Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-07-02
THE VISIT TO PERU.
The Report Of the South American Com
mercisl Convention on the Re-
suit Of Its
Observations at Lima Submitted to the
Secretary Of State-Friendly
Feeling Toward
Tie People Of the United States and a
Desire to Secure Closer Interna-
tional Relations.

WAsHINaroN, July THE commits
sion appointed by the President to visit
the South American countries. in the in
terest of the commerce of the United
States has reported, under date of April
18th, to the Department ofState, the re
suit of its observations while at Lima,
Peru. In communication to the Sec
retary of State accompanying the report,
the commission says:
The political situation in Peru is not
such as to make mission like that upon
which we have the honor to come either
gratifed to be able to report cordial
reception from the provisional govern
ment end from the people, ifotwithstand-
ing the fact that they feel somewhat ag-
grieved at the failure of the United
States to exercise its good offices for their
benefit during the recent war with Chill.
This delicate subject was not alluded to
officially during our visit, but in private
conversation the complications OF three
and four years ago were spoken of in
such manner as TO leave the impress
sion that our government, In their opin
ion, did more injury than good. How
ever, there ,is still most friendly senti-
ment, which has been stimulated by the
attitude of Minister Phelps, and desire
to secure more Intimate international
and commercial relations between the
two countries. The people privately
talk of annexation to the United States.
The newspaperS openly advocate pro-
tectorate over Peru by our government
as the best mode of securing internal
peace, and there have been maDy other
suggestions advanced 10 the same spirit.
Our commerce with this country has
dwindled down to almost nothing in
comparison with its former ~,,,uce ,.S.,,;t
This IS accounted for by the enormous
decrease in the purchasing power of
Peru, and by the fact that the steamship
company, which enjoys. monopoly on
the west coast of South. America, uses
It's influences and, regulates its freight
tariffs so as to direct trade to England
1t is the opin on of every merchant in
| Peru, and of the members of the gov
| ernment, that these conditions cannot be
| changed until there is direct communi-
cation by steam between the ports of this
country and those of the United States.
It is SAID to be cheaper to ship goods to
| New York by way of Liverpool and Ham
| burg, around the Horn to Callao, than
by way of the Isthmus, while the
| passenger pays 1875 American gold for
| transportation from New York to Val
| parais'. All were formally presented to
| the President April 10th. At noon of
that day battalion of infantry, with the
National Band of Peru, was sent to our
hotel as guard of honor, and at 2:30
l o clock the official introducer of Am
bassadors called with the President s
| carriage and an escort of cavalry We
| were accompanied to the palace by Min
lister Phelps. A military aid-de-camp of
the President, in the uniform of colonel
of cavalry, was at the entrance of the
| palace to receive US, and after passing
between files of soldiers through the long
corridors we were met by the Minister OF
Exterior Relations at the door of the re-
ception-room, which was formally the au-
dienceroom Of the Spanish Vice
roy, and is in the wing of the palace
erected by Pizzaro. Under a canopy
of crimson velvet, dressed in a military
uniform and resplendent in gold lace
President Iglesias stood surrounded by
his Cabinet and prominent officers of the
army and navy, he and each of his Min
isters carrying gold headed canes as an
emblem OF their authority. The cham
Der was crowded with people to witness
what in Peru is considered ceremony
OF great importance. Mr.. Commissioner
Thatcher presented Gen. Iglesias with
the autograph letter of the President oil
the United States, and delivered an ad-
dress, to which the President replied
At the conclusion of the ceremonies all
we're invited to tie Presidents private
reception-room, where We we're pre-
sented to the members of the Cabinet
and attendants, and had few moments
of conversation. The next day we 'had
an official conference. II showed tha;
while the government of this republic is
not in a position, politically or fnan-
cially, to make any concessions al
present to encourage trade, lis
sentiments are exceedingly friendly
and its wish is to give us the benefits now
enjoyed by England. The permanency O
the present government is probable, but
not assured. Caceres has control of the
| southern provinces of the republic, anc
is marching toward Lima with an army o.
1000 or 5000 men. President Iglesias i.
prepared to defend the city, but ha.
neither the means nor the men to MAKE
an offensive campaign. He dare no
move the army from the capital for feal
of revolution there, ard is thus com
PEELED to see the interior provinces, one
by one, subjected to the authority O
Caceres. Iglesias has no money, and il
resorting to extraordinary measures tC
secure enough to keep the army in fight
ing shape. He is regarded as an honest
man, but under the influence of Chill
and, therefore, is unpopular. But the
people who oppose him do not wan
Caceres, the mountaineer President, tC
rule the country Between the two they
prefer Iglesias. There is third party
headed by Gen. Pierola, formerly dicta.
tor of Peru, which is said to be composed
of the best element of the republic, the
business men and those of property
whose purpose is to secure both the ab
dication of Iglesias and the retirement
of Caceres by making concessions to the
friends and supporters of each. So fal
their peace negotiations have not me
with success, and row there are indica
tions of movement to accomplish by ;
coup d'etdt what diplomacy has failed t,
do. Caceres will not retire in favor o
Iglesias 1t is thought he might be will
ing to yield to Pierola, and when h,
and his army of Indians have approached
near enough to Lima to make such a
movement effective, it is said Pieroii.
party will give Iglesias an oppnrtunit,
to choose between Pierola and Caceres
and that then terms can be had With boil
the government party and the revolu
tionists for peace, with Pierola as die
tator, until a constitutional Presiden
can be elected. Until this peace comes
it is useless to talk of commerce will
Peru. The country is BOW stripped O
everything that is valuable; the con
scripts for the armies have left the farm
untitled; the people are producing moth
ing; trade is practically suspended, anC
people who a few years ago were il
att1uent circumstances are now living nI
what they can borrow of the pawn brok
ers. The importing merchants say the,
cannot buy goods without sepdjug the
cash with the order and distru y is S;
general that credit is obsolete. Th,
government bas incurred an enormou,
debt, and its pricipal sources of revenue
the Guano Islands, have been seized b,
Chill, but with few years of peace an(
industry prosperity would return t,
Peru, for the national resources ar,
abundant. In the interview between tn,
Commission and the President and tb,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, th'
last said: This government is disposed
to give all possible facilities for in
creased trade, but l think auothe
line of steamers would be desirable
The line should be called an Ameri
| eau HUG, Dut we WOulV llkt Sudrt
in it TO be offered to citizens of Peru, s.
as to allow them aud the government al
interest, and make it really an American
Peruvian ine." The coasting trade i
the privilege of each country, but it ha
been, for different reasons, allowed to b
taken up by foreign traders, but this liz
should, if possible, sail under the flag 0
!, the different nations aud countries OF
the entire coast. These countries woul,