The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-06
BLAINE TO ARTHUR.
MAKING KNOWN SOME PLAIN FACTS
stating that the President Approved Of the Pro.
posed Congress Of american RspuhlIa-Hs
E1prssH His Surprlss at the Present
Peculiar COuns srths AdnInIstrltlOn.

posed Congress Of American Republics He
Expresses His Surprise at the Present
Peculiar COufts ofths AdnlnlStratlsn.
WASHINGTON, February 4.-E1.secretary
Blaine sent the following letter to Presi.
dent Arthur yesterday;
The suggestion Of a congress Of all the
American nations to assemble in the city
Of Washington for the purpose Of asreeinr
on such basis of arbitration for inter.
national troubles as would remove ali DOS.
sibility OF war in the western hemisphere
was warmly approved by your predecessor.
The assassination Of July Cd prevented his
issuing the invitations 10 the American
States. After your accession to the Presi.
dency / acquainted you with the project
and submitted to youa draft for such m
invitation. You received the suggestion
with the most appreciatlve consideration
and after carefully examining the form Of
the invitation directed that it be sent It
was accordingly dispatched in November
TO the independent government OF Ameri.
ca, North and South, including all, from
the Empire Of Brazil to the smallest repub-
lie. In communication addressed by the
present Secretary OF State, on January OH.
to Mr. Trescott and recently sent 10 tbe
Senate ! was greatly surprised TO find a
proposition looking to the annulment Of
these invitations, and l was still more sur.
prised when read the reasons assigned.
II correctly apprehcnd the meaning OF
his words it Is that we might offend Some
European powers II we should hold in the
United States congress OF the dselected
nationallties" OF America.
a NEW POSITION TO ASSUME,
This is certainly new position for the
United Statesto assume, and one which |
earnestly beg you will not permit this Gov
ernment to occupy. The European pow
ers assemble in Congress whenever an OBJ.
Ject seems to them ot sufficient importance
TO justify it. have never heard Of their
consulting the Government OF the United
States in regard to the propriety Of their 30
assembling, nor have ever known Of their
inviting an American representative 10 he
present. Nor would there, in nv ipdo.
ment, be any good reason for their 40 d9.
ing. Two Presidents Of the United States
in the year 1881 adjudged it to be expedi.
ent that the American powers should meet
in Congress for the sole purpose OF apree-
ing upon some basis for arbitration Of. .dif.
lerences that may arise between them, and
Tor the prevention, us fur as possible, for
n hn ftNku NkuN
to be arrested for fear that 1t NAV
give ,otiense 10 Europe, the voluntary
humiliation of this Government could
not be, more complete, unless we should
press the European governments for the
privilege ofholding the congress. cannot
conceive how the United States could be
placed in less enviable position than
would be secured by sending in November
cordial invitation to all the American
governments to meet in Washington for the
sole purpose Of concerting measures Of
peace and in January recalling the invita-.
ton for fear that it might create jealousy
and i'll will' on the part OF monarchical
governments in Europe. II would he diff.
cult to devise more effective mode for
making enemies OF the American Govern.
ment, and it would certainly not add TO
our prestige in'the European world. Nor
can | see, MIR. President, how European
governments should feel "iealousy and III
will' towards the United States because of
an effort on our part to assure lasting peace
between the nations OF America, unless,
indeed, it be to the interest OF European
powers that American nations should at
intervals fall into war and bring reproach
on republican government. But from that
very circumstance see an additional and
powerful motive for the American govern.
ments to be at peace among themselves.
WHY THE CONFERENCE Is ADVISABLE,
The United States is indeed at peace
with all the world, as Mr.. Frelinehuysen
well says, but there are and have been se-
rious troubles between other American
nations. Peru, Chilli and Bolivia have been
for more than two years engaged in des-
perate conflict. It was the fortunate inter
yehton Of the United States last spring
that averted war between Chill and the
Argentine Republic, Guatemala is at this
moment asking the United States to inter
pose its good Offices with Mexico to keen
OF war. These important facts were ail
communicated in your late massage to
Congress. 1t isthe existence or the menace
Of these wars that influenced President
Garfield, and as | supposed influenced
yourself, to desire friendly conference Of
all the nations OF America to deYise
methods OF permanent peace and conse-
quent prosperity for all. Shall tho United
States now turn back, hold aloof and refuse
to exert its great moral power for the adj.
VaRtages OF its weaker neighborsP
II you have not formally and finally re-
called the invitations to the Peace Congress.
Mr.. President beg you 10 consider well
the effect Of so doing The invitation was
notmine. Itwas yours. Iperformed only
the part OF the Secretary-to advise and n
draft. You spoke in the name OF tbe
United States to each Of the independent
nations OF America. To revoke that.inyi.
tation for any cause would be embarrassing;
to revoke It for the aYowed fear Of jealousy
and Ill will" on the part OF European DOW.
ems would appeal as little to American pride
as 10 American hospitality. Those you
have invited may decline, and having now
cause to doubt their welcome will, perhans.
do so. This would break up the congress,
but It would not touch our dignity.
MATERIAL ADVANTAGES WHICH NIGHT ARISE.
Beyond the philanthropic and Christian
ends TO be obtained by an American. con.
florence devoted to peace and goodwill
among men, we might well hope for mate.
rial advantages, and the result Of a better
understanding and closer friendship with
the nations Of America. At present the
condition OF trade between the United
States and its American neighbors Is un.
satisfactory to us, and even deplorablC. Ac.
cording 10 the official statistics OF our own
Treasury Department, the balance against
us in thattrade last year was $i20, 600 600
a sum greater than the yearly product OF
all thcgold and silver mines in The United
States. This vast balance was paid by US
in foreign exchange, and a very large pro.
portion Of it went to England, where ship
ments Of cotton, provisions and breadstuifs
supplied the money. II anything should
change or check the balance in our iavcr