Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-12-08
Sec. FreIinghuysen i'm Trouble.


1t would be hardly courteous to assume
that the Secretary of State would lead the
President to make misstatement in his
message, and yet the following paragraph
CONVEYS, no doubt unintentionally, an erron-
eous impression az to the facts involved
year since, "a you have already been advised by
correspondence transmitted TO you in January last,
this government sent special mission to the bel.
ligerent powers to express the hope that Chill
would be disposed to accept money indemnity for
the expenses Of the ,cdr "Hd 10 reiipqufsh her de.
mind G porto" te'rorg e h M a"fnge
follow this government did not assume 10 enforce,
nor can II be enforced without resort TO measures
which would be in keeping neither with the temper
of our people nor with the spirit Of our institutions
Mr.. Trescot was undoubtedly sent to South
America to express the hope contained in the
italicized words above. But the very day he
procured audience with Balmaseda, the Chill
ian Minister of Foreign Affairs, he learned
from that official that his instructions re-
ferred to above had been withdrawn. Mr..
Frelnghuysen communicated their with
drawal to Martinez, the Gillian Minister at
Washington. who promptly cabled them to
Santiago. Perhaps it is the first time in the
history of diplomacy that a Minister received
his instructions from the foreign secretary Of
the country TO which he was accredited.
Soon after this Notifying event Mr.
Trescot received instructions direct from Mr..
Frelinghuysen under date of January 9th,
1882, entirely multiplying his former instruc-
tions. We quote Mr.. Frelinghuysen's words
"The President wishes IN manner to dictate or
make any authoritative nferdnce to either Peru or
Chilli TO the merits Of the controversy existing
between those republic to what indemnity should
be asked or given "a to a change of boundaries,
as to the personnel Of the government OF Peru
1t therefore appears that the message is en-
tirely in error when it intimates that Mr..
oil vaA t..., hah oil III
Government that Chilli would accept
money indemnity" and that ''she would reln-
quish her demand for the territory of her
tagonist." All such instructions were can
celled and annu,ed by Mr.. Freinghuysen.
and Mr.. Trescot was peremptorily forbid
den ''to make anv authoritative utterance to
"either 'Chili or Peru as to the merits of the
Controversy between those Republics" Mr..
Trescot was further forbidden to make any
utterance rs ''to the indemnity that should
be asked or given" and still further he was
forbidden ''to say anything as to change of
boundaries" These instructions were issued
in January last in the name of the President,
and yet now the President is led bv his Sec
rotary of State to represent to Congress that
Chilli was urged 'to accept a money in lem
nifty" and 'to relinquish her demand TO ter
ritory' from Peru. and that Chill declined to
follow these recommendations. Could con-
tradiction of language and fact be more abb
solute or more humiliating p?
The simple fact is that Mr.. Trescot's mis-
sion was DESTROYED before it was begun. The
CHILEAN Government knew that his instruc-
tons were cancelled and his authority
withdrawn before he landed at Valparaiso.
The moral power of the United States
was never exerted upon Chill, and the re-
suit of Mr.. Frelinghuvsen's withdrawal
Of Mr.. Trescot's instructions, which he had
himself specially authorized. was tantamount
to advising Chilli that she might do as she
pleased with Peru and that this Government
would never say word. Truth lies at the
bottom of well. but no well is so deep but
that the truth comes to the surface at last.
Every intelligent man in South America be-
leves that if Mr.. Trescot had been permitted
to proceed under his original instructions.
and the Peace Congress had been allowed to
assemble. there would have been amity and
concord throughout the continent to-day. But
when Chilli, already flushed with victory, was
told that do as she might with Peru the United
States would not interfere, all hope of peace
between the two nations was abandoned until
one should be utterly PROSTATE and helpless
aud the other so glutted with victory that
further conquest was burden. The woe
and wretchedness on the South American
coast for the past year are largely traceable
to the humilating instructions of January 9Th
and the most humil;ating feature of all WAS
the pitiable cry that there was danger of our
becoming involved 10 war with Chilli. Fifty
two millions of people in this republic afraid
of being attacked by eighteen hundred thou
sand Chlians who are seven thousand miles
from our shores Such chivslrous care for
our safety at home is equal to our humane
Intervention abroad.-N. Y. Tribune.