Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1882-02-06
BLlIsE,S LETTER TO ARTHUR.
Statement OF the Purpose OF the
Proposed Peace Congress-fhe
E%x.Secretary Asks the President
TO Explain.

ICoSO
Ex~.Secretary Asks the President
to Explain.
WASHINGTON, February 4.-Ths fol.
lowing letter was sent to President Ar
thur yesterday by ex.Secrstary Blaine:
WASHINGTON. February 8. 1ss2.-Te
the President Of the United States: The
suggestion OF . Congress Of oil the
American nations, to assemble In the
city Of Washington. for the purpose OF
agreeing on such basis Of arbitration for
International troubles as would remove
all possibility OF war in the Western
Hemisphere, was warmly approved BY
your predecessor. His assassination
July I'd prevented his issuing invitations
10 the American States. After your ac-
cessiou 10 the Presidency, I acquainted
you with the project. and submitted to
Won a draft for such invitation. You 70.
ceivsd the suggestion with most apprs.
ciativs consideration. and after carefully
examining the form OF the invitation,
directed It to be sent. 1t was accordingly
dispatched in November to the indie
pendent governments OF America. North
and South, including all. from the EN-.
pire Of Brazil to the smallest Republic.
In the concentration addressed by the
present Secretary Of State on the 9th Of
last month to Mr.. Trescott, recently sent
10 the Senate. I was greatly surprised to
and q proposition looking to the annul-
ment Of these invitations. and I was
still more surprised when / read the res.
sons assigned. quote Frslinghuysen's
language:
..The United States islat peace with all
the nations OF the earth. and the Presi-
dent wishes hereafter to determine
whether II will conduce 10 the general
peace which he would cherish and pro-
mote. for the government to enter into
negotiations and consultation for the pro.
motion OF peace with selected friendly
ns,iopalities, without extending q line OF
confidence to other people with whom
the United States Is on equally friendly
terms. II such partial confidence would
create jealousy, land i'll will. the peace
object sought by such consultation
would not DO promoted. The principles
controlling the relations Of the republics
Of the hemisphere with other rationale
ties may, on Investigation. be found to
be 30 well established that little would
be gained ct this time by rsopening the
subject, which IL mol novel,"
II correctly apprsheud tho meaning
Of those words, II 10 that we might offend
some European powers II va should
ever hold In the United States . con-
Rress Of selected nationalities OF Ameri-
ca. This Is certainly q new position for
the United States TO assume. and n
which I earnestly beg you will not per-
nit this government to occupy. Foreign
powers assemble In congress whenever
an object seems to them OF sufficient
importance to demand 1t. / have mover
heard OF their consulting the United
States in regard to the propriety OF their
so assembling; nor have l known OF their
inviting an American representative to
be present; nor would there. In my judg-
ment, be any good reason for 40 doing.
The President OF the United States. in
tho year 1881, adjudged 1t to be eIpedi-
emit that the American powers should meet
In Congress for the purpose OF agreeing
upon some basis OF arbitration OF the
differences that may arise between them,
and for tho prevention. % far as pos
aible, OF war in the future. That move.
ment 10 to be arrested for fear II will give
off-nss to Europe. The voluntary hu.
initiation Of this government could not
be more complete. unless We should Pc
titicn the European governments for the
privilege OF holding the Congress. /
cannot conceive how the United States
could be placed in q less enviable posi-
ton than would be secured by sending
iu November o cordial invitation to oil
the American governments to meet In
Washington for the sole purpose Of con-
certipg measures OF peace, and IN Janu.
airy recalling the invitation. for fear II
might create jealousy and ill.will on tho
part Of the monarchial governments OF
Europe. II would be difficult to devise
q moro effective mode Of making enc.
mics OF the American government, and
it would certainly add TO our prestige IL
tho European governments should feel
Jealousy and III will" toward US be-
cause Of IN effort on our part 10 assure
lasting peace between the nations Of
America, unless, indeed. II be the In
tersst Of European powers that the
American nations should at intervals foil
into war and bring rsproach on Rspub-
lican governments, but from that very
circumstance I see an additional and
| powerful motive for the American gov
srnmsnts to be at peace among them
selves. The United States Is indeed at
pence with all the world, % Mr.. Fro
linghuysen well says, but there are, aud
have been. serious troubles between
| other American nations. Psru, Chilli
and Bolivia have been for moro than
two years engaged in q desperate con-
fict. 1t was o fortunate Intervention
last spring that averted Q war between
Chilli and the Argentine Republic.
Guatemala il Of this moment asking the
United States to interpose its good Office
with Mexico 10 keep of war. These i'm.
| portant facts were all communicated In
your late message to Congress. II is
the existence or menace Of these wars
that influenced President Garfield, and,
a. I supposed. influenced yourself. to
desire q friendly conference OF all the No
tons OF America to devise methods Of
permanent peace and consequent pros
| perity for oil. Shall tho United States
now turn back. hold alooi and refuse to
exert its great moral power for the ad.
vantage Of its weaker nsighbors? II you
have not formally and fully recalled the
invitation to q Peace Congress. Mr..
President, I beg you to consider the
effect OF 80 doing. The invitation was
not mine. It was yours. performed
only the part OF Secretary. TO advise and
draft. You spoke. in tho name Of the
| United States, to each OF the independ.
emit nations Of America. To revoke that
invitation for any cause would DO en-.
barrassing. To revoke IL for an avowed
fear Of jealousy and ill.will on the part