Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-07
CHILE AND PERU.

terms it shall make with the latter. The
truth is. however, that the United States
has been made to play most absurd,
laundering and irrational part in this case.
During the period when its kind offices
would have done some real good to Peru,
and when it might have prevented the
complete crushing of the latter, it re-
manned inactive. Suddenly, when the
mischief had been done, and the con-
quered country was absolutely helpless,
our Government developed most aston
ishing fit of activity, and sent two ENJOYS
respectively to Chile and Peru who could
probably not be surpassed for their unit
ness. Between Hurlbut, Fitzpatrick and
Secretary Blaine, most amazing pro-
gramme was rapidly developed. Hurlbut
began by evolving from his inner con-
sciousness a new code of international law.
he gravely informed the Chilean Govern
ment that conqueror had no right to ex-
act territorial indemnity until he
had failed to obtain money com.
pensation And he further declared land
not without warrant in his instructions)
that his Government expected Chile to
forego all demands for the cession of
Peruvian territory. Astonished at this Ian
guage the Chileans in their perplexity
injudiciously appealed to Fitzpatrick, and
he at once treasured them by declaring that
Hurlbut was entirely without authority to
say what he had done. OF course Chile
ought to have appealed to the United
States Government directly, and not to
General Fitzpatrick, but the consequence
of Hurlbut's statements had been to make
the Peruvians believe that the United States
had determined to come to their assist.
ance, and on the strength of this belief
they became so bold that the arrest of
Calderon, their provisional President, was
almost forced upon the Chileans. This
arrest, however, was interpreted by the
State Department as deliberate insult
to the United States, and Mr.. Blaine at
once instructed Prescott to proceed to the
scene of the difficulty, and to demand an
immediate liberation of Calderon, on pain
of prompt suspension of diplomatic rela-
tions. In this way we were drifting into
war with Chile at a pretty swift pace.
In fact it seems probable now that war
could not have been avoided had not
change of administration occurred at this
juncture. As to whether President Arthur
was fully informed concerning Mr.. Blaine's
proceedings, the evidence thus far made
public fails to determine. Certainly the
presumption is that he knew what was
passing, and certainly it was his duty to
keep himself thoroughly informed respect
ing it. His friends cannot help him at all
by pretending that he was kept in igno-
rance of what Blaine was doing, and for
the sufficient reason that Blaine could not
have SO kept him in ignorance unless he
had been culpably Indifferent to what the
State Department was doing. The Presi-
dent will have to bear his share of the
blame that attaches to the whole of this
catalogue of diplomatic blunders, and his
supporters may as well realize that fact at
once. 1t will save them from making the
matter worse than it is by advancing
excuses which really aggravate the origi-
nal offense. But it is none the less true
that Mr.. Blaine managed Tor mismanaged)
the whole case up to the point of Trescott's
second instructions, and it is true that if
war had followed his truculent orders, he
would have been chiefly accountable for it.
No doubt Hurlbut and Fitzpatrick made
the middle ten times worse than it origi-
nally was, but Blaine must be held respon-
slble for their incapacity also, since after it
had become notorious he obstinately re-
tanned them in the very positions where
they were certain to do the most mischief.
They ought to have been recalled at once.
Their conduct had become scandalous long
before the crisis occurred, and it was per-
fectly apparent to all but the head of the
State Department that they were utterly
unfit appointments. Both, however, were
old politicians, and SO they were retained,
though Blaine had to be continually taking
them to task and lecturing and instructing
them. With the change of administration
all this necessarily came to an end. Xii.
patrick died, and Hurlbut has been re-
called. Prescott has been instructed to
abandon all offensive and dictatorial posi-.
tions, and in the end Chile will be no doubt
suffered to finish her work in her own way.
And her necessities will evidently oblige
her to take Peruvian territory. As to
money indemnity, it is out of the ques-
ton, for Peru is impecunious and bank
rupt. Her principal sources of revenue,
namely, the nitrate mines and the guano
islands, are already mortgaged to European
creditors, and in taking them Chile will
have to guarantee these creditors the pay
meRt of their interest. The most serious
difficulty, however, is the absence of any
stable Peruvian Government. The Chile
ans are maintaining some kind of order
where they are in occupation, but else
where the country is in a state OF anarchy.
All this might have been prevented by
the United States if it had been taken in
time, but the opportunity for advantageous
mediation was allowed to pass away, and
when the attempt at intervention was
made it was too late to effect anything.
At present it seems questionable whether a
stable state of society can be restored in
Peru, at least for soma time to come. ALI
business and industry have ceased. Protec-
ton to life and property has been with
drawn. Society has literally dissolved,
and the character of the populace is such
that it must be very hard to reconstruct an
ordered Government from the residuum
Perhaps the best thing the Administration
can do now is to let the whole matter drop.
Perhaps annexation to Chile affords the
only chance of recovery to the people of
Peru. In any event American interference
in this unhappy contest has been so I'M
fortunately timed and managed as to have
done positively more harm than good, and
it has been so conspicuous failure that our