New-York tribune., 1886-02-25
TIE PROPOSED TRADE CONGRESS.

III VIII undermine lHt hcpUDIlC.
TIE PROPOSED TRADE CONGRESS.
In introducing his bill for Il trade congress of
the American Nations to be held in Washing
ton, Senator Frye doubtless anticipated the Op-
position Of that class of persons best described
at Blane-haters The accomplishment of their
self-appOinted destiny OH earth requires that
they should subordinate not only the grand Writ
ucs of patriotism and truth, but even the gen
eral qualities of common sense and reason, to
the attempted demolition of anything orlgl-
mated or indOTscd by Mr.. Elaine. If Mr.. Blaine
intmates that sugar is sweet, they swear that
lines are not more acrid nor the salt from a
barrel of herrings more bitter and distasteiul.
If Mr. Blaine urges that sunshine is good for
the flowers that bloom in the spring, they pro-
test with frantic cries that sunshine has
nothing to do with the case. The extent to
which this fanatical dread of Mr.. Blaine is
carried by the small and noisy body which
writhes with terror when nc happens TO indulge
in an innocent sneeze is, of course, highly
amusing to the public, and no more divertlng
exhibition of ii has been recently afforded than
by the opposition of The Ne,C York Times to
Senator Frye's bill for an American trade con-
grcss. Under the impression that it is furnish
ing arguments against the proposed measure, 1t
inadvertently describes the very condition of
affairs which makes such an international un-
derstanding timely and desirable.
There can be hut one opinion of the objects
sought TO be attained by the proposed congress.
The man who declares himself opposed to the
peace and harmony of nations in close prOIim-
ity to each other; who favors the invasion of
the American continent by foreign States seek
ing to establish here political and social insti-
tutions hostile to the principle of the broadest
human liberty who does not wish to see direct,
regular and frequent steamship communication
established between the United States and her
Southern sisters, so that trade shall flow easily
between us and them to the general profit of
all who prefers that they shall deal with the
merchants of Europe in the vessels of Europe
and draw contrasts between US and the coun-
tries of the other continent to our humiliation
and loss-that sort of man has little to commend
him to general respect. The only question.
therefore, can bo as TO the advantage of the
plan devised for the accomplishment of these
righteous and profitable ends.
1t is The 7inlcss opinion, however, that a con-
ference of American Nations would be offensive
to the friendly Powers of Europe; that it is
none of our business il the South American
countries fight each other; and that in view of
the delicate relations now existing between
some of them it would be foolish TO ask them
to a friendly meeting. Tic Times has peculiar
way of cuddling up TO " the friendly Powers of
Europe" In its judgment tho chief duty of
Americans is TO be very careful lest they tread
on an Englishman's corns Secretary Freling
huysen so far forgot the dignity Of his place as
to take the same position in his letter annOunc
ing the Governments recession from its pre-
viOus invitation to the Peace Conference, and
Justly excited the Indignation of his prede
cessor, who, with all self-respectng Americans,
felt the humiliation Of such stand little too
much for endurance. The idea that the United
States should abandon continental enterprise
looking TO its political and commercial benefit
and TO the best interests of every American
State because England, or France, or Germany,
might not like II, Is not an idea on which to
appeal to the self-reliant and manly people OF
this Republic.
Perhaps 1t Is not our business If our sister
countries battle with each other, but If it does
not soon become so, we shall find that those
European Nations of whose sensibilities The
Times is so solicitous will make it theirs. 1t
may be nothing to our Government that our
merchants suffer to the extent of millions of
money when the Southern nations go to war,
but they take account of that sort of thing
abroad. How are the objects of Mr. Frye's bill
to be accomplished but through conference and
discussion How are we to know that the
southern Republics will not frankly meet us
unless we invite them TO do SOL They were
courteous enough when asked them before,
IL.
that invitation was withdrawn, the recent
South American Commission reports them to be
willing again. Mr. Frye's bill commits us to
nothing, and its prospective advantages to the
peoples of the whole continent are beyond cal
culation. 1t is in tho interest of an advanced
civilization and of a common prosperity.
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