Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1882-02-16
Blaine's Bow to Arthur.
To the President Of the United
States:

To the President Of the United
States:
The suggestion os congress of
al. the American nations to assem-
bio in the city of Washington for
the purpose of agreeing on such a
basis ct arbitration for internatlon-
al troubles as would remove all
possibility Of war on the western
hemisphere was warmly approved
by your predecessor. The assas-
sination of July 2 prevented his is
suing the invitations to the Amer
lean States After your accession
to the Presidency l acquainted you
with the project and submitted to
you draft tor such an inyitation.
You received TIE suggestion with
the most appreciative consideration,
and after carefully examining the
form of the invitation directed that
it be cert. 1t WAS accordingly dis
patched in November to the indie
pendent governments of America,
North and South, including all,
from the empire of Brazil to the
smallest republics. In a commu-
nication addressed by the present
Secretary Of State on the 9th of
last month to Mr.. Trescott and re
Gently sent to the Senate, [ was
greatly surprised to find PROPOSE
tion looking to the annulment of
these invitations, and l WAS still
more surprised when l read the
reasons assigned. l quote Mr..
trelinghuysen's language:
If | correctly apprehe1d the
meaning of these words, it Is that
we might offend some European
powers if we should hold in ths
United States a congress of the
"selected natioualities" Of America.
This is certainly new position for
the United States to assume and
one which l earnestly beg you will
not permit this government to oc-
cupy. The European powers as
scmble in congress whenever an
object seems to them of sufficient
importance TO justify it. l have
never heard of their consulting the
governm>nt of the United States in
regard to the propriety OF their SO
assembling, nor have / ever known
of their inviting an American rep
resentative to be present. Nor
would there, in my Judgment, be
any good reason for their go doing.
Two Presidents of the United
States in the year 1881 adjudged it
to be expedient that the American
powers should meet in congress for
the sole purpose of agreeing upon
some basis for arbitration of differ
ences that may arise between them
and for the prevention, as far as
possible, of war in the future. II
that movement is now to be arrest
ed for fear that it may give ofense
in Europe, the voluntary hurnilia-
ton of this government could net
be more complete unless we should
petition the European government.
for the privilege of holding the con-
gress. ] canEot conceive how the
United States could be placed in 9
less enviable position than woule
be secured by sending in Novcm-
Der a cor 1ial invitation to all tht
, American governments to meet il
:. Washington for the sole purpose o
f concerting measures Of peace, anc
IN January recalling the invitation
for fear that it might create 'jeal-
ousy and i'll will'' on the part o
, monarchical governments in Eu-
rope. 1t would be difficult to de-
wise a more effective mode TO
making enemies of the American
governments, and it would certain
iy not add to our prestige in tn
: European world. Nor can l sec
Mr.. President, how European gov
!, ernments should feel '.jcalousy an,
i'll will" towards the United, State
,, , because of an effort on our part t
:. assure lasting peace between tn
, nations of America, unless, indeed
, , it be the interest of European pow
= ers that American nations shoul
at intervals fall into war and brin
. reproach on republican govern
ments to be at peace among them
eelves.
If you have not formally an
fully recalled the invitations t
4 the peace congress, Mr.. President
G l beg you to consider well the cf
}, feet of Sc doing. The Invitation
! was not mine. 1t was yours.
J. performed only the part Of til
: secretary, to advise and to draft
= You spoke IN the name Of tn
United States to each of the in
dependent nations OF the Americs
TO revoke that invitation for an
e cause would be embarrassing; t
U revoke It for the avowed fear {