The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-02-09
ARTHUR, THE ACROBAT.
Blaine's Letter to the Great Ex-
Vice President.
He First Approves the Project for a
Congress of Nations and Then
He Don't.

thur To-Day Dy 6X-OecTeGdTy Dldlne'
WASHINGTON, February 3.-TO the
President of the United States: The
suggestion of congress to all Ameri-
can nations, to assemble in the city OF
Washington, for the purpose of agree
ing on such basis of arbitration fol-
international troubles as would remove
all possibility Of war on the western
hemisphere, was warmly approved by
yOur predecessor. His assassination,
July I'd, prevented his issuing invita-
tions to the American States.
After your accession to the Presi-
dency, acquainted you with the pro-
ject, and submitted to you the draft for
such invitation. You received the sug-
gestiOn with the most appreciative con-
sideratiOn, and after carefully eXamin-
ING the form of the invitation, directed
it to be sent. 1t was accordingly dis
patched in November to the Independ-
ent Governments of America, north and
south, including all-frOm the Empire
of Brazil to the smallest Republic.
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 find PROPOSE
tiOn looking to the annullment of these
invitations, and | was still more sur
/ quote Frelinghuysen'S language:
"The United States is at peace with all
nations of the earth, and the President
wishes hereafter, to determine whether
it will cOnduce to that general peace,
which he would cherish and promote,
for this Government to enter into negO-
tiatiOns and consultations for the pro-
motion of peace with selected friendly
natiOnalities without extending like
confidence to other people with whom
the United States is on equally friendly
terms. If such partial confidence would
create jealousy and ill-will, peace, the
object sought by such &C consultation,
would not be promoted, The principles
cor trolling the relations Of the Repub-
l. On this hemisphere with other ma
localities may, on investigation, be
found to be so well established that lit
tie would be gained at this time by re-
opening the subject, which is not
novel"
IL I correctly apprehend the meaning
of these words, it is that we might
offend some European powers If we
should hold in the United States con-
gress of selected natiOnalities of Amer
lea. This is certainly new position
for the United States to assume, and one
which earnestly beg you will not per
NIT this Government to occupy. Eu-
rOpean powers assemble in Congress
whenever an object seems to them of
sufficient Importance to justify it.. L
have never heard of their consulting
the Government of the United States
in regard to the prOpTiety of their so
assembling, nor have l ever known their
inviting American representatives to be
present, nor would there, in my judg-
ment, be any good reason for their so
doing.
Two Presidents of the United States
in the year 1881 adjudge it to be expe-
dent that the American powers should
meet in congress for the sole purpose OF
agreeing upon some basis for the arbi-
tratiOn of differences that may arise be-
tween them, and for the prevention, as
far as possible, of war in the future. If
that movement is now to be arrested for
fear it give Offense in Europe, the vol
untary humiliation of this Government
could not be more complete, unless we
should petition European Governments
for the privilege of holding the con-
gress.
can not conceive how the United
States could be placed in a less enviable
position than would be secured by send
ing i'm November a cordial invitation to
American Governments to meet in
Washington for the sole purpose of con-
certing measures of peace, and in Janu-
ary recalling the invitation for fear 1t
might create Jealousy and ill-w1ll' on
the part of mOnarchical Governments in
Europe. It would be difficult to devise
a more effective mode for making enc
mics of the American Governments, and
it would certainly not add to our pres
tige in the European world. Nor can
see, Mr.. President, how European Gov
70 ohnnId fool dinQ IOnlU and ILL
will" towards the United States because
of the effort on our part to assure last
ing peace between the nations of Amer
lea, unless, indeed, it be the interest OF
the European powers that the Ameri-
can nations should at intervals fall into
war and bring reprOach on Republican
Government. But from that very cir
cumstance / see an additional and pow
erful motive for American Govern
ments to be at peace among them
selves.
The United States is, indeed, at peace
with all the world, as Mr.. Frelinghuysen
well says, but there are, and have been,
serious troubles between other Ameri-
can nations. Peru, Chilli and Bolivia
have been for more than two years en-
gagged in q desperate conflict. 1t was
the fortunate Intervention of the United
States last spring that averted war be-
tween Chilli and the Argentine Repub-
lie. Guatemala is at this moment ask
ing the United States to inteTpOse its
good offices with Mexico to keep off war.
These important facts were all COM
municated in your late message to Con-
gress. 1t is the existence, or menace of
these wars that influenced President
Garfield, and as l supposed influenced
Yourself, to desire friendly conference
of all the nations of America to devise
methods for permanent peace and cOnse-
quent prosperity for all. Shall the
United States now turn back, hold alOof
and refuse to exert its great moral power
for the advantage of its weaker neigh
bOrs?
If you have not formally and fully re-
called the invitations to peace con-
gress, Mr.. President, beg you to con-
slider we'll the effect of so doing. The
invitation wasInOt mine. 1t was yours
performed only The part of Secretary
to advise and draft. You spoke in the
name of the United States to each of the
independent nations of America. To
revoke that invitation, for any cause