The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-20
A NEW DEPARTURE IN PERU.
New York World.

1t can only have been as move in a
diplomatic game that the American Com
missioner to Chill and Peru can have pre-
sented to the acting constitutional Presi-
dent of Peru CHILEAN proposition of peace
drawn UP in terms which he must have
been quite sure that no Peruvian Execu-
tive either would or could accept. Ever
since Mr.. Evarts, on the 9th of December,
1880, found it necessary to rebuke Mr.. Os-
born, then our Minister in Chill, for con-
tributing, as he clearly did. to the failure
of the conferences held at africa, October
10, 1880, by conveying the impression that
the government of the United States would
be reluctant to arbitrate between the beliig-
Grant states of the Pacific, the United States
have been regarded both in Chill, in Boil
via and in Peru as the only foreign power
10 which eventually these republics must
look for decisive benevolent and impartial
good offices in the reestablishment of peace
on the Pacific OF course, as the fortune
of war has gradually gone against Peru, it
has become more and more evident that
whenever they came to exerting their
good offices to this end the United States
must expect to appear for time as moro
friendly to the vanquished than to the vic
forious power. Had Mr.. Baine faithfully
carried out the policy which he found es-
tablished in the State Department when he
entered it. and to which he pretended
throughout the greater part of his term OF
office to adhere, the United States, COM
handing that CO operation of other friend
ly powers" alluded TO by him in his instruc-
tions of June Is, 1881, to the new Ameri-
can Minister at Lima would in all proba-
bility ere this time have brought about a
complete settlement of this most unhappy
lot
Blaine's clandestine f1irtations with Ship
herd and to his inexcusable and yet unex-
planned intrusion of the Landreau claim
into the diplomacy of the government. he
succeeded by the middle of November,
1881, in arousing the 6istrust of the Peru
Wan people, in exciting the hostility of the
Gillian authorities, and in alternating the
confidence of the French Government,
which had shown itself entirely ready to
put the extensive interests of French citi-
zens in Peru practically under the protec-
ton of the United States.
When he left the state department in
December he turned ever the relations of
the United States with Chill and Peru to
his successor in the condition of inextrica-
BILE and discreditable confusion to which
they had been brought by his own frivolity
and official incapacity. Mr.. 4Trescot, whom
Il.
Walker Blaine to the west coast Just before
he withdrew, found himself when he ar
rived in South America unable to command
either the confidence of Peru or the respect
of Chilli. The CHILEAN authorities, after
trifing with him for a season at the
watering places of their picturesque coast.
him to seek out the acting
President of Peru and to lay
before that officer certain propositions
which they cannot for moment have inn
agined that Admiral Montero would accept
The fact that Mr.. Trescot was invited by
the Gillian authorities to submit these
to Admiral Montero as the
lawful head of the Peruvian Government,
however, distinctly commits the CHILEAN
Government to recognition of Admiral
Montero in that capacity, and from this
point of view Mr.. Trescot's mountain
trip may be made of use in for
warding the interests OF peace. 1t is be-
ginning to be obvious to all intelligent
Chilians that the resources of their country
are utterly inadequate either to conquest
or to protracted occupation of the vast
territory of Peru On the one hand, or on
the other hand working adjustment of
the recognized claims of the foreign cred
TORS of Peru. 1t is absurd TO suppose
that these foreign creditors of Peru will
very long submit to seeing the west coast
Of South America wasted and desolated to.
crafty war party in Chill or to accom-
modate contending cliques of politicians
ia the United States. The Govern
ment and the people of the United States
have again and again declared that no Eu-
ropean power shall intervene to put an end
TO the confusion which reigns on the west
coast If the Government and the people
of the United States wish to see this decla-
ration respected. it is clear that we must
ourselves take the matter seriously in hand.
Now that the personal question raised over
President Calderon may be taken as waived
By the recognition of his constitutional rep
and successor, Admiral Mon
Iero, the Government of the United States
can have no excuse for suffering the inter
ests of three sister republics and of all
the neutral nations of the world TO be left
any longer weltering in the wake of Mr..
Blaine's reckless and senseless diplomatic.
course at the helm of the State Depart
ment