The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-05-28
bic foundation, /. would be almost impos.
slble even In years most unfavorable 10 Us,
In hrinn IN In inht In th a trnrld - - =,

conld be too earnest or too long continued,
1t Is only claimed for the Peace Con-
gross, designed under tho administration
OF. Garfield, that 1t was IN important and
impressive step on the part OF the United
States toward closer relationship with our
continental nelghbors. The preaent tend.
ency In th0ae countries Is toward Europe,
and 1t Is lumentablo fact that their people
arc not SO near to US in feeling as they
were sixty years aso when they threw oil
the yoke OF Spanish tyranny. We were
then woak Republic Of hut ten millions,
but We did not hesitate 10 reCogniz, the IN.
dependence Of the new governments, even
at tho risk Of war with Spain. Our foreign
policy q. that time was especially do.
signed to extend our influence in the West.
ern Hemisphere, and the statesmen OF that
era-tho era Of Dewitt Clinton and the
younger Adams, OF Clay md OF Crawford,
OF Webster and Calhoun, of Van Buren,
and Benton, Of Jackson and OF Edward
Ltvingstone-.were always courageous In the
inspiring measures which they advocated
Tor the expansion of our commercial do.
minion.
THE PERIL TO lie AVOIDED pY THE UNION,
Three score ycara have passed. The
power OF tho Republic in many directions
hiss grown beyond ell anticipation, but we
have relatively lost ground in some great
fields Of enterprise. We have added
thousands Of miles to our ocean front, but
our commerce has fallen Of, and from
ardent friendship with Spanish America
we have driltod into Indifference il not
into coldness. II is but one atep further to
reach g condition Of positive unfriendli-
ness which may end in what would DO
equivalent to a commercial alliance
against ,fs. Already one Of the most danger.
GUS ofmovemente-that ola European guar.
sntee and guardianship Of the Interoceanic
Canal.is suggested and urged upon the
Great Foreign Powers by representatives Of
South American country. II these ten.
denotes arc to be everled, If Spanish.
American friendship is 10 be- regained, il
the commercial empire tba. lesitimately
helonga to US ID to be ouls, we mus. not be
lido and witness its transfer to others. II
we would reconquer it, d great first step is
10 be taken. It ID the frat step that costs.
It ia also the fits. step that counts. Can
there be Suggested wiser step than the
Peace Congress OF the two .Americas, that
was devised under Garfield, and had the
weight Of his great nsme! a,.
In no event could harm have resulted in
the assembling Of the Peace Congress, fail
ure was next 10 impossible. Success might
be regarded az certain. The aubject to be
discussed was peace, and how it can be
permanently preserved in North and South
America. The labols Of the Congress would
have probably ended in well.digested
system Of arbitration, under which all
troubles between American States could be
quickly ehectually and satisfactorily sd-
Jusssd. Such q contamination would have
been worth great struggle and grea.
sacrltice. It.could have been reached With
out any struggle and would have involved
no sacrifice. 1t was within our grasp,
It Waa ours for the asking. 1t would
have been signal victory of philsn.
thropy over tho sel6shness OF human
ambition; complete triumph OF Christian
principles as applied to the affairs Of ma
tlonH. 1t would have reflected enduring
honor on our new country, and would
have impaired new spirit and a new
brotherhood 10 all America. Nor would
its influence beyond the sea have been
small. The example Of seventeen indie.
pendent nations solemuly agreeing to abol.
ish the srbitrament Of the sword, and to
settle every dispute by peaceful methods Of
adjudication, would have exsrted gu iplu.
ence TO tho utmos. confines Of civilization,
and upon the generations OF men vet to
come. JAMES G. BLAINE.