Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-18
NO 900.

entire account by exports. But the balance
against us of one hundred and twenty millions in
geld coin is far too large and in time of strin-
geney is standing menace of financial disaster.
IL should not be forgotten that every million dol
lars of products or fabrics that we sell in Span
ish Americs is million of dollars in gold saved
| to our own country. The immediate profit is to
the producer and the exporter, but the entire
country realizes gain in the and affluence
of the money market which is insured by keeping
our gold at home. The question involved is 50
large, the object to be achieved is great, that
no effort on the part Of the government to accom-
plish II could be too earnest OF too long con-
tinued.
1t is only claimed for the Peace Congress, de-
signed under the admistration of Garfield. that it
was an important and impressive step on the part
of the United States towards closer relationship
with our continental neighbors. The present ten
deney in those countries is towards Europe, and
it is lamenable fact that their people are not 50
near to us in feeling they sixty years
ago when they threw of the yoke of Spanish
tyranny. We were then weak republic of but
ten millions, but we did not hesitate TO recognize
the independence of the new governments, even
at the risk of war with Spain. Our foreign
policy at that time especially designed to cx-
tend our influence in the Western hemisphere,
and the statesmen of that cra-the of Dewitt
Clinton and the younger Adams, of Clay and OF
Crawford of Webster and Calhoun of Van Buren
and Benton, of jackson and of Edward Livingston
were always courageous in the inspiring meas
ures which they advocated tor the expansion Of
our commercial dominion.
Three score wears have passed. The power Of
the Republic in many directions has grown be-
yond all anticipation, but we have relatively lost
ground in great fields of enterprise. We
have added thousands Of miles to ocean front,
but our commerce has fallen off, and from ardent
friendship with Spanish America We have drifted
into Indifference if not into coldness. 1t is but
one step further to reach condition of positive
uniriendliness, which may end in what would be
equivalent to IA commercial alliance against US.
Already one of the most dangerous Of movements
that OF a European guarantee and guardianship
of the lntcr-Oceauic Canal-issu suggested and urged
upon the Great Foreign Powers by representatives
of South American country. If these tendencies
are to be ayerted, if Spanish American friendship
is to be rcgaincd, il the commercial empire that
legitimatciy belongs to US is to be ours, we must
not lie idle and witness its transfer to others. IT
We would reconquer it, a great first step Is to be
taken. 1t is the first step that costs. Ii is also
the first step that counts. Can there be suggested
wiser step than the Peace Congress of the
two Americas that was devised under Gar
field aud had the weight Of his great name,
In no event could harm have resulted from the
assembling OF the Peace Congress. Failure was
next to impossible. Success might be regarded
certain. The subject to be discussed was Peace,
and how it can be permanently preserved in
North and South America. The labors of the
Congress would have probably ended in we'll
digested system of Arbitration, under which all
future troubles between American states could
be quickly, ehectually and satisfactorily
adjusted. Such II consummation would
have been worth a great struggle and
great sacrifice. IL could have been reached with
out any struggle and would have involved no
sacrifice. IL was within our grasp. 1t was ours
for the asking. 1t would have been = signal
victory of philanthropy over the sel6shness Of
49,,
principles applied to the affairs of Nations.
1t would have reflected enduring honor on our
own country and would have impaired new
spirit aud new brotherhood to all America.
Nor would its influence beyond the sea have been
small The example Of seventeen independent Ma
tions solemny agreeing to abolish the arbitrament
of the sword and to settle every dispute by peaceful
methods of adjudication, would have exertcd
influence to the utmost confines Of civilization.
and upon the generations of men yet to come.