The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-07-10
Mr.. BIaIae,s Foretgn POLICY


Mr.. Blaine's foreign policy looks to
and trade. Il does not look TO war. No
more effective plea against war was ever
made than In Mr.. Blalne's dispatch sum- |
moning the American nations TO peace |
congress in Washington. The best re-
sults to our business intere SITS might have
followed the meeting of that congress if |
the invitation had not been revoked after |
Mr.. Blaine LETT the state department
But read the dispatch:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHINGToN, Nov. 90, 1881.
"SIR: The attitude of the United States
with repect TO the question of general
peace on the American contInet Is well
known through its persistent efforts Tor
years past 10 avert the evils of warfare,
or, these efforts failing, to bring positive
conflicts to an end through pacific coun-
sells or the advocacy Of imp artIal arbi-
tratIOn.
This attitude has been consistently
maintained, and always with such fair-
ness as to leave no room for imputing to
our government any motive except the
humane and DISTINGUISHED one of saving
the kindred states of the American con-
tinent from the burdens of war. The
position of the United States as the lead
ing power of the new world might well
give To its government q claim to au-
| thOEitative utterance for the purpose of
QuietiDg discOrd among its nei9hbors,
with ell OF whom the most friendly re-
latIODs exist. Nevertheless, the good
offices of this government are not and
have not at any time been rendered with
show OF dictatiOE or compulsiOD, but
only as exhibiting the solicitous good
will Of a common friend.
FOR some years past a growing dispO-
sitiOn has been manifested by certain
states of Central and South America to
refer the disputes affecting grave quts-
lions of International relationship and
boundaries to arbitration rather than to
the sword. 1t has been on several such
occasions a source of profound satisfac-
ton 10 the government of the United
States to see that this country Is in
large measure looked to by all the
American powers as their friend and
mediator. The just and impartial
counsel Of the president in such cases
has never been withheld, and his efforts
have been rewarded by tie prevention OF
sanguinary strife or angry contention be-
tween peoples whom we regard as
brethren.
'rhe existance of this growing ten
dency convinces the president that the
|
list the good will and active CO opera
ton of all the states of the western
hemisphere, both north and south, In
the interest of humanity and for the
common veal of nations. He conceives
that none of the governments of Ameri-
Ca can be less alive than our own to the
dangers and horrors of a state of war,
and especially of war between kInsmen.
He Is sure that none of the chiefs of gov
ernments on the continent can be less
sensitive than he is to the sacred duty of
making every endeavor to do away with
the chancess 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-
manly, and the strength of the ties
which bind us all tOgther as great and
harmonious system of American COM
monwcalths
Impressed by these views the president
extends to all the Independent countries
of North and South America an earnest
invitation TO participate in a general
congress, to be held In the city of Wash
ington on the Gath day of November,
1882, for the purpose of considering and
discussing the methods of preventing
war between the nations of America.
He desires that the attention of the con-
gress shall be strictly confined to this
one great object; that Its sole aim shall
be to seek way of permanently avert
ing the horrors of cruel and bloody
combat between countries, Oftenest OF
one blood and speech, or the even worse
calamity of internal commotion and civ
some and far-Feaching con-
sequences of such struggles
struggles, the legacies of exhausted
: finances, of oppressive debt, of onerous
taxation. of ruined cities, of par alyzed
Industries, of devastated fields, of ruthless
J CONSUMPTION, of the slaughter OF men,
OF the grief of the widow and the orphan
of embittered resentments, that long sur,
vive those who provoked them, and
heavily at1Ict the innocent generations
that come after.
1.-The president is especially DESTROYS
to have it understood that, in putting
forth this invitation, the United States
does not assume the position of counsel
} ing, or attempting through the voice OF
the congress to counsel any determinate
solution of existing questions which
may now divide any of the countries OF
America. Such questions cannot prop
erly come before the congress. Its mis-
sion is higher. 1t Is to provide for the
interests OF all in the future, not to settle
the individual differences of the present
I VI lulS ECoSOn CSpOClbl1l
2 has indicated day tor the assembling oil
the congress SO far in the future as to
, haYe good ground for hope that by the
time named the present situation on the
South Pacific coast will be happily ter
= minated, Snd that those engaged in the
r contest may take peaceable part in the
, discussion and solution of the genera
questions affecting IN an equal degre I
the well-being of all.
D at seems also desirable to disclaim
8 in advance any purpose on the part OF
, the United States to prejudice the issues
to be presented To the congress. 1t ii
far from the intent of this government
s to appear before the congress as in any
/ sense the protector of lis neighbors Oh
the predeslined and necessary arbitrator
of their disputes. The United State:
E will enter into the deliberations OF the
5 congress on the same footing as the 9th
. | er powers represented and with the lOya
4 determination to approach any proposed
solution, not merely in its own interest
'' OF with n view to asserting its OWL
n power, but as q single member among
e many coordinate and cOequal states. 81
n far rs the influence of this gnyernmeD
may be potential, it will be exereted IN
l. the direction of conciliating whateve
d conflicting interests of blood, or govern
a ment or historical tradition may neces
n sarily come together in response to
call embracing such vast and divers
elements.
e "You will present these views TO III,
}. minister of foreign relations of the Ar
q genti1e republic, enlarging. if need be
in such terms as will readily occur Il
u you, upon the great mission which it i
d within the power of the proposed con
e gress to accomplish IN the interest of hu
10 manity, and upon the firm purpose of tn
United States to maintain q position G
l. the most absolute and impartial friend
e ship towards ali. You will thereupor
# in the name of the president of the Uni
ed States. tender to His Excellency, tn
president of the Argentine Republic,
"a formal invitation to send commission
" ers to the congress provided with sue
It powers and instructions on behalf {
\ their government as will enable them |
consider the questions brougl
le before that body within II
Of limit of submission contemplate
"a by this invitation. The Unite
:. States, as we'll as the other powers, vii
a. in like manner. be represented by tW
C )mmissloners, so that equality and in
ut partially will be amply secured in Il
Mt proceedings OF the congress.
"In delivering this invitation throuG
the minister of foreign affairs, You wi
read this dispatch to him and leave wi
tn him copy, Intimating that an 2nsw
Is. is desired by this government as prong
al ly as the just consideration of 80 il
portsnt a proposition will permit.
es JAMES G.. BLAINE.