Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-04

predecessor. ASSASSINATION July "a,
prevented his issuing invitations to American
states. After your accession to the presidency
acquainted you with the project and SUBJ
United to you draft for such invitation.
You received the suggestion with the most
appropriate consideration and after carefully
examining the form of the Invitation directed
tito be sent. 1t was accordingly dispatched
in November to the independent governments
of North and South America, including all
from the Empire OF BRAZIL to the smallest re.
public.
In the communication addressed by the
present secretary of state on the 9th of last
month to Mr.. Trescott, and recently sent to
The senate, was greatly surprised to and q
proposition looking to the annulment OF these
invitations, and was still more surprised
when I read the reasons assigned. quote
Senator FreyliDghuysen's language:
The United States is at peace with ali ma
tions of the earth, and the president wished
hereafter to determine whether ia will con.
duce to the general peace which he would
cherish and promote for this government to
enter into negotiations and consultation for
promotion of peace with selected friendly ma
tionalities when not extending like Gun idence
to other people with whom we are on equally
friendly terms: If such partial con ddence
would create Jealousy ard i'll Will the
the object sought by such consultation
would not be promoted. The principles con-
trolling the relation Of republics on this hem.
isphere with other naionalities, may, on in
vestigation, be found SO ell esta blIshed that
little would be gained at this time by reopen.
ing the subject which is not novel;
If I correctly apprehend the meaning Of
these words, it is, that we might offend some
European power if we should hold in the
United States congress of selected nation
alities Of America. This is certainly a new
position for us to assume, and one which l
earnestly leg you will not permit the govern
ment to occupy. European powers assemble
in congress whenever an object seems to
them OF sufficient importance to justify
it. T have never heard of their consulting the
government OF the United States in regard to
the propriety Of their so assembling, nor
have ever known of their inviting American
representatives to be present, nor would there
in my Judgment be any good reason for their
SO doing. Two presidents Of the United States
in the year 1851 adjudged it to be
expedlent that American powers should meet
in congress for the sole purposes OF greelng
upon some basis for arbitration OF differences
that may arise between them and for the pre-
vention, as far as possible, OF war in the fu-
trre. If that movement is now to he arrested
for fear it might give ofense in Europe the
voluntary humiliation of this government
could not be more complete unless we should
petition the European ports for the privilege
of holding congress. | cannot conceive
how the Uuited States could be placed
in less enviable position, than would be Sc
cured by sending our cordial invitation to
all American governments TO meet in Wash
ingtOn for the sole purpose of concerning
measures of peace and in January recalling
the invitation for fear it might create jealousy
and i'll will on the part of mOnarchial parties
in Europe. 1t would be difh-
cult device and more effective
o0Ia for v,,G mil .Nf me ryn
governments, and 1t would certainly not add to
our prestige in the European world. Nor can
see, Mr.. President, how European govern
ments should feel a jealousy and ill will TO.
ward the United States because of the effort
on our part to assure lasting peace between
nations of America, unless, indeed, 1t be to the
interest of European powers that America
should at intervals fall into war and
bring reproach upon republican government.
But from that very circumstance Isee many
additional and powerful motives, for Ameri-
can governments will be at peace among
themselves. The United States is indeed at
peace with all the world. MIR. Freyliaghusen
says but there are and have been serious
troubles between other American nations,
Peru, Chilli and Bolivia have been for
more than three years engaged In
desperate conflict It was fortunate that
the Intervention of the United States last
spring averted war between Chill and the Ar.
gentine Republic. Guatamaula is at this mo-
ment asking the United States to interpose Its
good offices with Mexico to KEEP of war.
These important facts were all communicated
in your late message 10 congress. 1t Is the ex-
istence of these wars that induced Garfield
and as ! supposed influenced yourself TO desire
friendly conference of all nations OF America
to devise methods of permanent peace and con.
sequent prosperity Of all. Shall the United
States now turn back, hold aloof and refuse
to exert it's great moral power for the advan.
tage OF its weaker neighborsP If you have
not formally and fully recalled the invitations
to peace congress, Mr.. President,
Of so doing. The invitation was not mine. 1t
was yours. performed only the part ofsec-
rotary to advise and draft. You spoke In the
name of the United States to each Of The indie.
pendent nations of America. To revoke that
in relation to any canse would be eiobarass-
ing. To revoke 1t for avowed lear Of jealousy
and ill.will on the part of European
pride as to American hospitality. Those you
have invited may decline, and having now
cause to doubt their welcome, will perhaps
do so. This would break up the congress but
it would not touch our dignity. Beyond
philanthropy and Christian ends to be
Obtained by an American conference de-
voted 10 peace and good will among
ueQ We miSut We'll uOpS WdtcIIoi tlubdReS
as the result OF better understand ug and
closer friendship with the nations Of America.
At present the condition Of trade between the
United States and it's American neighbours Ia
unsatisfactory to the United States ami even
distasteful. According to official statistics
our own treasury department balance
against the United States In that
trade last year was Sl2Q, Oo0, 900.
sum greater than the yearly prDduct of
gold and silver mines In the United States.
This vast balance was paid by the United States
in foreign exchange, and very large proper.
tion oft went to England, where shipments
of cotton, provisions and breadstuffs supplied
money. II anything should change or
check the balance in our faver,
in European trade, our commercial ex-
changes with Spanish America would drain
ua of our reserve of gold coin at rate ex-
ceeding one hundred million dollars per an
mum. and would probably precipitate the sus-
pension Of specie payments in this country.
Such result at home might be worse than
little jealousy and ill-will abroad.
/ do not say, Mr.. President, that the holding
of peace congress viii necessarily change
the currents of trade, but Ii Will bring us into
kindly relations with all American nations. /.
will promote reign Of peace and law an
order. It will increase production aud CO..
sumption, and stimulate demand for articln-
which America manufactures with profit e.