National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-20

Answers ana Questions.
Perhaps IT would help to clear ny tho situation
ifTHE REPrBucAS, on behalf of Mr. Arthur mud
Mr. Frelinghuyscn, would inform the public
whether the Administration has decided to con-
sent to the partition Of the Republic Of Peru,
There is no other real question involved in all the
current discussion. In order that there may bC
no misunderstanding we repeat the inquiry Hal
the Administration decided to consent TO the par
tition of the Republic OF Peru? We venture t
assume that our esteemed contemporary will trea
our respectful inquiry with silent contempt Silen
contempt Is frequently employed by our esteemed
contemporary in lieu of powerful Argument
Critic.
Our distinguished friend, the very able
editor of our esteemed contemporary, the
Critic, much misiudges us if Ire imagines
us capable of treating with silent or any
other kind of contempt anything he may
say in the discussion of public questions
1t would be impossible for MS to say
anything by authority concerning the in
tentions Of Mr.. Arthur and Mr.. Freling
huysen" on the subject of any proposed
partition of Peru" At latest accounts
the President and Mr. Blaine (who wa,
then Secretary of State) agreed to
gether that we could only ad
wise in the matter, and that
too, only in the event that our counsel,
would be agreeable to both Chill anG
Peru. Mr.. Blaine, in his lctterof instruc
tions to Mr.. TresCot, most emphatically
disclaimed on the part of this Govern
1nent any intention to assume, unlimited
the Office of arbitrator between two bel
ligerents, both friendly tous
The United States has never pretended
even under the brilliant reign of Blaine
the First that its consent" was at al
essential to the rightlul exercise of the
rights of war by Chill or any Other
power. That Chill has right to war in
demnity and guarantees of future peace
with Peru is as sure as that the nation
which prevails in war may exact in
demnity for the past and security
for the future" This is of the
earlier catechism in public law. Chilli is
of the opinion that Peru cannot respond
to her rightful demand without Ceding
some territory. This is unfortunate. II
the consent of the Administration was
indispensable to a cession of Peruvian
territory to Chill it would probably be
refused until Peru had shown her inability
TO satisfy her conqueror by other means
But our esteemed contemporary is mis-
taken if he assumes that what he j,
pleased to term partition Of PERU
meaning thereby a compulsory ceSsion o.
aportion of her territory to Chill, whose
arms have prevailed against her--is any
of the Administration business. Thii
Government believes in the right o.
might when the sword is appealed to, ant
it further believes thatthc defeated nation
i'll war is to pay the costs and give
bonds to keep the peace. 1t was upor
this understanding Of the rights of wal
that at the conclusion of the Mexican wal
the United States indrlged in "the par
I'll ton" of Mexico. Our title 10 Califor
mia, Utah, and New Mexico rests ex
clusively upon the right of conquest recog
nized in the treaty of lS4S, dictated by
our Government on Mexican soil. The
title of the German Empire TO Alsace ant
Lorraine rests upon the right of conquest
and was enforced by the occupation o
Paris by German army. In this "par
tition of France Germany asked the
consent of no other nation, and no other
nation made any pretense that its con-
sent was necessary. The United States
waited upon no other nations consent to
the partition" of Mexico.
So the able editor of our esteemed con.
temporary will readily see that we are
not driven TO "silont contempt" of his
Questions by reason of our admitted in
ability to cope with him in powerful
argument" We have only TO speak righ
on, that which he himself doth know
Will he now be good enough to point on
the difference between the cession 0
Mexican territory to the United States il
1S4S and a similar ccssion of territory
by Peruto Chiliifit should be made? And
having done that, will he then draw the
distinction between the cession of Frencl
territory to Germany in 1871 and such
cession of Peruvian territory now? /
he shall undertake to say that il is tn
duty of our Government to stand guar,
over the integrity of Peruvian terrtor
hitii Sih ~ lIbNtl ~ bS AhHblN w INV
Chili's demands with money, we shall asl
him TO explain why ii was that all Europe
looked on without protest and saw
France compelled TO yield Alsace an,
Lorraine when it was known that sh,
could have ransomed them with an,
amount of money that Germany woul,
have been willing 10 name,
Our friend of the Critic will see hoy
easy it is to ask questions
The sable editor" of the Cdpita has
strong leader representing that Mr. Trei
cot was instructed 10 demand of Chilli Il
assurance that Peru should not be con
PEELED 10 cede any territory to Chill, an
that upon being refused this assurance b
was to snap his fingers in Chili's face an
indignantly retire. Now, what is strsna