Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-06-28

visions wodid have been made for the AMIGA
BILE settlement By arbitration of all in,erna-
tional differences. The following is
The Full Dispatch:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Nov. 29- 1881
SIR The attitude 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 pacific counsels or the advocacy of
impartial arbitration.
This attitude has been consistently main
tanned. and always with such fairness as to
leave no room for imputing to our govern
meut any motive except the humane and dis
interested one Of saving the kindred states of
the American continent from the burdens of
war. The position of the United States as
the leading power of the New World might
we'll give to its government claim to author
itative utterance for the purpose of quieting
discord among its neighbors, with all Of whom
the most friendly relations exist. Neverthe-
less, the good Offices OF this government are
not and have not at any time been rendered
with show of dictation or compulsion, but
only as exhibiting the solicitous goodwill OF
common friend.
For some years past . growing disposition
has been manifested by certain states of Gen.
trail and South America to refer disputes af-
fecting grave questions of international rela-
tionship and boundaries to arbitration rather
than TO the swori. It has been on several
such occasions . source Of profound satisfac-
ton to the government Of the United States
to see that this country is in large measure
looked to by 81 the American powers - 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 the prevention of sanguinary
strife or angry contention between peoples
whom We regard ss brethren.
The existence of this growing tendency
convinces the President that the time 10 ripe
for proposal that shall enlist the goodwill
and active cooperation OF all the states Of the
western hemisphere, both north and south,
in the interest Of humanity and for the COM
mon veal Of nations. He conceives that none
of tine governments of America can be less
alive than our own TO the dangers and horrors
Of q state of war, and especially of war be-
tween kinsmen. He is sure that none of the
chiefs Of governments on the continent can
be less sensitive than he Is to the sacred duty
of making every endeavor to do away with
the chances of frAtricidal strife. And he
looks with hopeful confidence to such active
assistence from them as will serve to show
the broadness Of our common humanity. and
the strength Of the ties which bind US all
together a. great and harmonious system of
American commonwealths.
Impressed by these views, the President
extends to all the independent countries of
North and South America an earnest invita-
ton to participate in general congress to be
held in the city Of Washington on the Gath
day of November, 1882, for the purpose OF
considering and discussing the methods of
preventing war between the nations Of Amer
ca. 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 averting the horrors of
cruel and bloody combat between countries.
ofteness Of one blood and speech. or the even
worse calamity of internal commction and
civil strife; that il shall regard the burden
some and far-reaching consequences of such
sssuggles, the legaciss Of exhaasted hasnces,
of oppressive debt, of onerous taxation, of
ruined cities, Of paralyzed industries, of de-
vastated Aelds, Of ruthless conscripsion, of
the slaughter Of men, Of the grief Of the widow
and the orphan. Of embittered resentments,
that long survive those who provoked them,
and heavily amict the innocent generations
that come after.
The President 10 especially desirous to have
II understood that, In putting forth this invi-
tatiou, the United States does not assume the
position of counseling, or attempting through
the voice of the congress, to counsel any de-
terminate solution of existing questions which
may now divide any of the countries of
America Such questions cannot properly come
before the congress. Its mission is higher
It 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 President has indicated day for the as
sembling of the congress 90 far in the future
u