New-York tribune., 1889-10-18
AMERICA FOR AMERICANS.

dMERICA run a hMGhLNANp
The Venezuelan delegate, Mr.. Peraza' ad-
ministered in yesterdays TRIBUNE Iudiclous
rebuke to partisan cavillers who have been
lampooning the International Congress In
expressing his astonishment that any portion
of the American press should have raised an
outcry against entangling alliances, he dis
claimed with warmth the imputation that any
representative of the South and Central AmeI1-
can States would ever sign compact tending
to jeopardize the sovereignty Of his country.
This was a diplomatic method of informing
narrow minded partisans and bigoted Blaine
haters that their unseemly and unpatriotic
structures upon the SO-called Jlngolsm' Oh
the Administration involved direct affronts to
the dignity of the States represented IN the
Congress- The rebul1e was well-merated. Ger
tain journals in their comments upon this In
ternational assembly have been guilty OF gross
discourtesy to the Nations guests. For po-
ltical effect they have deliberately assumed
that Secretary Blaine has been pulling wires
in South and Central America, has secured the
appointment of delegates favoring his ambi-
tious designs and Is now celebrating an un-
American policy Of aggression which will in
volve the Union in entanglng alliances and
possibly in war. So wantOn a misrepreSenta-
ton of well-known facts has naturally been
resented by the Venezuelan delegate, who I'M
doubtedly expresses the indignation OF his COL
leagues.
Mr. Peraza is not lacking in appreciation of
the honest purpose of the American people as
expressed in legislation by the last Congress
and in the State Departments invitations to
the Conference. SO far from suspecting any
ulteiior aim on the part Of the Administration
in the direction Of the establishment of pro
tectorate over feebler republics in the South
he recognizes the spirit of good faith in which
the programme Of the Conference was outlined
in the invitations, and forecasts as the result
of the sessions the rapid development of com
mere on this continent, the unificatiOn of
customs, coinage and economic systems, and
the establishment of new principles of inter
national rights grounded upon American in
terests. These are views which patriotic men
of all parties and factions should entertain
The delegates are here as invited guests Of the
Nation. The policy which has led to the as
sembling of the Congress has been sanctioned
by legislative houses and successive Admins
trations of opposite political faith. 1t Is an
American policy on WS ch men of all shades
of political opinion can unite. Partisan sneers
at Secretary Blaine and hostile criticism of the
motives Of the Administration are discreditable
to the hospitality and good sense of the Ameri-
can people.
The nation which Mr.. Peraza represents is
one which, as he himself admits, has the most
urgent need of the sympathy and cooperation
r ~, bo1d ba
invoability Of its territory. Venezuela has
been involved for a long time in frontier dis
putes with Great Britain arising from encroach-
mentS of cOOnStS on the OnnocO. With a
concerted policy and defensive alliance on
the part of the leading American Powers it
would obtain a speedy settlement Of these
harassing complications; yet there is no dis
position on the part of her representatives to
favor a political policy that would secure i'm
munty from foreign aggression. Mr. Peraza
himself would not take part in any entanglng
alliance by which Venezuela would be placed
in the attitude of protected Power. He knows
that the moral influence of the commercial
unifCatiOn of the American States would suffice
TO relieve his country from any foreign menace
and to bring the boundary dispute before an
arbitration tribunal for final adjustment. If
Venezuela which has immediate cause for
dreading aggression from Europe, strenuOusly
ressts the idea Of defensive league Of Ameri-
can States, there can be no fear of entangling
alliances and continual wars as the ultimate
result of the present policy. The principle that
America is for the Americans should not fright
en- any patriotic heart, North or South. If en-
bodied in the commercial relations and diDlo-
matte intercourse Of all nations on the con-
tinent it will be a charter Of industrial inde-
pendence and permanent peace.