The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-02

iator. The just and impartial efforts of
the President in such cases has never been
and his efforts have been reward
ed by the prevention of sanguinary strife or
angry contentious between people whom
we regard as brethren. The existence of
this growing tendency convInees the Presi-
dent that the time is ripe for a proposal
that shall enlist the good will and active
cooperation of all States of the Western
Hemisphere, both north and south, in the
interest of humanity; for the common
veal of the nations, he conceives that none
of the governments of America can be less
alive than our own to the dangers
and horrors of state of war,
and especially of war between kinsmen.
He is sure that none of the chiefs of the
governments on the continent can be less
sensitive than he is to the sacred duty of
making every endeavor to do away with
the chances of fratricidal strife, and he
looks with hopeful confidence to such
active assistance from them as will serve to
show the broadness of our common hu-
manity, and the strength of the ties which
bind US all together as great and harmo-
nious system of American common wealth.
Impressed by these views the President
extends to all the independent countries of
North and South America, an earnest in
vitation to participate in a general con-
gress to be held in the city of Washington
the 22nd of November 1892, for the purpose
of considering and discussing methods of
preventing war between the nations Of
America. He desires that the attention OF
the congress shall be strictly confined to
this one great object. That its sole aim
shall be to see way of permanently avert
ing the horrors of cruel and bloody con-
test between countries of ties of
one blood and speech, or the even
worse calamity of internal commotion-
civil strife; that it shall regard the
burdensome and far reaching consequences
of such struggle, the legacies of exhaust
ed finances, of ofoppressive debts, of onerous
taxation, of ruined cities, of paralyzed in
dustries, of devastated fields, of ruthless
conquerors, or of the slaughter of men, of
the grief Of the widows and the orphans,
of embittered ,resentments that long survive
those who provoked them, and heavily
afflict the innocent generations that come
after.
The President is especially desirous to
have it understood that in putting forth
this invitation the United States does not
assume the position of counseling or at
tempting through the voice of the congress
to counsel any determinate solution of the
existing question which may now divide
any of the countries of America. Such
questions cannot properly come before the
congress. Its mission is higher-it is to
provide for the interests of all in the future,
not to settle individual differences of the
present For this reason especially the
President has indicated a day for the as
sembhng of the congress so far in future,
as to leave good ground for hope, that by
f1o oa6 ha ccly ha
South Pacific coast will be happily deter
minated, and that those engaged in the
contest take peaceable part in the discus
sion and solutions of the general question,
affecting in an equal degree the we'll
being of all. It seems also de-
sirable to disclaim in advance any purpose
on the part ef the United States to pre-
Judge the issues to be presented to the
congress- 1t is far from the intent of this
government to appear before the congress
in any sense as the protector of its neigh
bors or the predestined and necessary ar-
bitrator of their disputes. The United
States will enter into the deliberation of
the congress on the same footing as the
other powers represented and with loyal
determination to approach the proposed
solution, not merely in its own interest or
with a view to assert its own power, but as
equal States So far as the influences of
this Government may be potential it will
be exerted in the direction ct conciliating
whatever conflicting interests of blood, or
government, or historical tradition may
necessarily come together in response to a
call of embracing such vast and diverse
elements
You will present these views to the min
lister 2f foreign affairs. or enlarging them
if need be, in such terms as viii readily oc-
cur to you upon the great mission which il
IS within the over of;the proposed congress
10 accomplish in the interest of humanity,
and the firm purpose of the United States
to maintain opposition of the most abso
lutte mpartiaifriendship toward all. You will
upon in the name of the President of the
United States tender 10 his Excellency
the President, q formal invitation to send
two Commissioners to the congress. provi
ded with such powers and instructions OF
behalf of their government viii enable
them to consider the questions brought be
fore that body within the limit of submis
sion contemplated by this invitation of the
United States, as well other powers thai
will in like manner be represented by com
missioners, so that equality and impartial
ty may be amply secured in the proceed
ings of the congress. In delivering this
invitation through the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, you will read this dispatch to him
and will leave him copy intimating thai
an answer is desired by this government
as the just consideration of SO an import
ant proposition will permit
I am sir, your obedient servant.
JAMES G.. BLAINE.