Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-25
BLAINE'S APOLOGY.
WHY THE PAN-AMERIcAN TRIP SOUTH
WAS ABANDONED.
Delegate studenbaker's Explanation "'
Given to Baltimore sur
Reporter.

Mr.. Studebaker. one Of the members OF
tho Pan-American Congress who starteu on
the trip South. is, with other members Oh
his family, guest Of Mrs. Samuel ohoe-
maker. in Baltimore. Mr.. Studeoaker ~
the head of the famous wagon and carnage
manufacturing firm Of Studebaker Bro
theirs. having its chief establishment at
South Bend, Ind, with branches IN Chicago
and elsewhere. Mr.. Studebaker says Nr'
Blaine regrets very much that the dele
gates, especially the Spanish-Amerlcan
delegates, of the International Congress
did not feel at liberty to 60 to the oouth'
BLAINE DIDN'r KNOW.
1T is very evident" says the Baltimore
.Sup. from which paper this account Is
taken, that our Government. when pro
vded the special train and started IL SOUTH
ward. was desrOus OF giving the delegates
a chance to meet tho people OF that sectiOn.
But II is quite true also th9t the Ialn
would not have started if the Secretary OF
State could have known that so few dele
gates would avail themselves OF Its opp9r-
tunities. 1t IS sdOubted even If he knew the
exact state OF affairs when the train left
WASHINGTON. The hurried closing OF the
congress and Mr. Blaine's conspicuous
rart IN the events Of the last hours OF this
memorable gathering so fully occupied MS
attention that he could not give thought to
minor details. he supposed that =
thoroughly representative membership OF
the congress would be in Richmond and
20 on from that point southwark. ms
belief was shared by Mr.. Curtis, the
thoroughly efficient and courteous secre-
tarv of the congress, and by Captain
Bourke United States armv. who was
placed in charge of the expedition under
orders. When the true state Of the case
was realized there was but one thing to do,
and that was done
oEfAT BFGBET.
"For himself Mr.. Studebaker was free
10 express great regret for the failure OF
the trip. but he could do no less than
advise such course under the circum-
stances. He has many business connections
all through the South and many personal
friends. and he could not go among them
under the circumstances. Mr.. Trescott,
the venerable and sagacious diplomatlst of
the United States delegation in the con-
gTess, shared Mr. Studebaker's views.
"To these views may he added the con-
sideTatiOu that It was not until the party
reached Richmond that il could be known
definitely how many more members or the
congress would OF would not JOIN the eN-
cursion. Mr.. Zajarra, who made very
beautiful little speech at the WestmOre-
land Club. recognizing the historic pres
tige of tho old Commonwealth, past and
present, could 20 no further than Rich
mond. His departure left only DR.. DE
Silva. Of the Standardization delegates,
and the two members of our own delega-
ton. They could not assume the respOn-
sibilitv of representing ell America, and so
Mr.. Blaine's action was relief to them"
TIE sKCBRTAEIEs.
4 Al, of4 no Aartu n
cluded some dozen or more Spanish-Ameri-
cans of wealth and influence, very desTa-
bic aud useful associates on such mission
Rs this excursion WAS designed to fulfill,
but unfortunately they were not members
OF the Pan-AmeTican Congress. Some OF
them were atdches Of the legations in
Washington: others were gentlemen edu-
Gated in this country. There were besides
some secretaries Of the delegations in
the congress, who spoke thT span
ish and English language with equal
huency. Several of these gentlemen
were also equally well informed on Central
and South American affairs and IN regard
10 our own interests. ]; was peculiarly ap-
propriato that they should be a constituent
of the party, but they could not be bur-
dened with responsibility. Alr. Elaine re-
lieved them from an awkward situation,
which was becoming more and more en-
barraSslnS every Inlle ol lHe JouIHtN Holi
the very beginning of the receptions at
Fortress Monroe, where the army and navy
gave the excursion a send-of."
TIE COLLAPSE.
Now it is with regard to the disappoint-
ment of the South that there is occasion
for concern. X Will be difficult to romoye
from the southern mind the impression OF
studied indifference 10 the claims and ad-
vantages of that section of the country,
for whatever may be said in extenuation
of the collapse at Kichmond, or however
convincing or truthful the reasons assign
ed for the same may be, the South and lts
wonderful advances in practical develop
ment and progressive industries have been
wholly ignored. while the interests of the
- 81 Hat .rI Weet and Mort west