St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-27
sHE UNITED AMERICAS.

If the president and his cabinet could
be induced to subordinate private inter-
ests wholly to the public good, and to
view all matters and questions Of pub
lie concern from the standpoint of un-
selfish patriotism, we are of opinion
that the American congress which as
sembles in Washington next Wednes-
day could be made the most important
event that has occurred within our his
tory as a nation. An influence could be
radiated from that asSemblage which
would eventually result in consolidat-
ing a hemisphere into a commercial
union, with the prospect that the
North, Central and South American
governments would ultimately be
brought into one grand political organi-
cation. 1t is. at all events, the first
formal effort on our part to give prac-
teal enforcement of the MONROE idea,
that America is for Americans" The
news which comes from across the water,
that the European powers are already
appTehensive of the results of this COIL
ference, shows plainly enough what al
vantages we are capable of deriving
from it in case the administration takes
hold of the matter in purely patriotic
spirit. The immediate purposes of this
conference between the representatives
of all the states of the new world are
declared to Introduce uniform weights,
measures and coinage, to establish a
court of arbitration for the adjustment
of all disputes between American states,
the cultivation of more friendly political
and commercial relations, and joint
opposition to the Entertainments OF
European powers in connection with
American affairs. 1t is furthermore
semi-officially announced at Washing
ton that a determined effort will be
made by our representatives to induce
the other American states to adopt our
tariff system and rates of custom du-
ties. This latter plan is advocated
upon the theory that European
commerce can be most effectually
shut out from American shores by
surrounding the Americas with in
surmountable custom barriers. In
other words it is proposed to make a
Chinese wall of the tariff, ard to confne
the trade of the Western hemisphere
within the limits of the new world. 1t
is possible, however, that some of the
Central and South American delegates
will be disposed to view this PROPOSE
ton in the light OF EsoP's fable, which
tells of the fox who lost his tail in the
trap and then induced his neighbors
to believe that short tails were fashion
able. Having lost our commercial tail
in the tariff trap. it would have very
much the appearance that we were
trying to trick our South and Central
American neighbors into the same bad
box. 1t is furthermore asserted, and
with good authority, that the admins
tration will endeaYor to use the confer
ence as a lever by which to work a
steamship subsidy job on the next con-
gresS.
1t is no wonder then that there should
be popular apprehension that the good
which might be accomplished by the
congress of American states will be de-
feated by the attempt of the admins
tratiOn to use the gathering for the pro-
motion of private and individual
schemes. What a splendid opportunity
Mr.. BLAINE has to make record for
himself that Will be an everlasting mon
ument to his memory when he is gone.
1t is the one opportunity for Gen. HAIR
RIsoN to have his administration live in
history. And yet it is like asking the
Ethiopian to change his color, or the
leopard his spots, to ask Mr.. BLAINE to
perform high public duty wholly free
from personal considerations, or without
an eye to personal gain. The man who
could deliberately mar brilliant pub
lie career and destroy his chances for
the presidency by his passion for rail
way and grain speculations is not the
man to be entrusted with the perform
ance of the unselfish and patriotic work
required tomake the approaching Amer
lean congress the success that it ought
to be.