The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-22
BLaInE's VIEWS OF CONQUEST.

NE hears frequent references TO Blame as au-
| J thority for the proposition to hold tropical
- possessions by right OF conquest. The spirit
of what has come to be known as "Blaines Ameri-
canism" is often referred to in order to bind the
countrv1nen OF that statesman policy which it is
attempted to force upon the administration by what
is made to appear the preference Of public opinion
AS matter of fact this proposed policy in antag-
onisn to the international policy for which Blaine
labored His views first took shape in the call he
issued as Secretary OF State November 20, 1884, for
pan-American Peace Congress. In that call he
said: The sole aim Of this peace congress shall be
seek way OF permanently avertng the horrors OF
cruel and bloody combat between countries oftenest
OF one blood and speech, or the even worse calamity
of internal commotion and civil strife; that 1t shall
regard the far-reaching consequences OF such strug
gleS-eXhausted finances, oppressive debt, onerous
taxation ruined cities parayzed industries devastated
fields ruthless conscription the slaughter of men,
the grief OF widow and orphan with legacy OF en-
Uttered resentments that long survive those who
provoked them and heavily afflict the innocent gen
erations that may come after" When Blaine LETT the
Arthur Cabinet, his successor, Frelnghuysen, with
drew the invitation this peace congress- whereupon
Blaine then a private citizen, addressed letter to
President Arthur protesting against the withdrawal
and in his OF the foreign policy OF the Gar
field administration, which was his policy, sald
|HeaCe !
honest trade, is the solid basis of international pros
perity."
These pacific views of Blaine were projected into
tie Pan American Congress which promoted by
him as Secretary of State in President HarrsonS
Cabinet Therein they took the formal shape OF a
proposition the part OF the United States and all
OF the countries represented to relnquish and aban
don the right OF conquest.
It will be seen at once that this Blaines real
Americansm Devoted to the purpose and traditions
| Of this Government and earnest believer in Our
very foundation statement that governments derive
their Just rights from the OF the governed,
he could have nothing but aversion for replacing that
by asserting the right of conquest superior to the
consent of the governed.
1t is plain that he believed that this could not be-
come a conquesting nation without abandoning the
very principle of its existence. The fact that con-
quered people might be incapable OF expressing their
assent or dissent that they might be unlearned in
Our methods and processes of government and
dazed by the assertion OF Our authority among them
as to stand silent does not alter the situation at all
In Baine's view, the effect to be avoided was that
upon ourselves rather than upon a weak, ignorant
and alien people over whom we might assert the
right OF conquest
Nor is it a question OF holding such people by
force while we educate them up the plane of
sent. The condition in which consent may be indi-
Gated must precede exercise OF any permanent
authority over them at all
France took the Palatnate by conquest and the
people by infusion and contact after many genera
tons came to be French in feeling, and when they
were reconquested by Germany resented that their
ancestors had resented the conquest by France. But
this Government go into that kind OF business.
There is no provision under system for reducing
people by conquest and Incorporating them into
our system by force of arms.
In view Of his record on that subject, if Blaine
were alive he would be found opposing true Ameri-
canism to the medieval doctrine OF right OF conquest
His reason for putting forward in the Pan-American
Congress the denial and abjuration OF the right Of
conquest not far to seek.
The Central and South American nations had upon
them the European spirit Of conquest. Chile had
despoiled Peru Of her provinces and people. The
Central American nations prone to convert
boundary disputes into of conquest. The right
Of conquest has been in all ages the cause of war and
the affecting train of miseries which follows it
Blaine desired put away this greedy and evil spirit
and to Danish it from the Western Hemisphere for
ever
It will do say that he would have reserved to
the United States the power to enter upon the
quest of territory belonging to any European power
for that would have been not only violation of the
principle he promoted but such breach of faith
to forever lose the confidence of the Americas
and of all nations.