling, nor
have l ever known of their inviting
an American representative to be
present. Nor would there, i'm my
judgment, be any good reason for
their so doing.
"The President of the United
States in the year 1881 adjudged it to
be expedient that the American pow
ers should meet in Congress for the
sole purpose of agreeing upon some
basis for arbitration of differences
that may arise between them and
for the prevention as for a possible
of war in the future. If that move.
ment is now to be arrested for fear
that it may give offence in Europe,
the voluntary humiliation of this
government could not be more COM
plete unless we should petition the
European governments for the priy.
ilege of holding the congress.
II cannot conceive now the United
States could be placed in a less en-
viable position than would be secured
by sending in November a cordial
invitation to all the American gov.
ernments to meet in Washington for
the sole purpose of concerning meas
ure of peace, and in January recalling
the invitation for fear that it might
create jealousy and ill-will' on the
part OF monarchical governments in
Europe. 1t would be difficult to de-
wise more effective mode for maxi
ing enemies of the American gov.
ernments, and it would certainly 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
United States, because of an effort on
our part to assure lasting peace be-
tween the nations of America, un-
less, indeed, it be the interest oil
European powers that American ma.
tions should at intervals fall into war
and bring repr0ach on republican
government. But from that very
circumstance see an additional and
powerful motive for the American
governments. to be at peace among
themselves"
Mr.. Blaine goes on to say that
while the United States is at peace
Chill. Peru and Bolivia are at war,
and that it was the intervention OF
the United States that averted uo,