The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-07-10
A Policy of Peace.
MR.. BLArNE's POSITION EXPLAINED.

The foreign policy inaugurated by MIR. Blaine
during his brief term as Secretary OF State has
been widely, and, by some, most wick edly mis-
understood; and by reason of this he is now
charged with determination to plunge the
country into war, Nothing can be further from
the truth, as the most casual glance al the in
vitation to an American peace congress, issued
by Secresary Blaine in November. 1881, will
show. We print 1t in full below Mr.. Blaines
policy is policy of peace. No word in any OF
his dispatches while a member of Garfield s
cabinet can by any possibility be construed TO
mean anything but peace. This invitation to
the American nations withdrawn after
Mr.. blaine left the cabinet, and consequently
the congress never assembled. The despatch
printed was sent to the United states Minister
of the Argentine Republic. and IS copy of
others sent to other independent countries III
North and South America, and should be read
by every voter in the land. Its language is
plain. 1t speaks for itself as follows
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON. November -. 1851
SiY-The attftuue of the United States, with
respect to the QUESTION of general peace on the
American continent, is well known through its
persistent efforts for years past to avert the
evils of warfare, or, these efforts failing, to
bring positive conflicts to an end through pa
cific cOunsels or the advocacy of partial arbi-
tration.
This attitude has been persistently maintain
ed, and always with such fairness as to leave
no room for imputing to our government any
motive except the humane and disinterested
one of saving the kindred states of the Amer-
can continent from the burdens of war. The
position of the United States as the leading
power of the New World might well give to its
government a claim to authoritative utterance
for the purpose of quieting discord among It's
neighbors, with all of whom the most friendly
relations exist. Nevertheless, the good Offices
Of this government are not and have not at
nj acI,n fNfI {of,
ton or compulsion, but only as exhibiting the
solicitous good will of n common friend.
For some years past growing disposition has
been manifested by certain states of Central
and South America to refer disputes affecting
grave questions OF international relationship
and boundaries to arbitration rather than to
the sword. 1t has been on several such occa-
sions source OF profound satisfaction to the
government of the United States to see that
this country Is In q large measure looked to by
all the American powers their friend and
mediator. The just and impartial counsel of
the President in all such cases has ne yer been
withheld, and his efTorts have been rewarded
by the prevention of sanguinary strife of angry
contention between people whom We regard MS
brethren.
The existence Of this growing tendency con-
vinces the President that the time is ripe for o
proposal that shall enlist the good will and ac-
tive cooperation of all the states of the West
ern hemisphere, both North and South in the
interest of humanity and for the common veal
of nations. He conce1veS that none of the gov
ernments OF America can be less alive than our
own to the dangers and horrors of a state of
He is sure that mono Of the chiefs of govern
ment ON the continent be less sensitive
than he Is OF the sacred duty Of making every
endeavor to do away with the chances OF fratri-
cidal strife. . And he looks with hopeful conf
dence to such active assistance from them as
Will serve to show the brOadness of our COM
mon humanity, and the strength of the ties
that bind us all together as q great and harmo-
nious system of American commemorative.
Impressed by these views, the President ex-
tends to all the independent countries of North
and South America an earnest invitation to
participation In general congress to be held
In the city OF Washington on the 2ith 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 congress shall be
strictly confined to this one great object; that
its sole aim shall be to seek q way of perma-
nently averting the horrors of cruel and bloody
combat between countries, oftenest of one
blood and speech. or the even worse calamity
of internal commotion and civil strife that 1t
shall regard the Cumbersome and far-reaching
consequences of such struggles, the legacies of
GUS taxation, of ruined cities of paralyzed
industries of devastated fields, of ruthless con-
scription, OF the slaughter of men, of the grief
or the widow and OF the orphan, of embittered
resentments, that long survive those who pro-
woke them, and heavily afflict the innocent
generations that come after.
The President is. especially desirous to have
1t understood that, in putting forth this invi-
tatiOn, the United States does not assume the
position OF counseilng, or attempting through
the voice of the congress to counsel, any deter
inmate solution of existing questions which
may now divide any of the countries of Amer
lea. such questions cSnnot properly come be-
fore the congress. Its mission is higher 1t is
TO provide for the interests of all in the future
not to settle the individual differences of the
present For this reason especially the Presi-
dent has Indicated day for the assembling of
The congress so far in the future as to have good
ground Tor nope that by the time named the
The present situation on the South Pacific Coast
will be happily terminated and that those en-
Eaged IL the contest may take peaceable part
questlOn aHectlng IN an equal degree the we'll
being of all.
1t seems also desirable to disclaim in advance
any purpose on the part of the United States to
prejudice the issues to be presented to the con-
gress., IL Is far from the intent OF this govern
ment 70 appear before the congress as in any
sense the protector of It's neighbOrs or the pre-
destined and necessary arbitrator of their dis
putes. The United States will enter into the
deliberations of the congress on the same foot
ing as,the other powers represented. and with
the loyal determination to approach any pro-
posed solution, not merely in its own interests,
a single member among many coordinate and
coequal states. So far as the influence of this
ed in the direction OF consolidating whatever
conflicting interests of blood, or government
or historical tradition may necessarily come
together in response to call embracing such
vast and diverse elements.
You will present these views to the Minister
OF Foreign Relations of the Argentine Repub- /.
lie, enlarging, If need be, in such terms as will
readily occur 70 you, upon the great mission
whichsit is within the power of the proposed
congress to accomplish in the interest of hui
manity, and upon the firm purpose of the
United States To maintain a position of the
most; absolute and Impartial friendship tow
ards all. You Will thereupon, in the name of
the President OF the United States, tender to
his Excellency the President of the Argentine
Republic formal Invitation to send two com
to The congress, provided with such
powers and instructions on behalf of their gov
as Will enable them In considering
The questions brought before that body within
the limit OF submission contemplated by this
The United States, as well as the
1ther powers, will, in hike manner, be repre-
sented by two commissioners, so that equality
Ind imparLiillity will be amply secured in the
OF the congress.
I'm delivering this invitation through the |
Minister Of Foreign Affairs, yon Will read this |
despatch to him and leave him copy, intimat- |
ng that an answer is desired by this govern |
nent as promptly as the Just consideration of I