Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-21

"Isthmus and elsewhere on this continent
be involved and rendered uncertain by
"the expression of the opinion of a Con-
"gress composed largely by interested
"parties." He therefore is glad to have
it in his power to refer to Congress the
propriety of converting the Congress. In
this way the President quietly turns the
whole question over to Congress, and so
to speak washes his hands of it. And it
must be admitted that the project is one
which any Executive may well be glad to
get rid of. Chimerical and fanciful in the
last degree as the scheme was when it first
emanated from the ambitious brains of Mr..
Blaine, it has been so used since it was
made public that no possible good can be
hoped from it.
The Governments to which the invita-
ton was sent have been made to under
stand that it did not mean anything, and
though it never was at all likely that seri-
GUS results could have been obtained from
such a Congress, of course it became
impossible from the moment that the
change of administration deprived it of
the support it originally had. The idea
was, however, theatrical and impractical.
1t ignored the controlling influence of the
interests which, much more than senti
ments, lead nations to ratify treaties Of
peace, or to engage in war. 1t ignored
also all the powerful questions of race and
civilization which have so much to do with
the progress of nations. 1t was almost
as much in the air as the French constitu-
tional convention held at the beginning Of
the Revolution, when philosophers thought
it possible to overturn the existing scheme
of government and society without any
friction, and that the people could be man
aged in the most facile way by repeat
ing tc them long extracts from Rousseau's
"Social Contract" and other dreamy liter
ature of the same kind. Mr.. Blaine seems
to have believed that it was perfectly easy
to put en- end to wars and rumors of wars
by resolutions, and that when once the
South American delegates had clasped
hands and taken solemn pledge of eternal
friendship and brotherhood, to the music
of brass band, and amid the discharge of
cannon and the waving of flags and cheer
ing of crowds, the whole problem would
be de6nitively settled.
But urhappily the perversity of human
nature is such that it cannot be controlled
in these beautiful ways. 1t can no doubt
be persuaded to take such pledges, and
even to sign treaties and other documents,
but history teaches that international agree.
ments have never yet depended for the
fidelity of their observance upon any ques-
ton of morals, but upon the interests, and
principally upon the fighting power, OF the
cosignatories. No country ever adherea
to treaty whose provisions iBjure it, if ii
is strong enough to break it. No nation
allows its material interests to lapse il il
can protect them by physical force, nc
matter what treaties may say. And it
follows that if all the South American
States were to agree upon common treaty
of peace, it would only be adhered to SO
long as it did not conflict with their inter-
eats, which is equivalent to saying that it
would last just as long as peace would en-
dure without any treaty at all. Inasmuch,
however, as there are at present inappeas-
able quarrels between several of these
States, it is already certain that no Con-
gress including them all can be held, and
consequently that no Congress capable of
binding them all can be held. But as the
very success of such Congress must be
its catholicity, it should be plain that the
time is not propitious for the experiment,
even from the standpoint of those who be.
lieve that some good may result from it.
1t is further quite possible that some of
the States invited may look with suspicion
upon the action of the United States in
the premises, and the more probably so
since Mr.. Blaine, in discussing the Isthmus
question with Lord Granville, seemed to
take the singular position that this country
holds itself entitled to interfere with the
concerns of foreign Governments existing
on the same continent, whenever its own
interests appear to be endangered by the
European connections OF such Govern.
ments. As a foundation for a general
treaty of peace this doctrine must be con.
sidered rather embarrassing, and the Pres.
ident evidently thinks that the United
States of Colombia, and perhaps other
Governments, might avail themselves of
the opportunity afforded by the Congress
to propose new adjustments of their treaty
relations with the United States. Con-
gress, however, can discuss the question
now as much as it pleases, and as the
Peace Congress must plainly be postponed
until the guests have stopped fighting
among themselves, there will be plenty of
time for consideration. Why Mr.. Blaine
should be particularly gratifed by the
Presidents message, however, we confess
ourselves unable to perceive. For GER
tainly the President has not indorsed the
project, but on the contrary has thrown as
much cold water upon it as he conveniently
could.
IMPORTING SERVANTS.
The San Francisco Bulletin, answering a
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