The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1882-03-25

the power of the two countries renders the ides
ridiculous. weare too big to make war on Chilli
ana Ch'l is too small TO make war on us. The
moral power OF the United States judiciously ex
erted, could have saved the autonomy of Peru
could It also have preserved all her territory?
asked the reporter.
Blaine "A eession of territory might be neces
sary in case Peru could not pay the proper wa
indemnity. and so instructed Trescott. But thi,
was always contemplated-that Peru had the
alternative right to pay indemnity, and If terri
tory had to be sacrificed 1t should not be in ex
cess Of fair indemnity. Fifty millions of dollars
expenses She has taken s.. 500. 900 600 worth OF
property from Peru. merely by strong arms and
the United States has stood by in person. her
sPeciai envoy instructed either to say nothing OF
A great many believe, !" said the reporter. 1.-THE
acuve use OF our influence would have done nc
good
'In any event. said Blaine, "It would have
done no harm, and we should have had the CON
sclonsness at least OF trying tO save sister Repub
able TO make efforts even IL II had failed. AS the
result new stands we have acquired the hatred
OF Peruvians to the latest generation. and at
last the contempt Of Chilians. We have also
secured the self-satistied chuckle of a band OF
English speculaton into whose hands the power
OF the United States has SO effectively played.
Great Britain with all her prowess could not
have advanced the commercial interests OF her
own merchants In South America SO powerfully
and destroyed the interests Of American mer-
y,
the instructions with which Trescott was bound
and gagged. The first installment of British in
terests Is freight money on millions of tons of
guano and half the profits of its sale In Europe,
which of itself is q larger sum than the war ex-
pendttures of Chilli.
Buff the United States had intervened would
not Great Britain also have intervened?"
Well" said Blaine, '.it would have been
worth while to find out whether. II the United
States intervened to save the American Republic,
Great Britain would have intervened to destroy
IT. In my Judgment, the foreign policy of Great
Britain will next take that direction. 1t certainly
will not be so as long as British statesmen of the
United States can do by omission more for British
interests than Great Britain can do by commits
sion The whole idea, however, of British inter
vention is myth. Tie moral power of the Unit
ed States in South America would simply
have been irresistible. For American
interests 1t was the opportunity of the century
and 1t was blindly sacrificed The commercial
interests of this country in South America will
what was In its power to acquire. Our interests
are not only totally destroyed ip Chilli and Peru
but our prestige is impaired in all South America
Indeed in all Spanish America both continental
and insular The present generation will not
witness the recovery of that which has been lost
within the last ninety days"
When you speak of the commercial interests.
MI. Blaire. do you mean shipping interests"
II mean that" said Blaine; "but not that
alone. L mean the entire interchange of commo-
dities, supplying OF manufactured articles and
raw materials concentrating in our commercial
cities OF the shore-that which will now go
wholly to London and Liverpool. The trade of
% the west GO. coast OF South America from this time
forward viii be rs much In the hands of Great
Britain as the trade of British India. But this
opens a large subject and have neither time nor
inclination TO pursue 1t t0day."