Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-09
Former Counselor John Bassett Moore
Addresses Kentucky Bar Association on
Relations Between U.s.. and So. America

Frankfort, KY, July s.-John Bas-
eett Moore, former counselor of the
state Department. delivered an ad-
dress before the Kentucky Bar Asso-
citation here tonight on Henry Clay
and pan-Americanism," in which he
shed interesting historical lights on
the relations between the United
States and the states Of South Ameri-
ca.
Mr. Moore announced the purpose OF
his address to be to answer, in some
measure, the question Of whether Pan
Arericanism was a mere operation of
the fancy-a dream or a Teality. is
the asked in referring to the idea
~ associating these countries OF Span
jsh and Of Portuguese origin with the
United states, is it an unnatural con-
ception. altogether artificial and like
IL to perish: or IS ii a natural growth,
canable of and perhaps occasionally
needing artificial stimulation, but le-
e:t.nateIy, inevitably springing from
conditions from which it derives and.
if not unwisely tended, Will continue
10 derive an ever increasing sub
stance"'
It was Just hundred years ago,
Mr. Moore said, that Simon Bolivar,
ly!nG in exile in Jamaica, wrote his
celebrated prophetic letter, in which
he said: The destiny of America is
irrel ocably fixed; the tie which united
IL 10 Spain is cut ...... Because sue
ccsses have been partial and fuctuat-
Ing W. ought not to lose confidence in
fortune. IN some parts the support
ers Of independence triumph, while the
tyrar,s obtain advantages in other
places And what is the result? Is
not the New World vigorous, aroused
and armed for its defence? We glance
about us and see everywhere a light
in In, immense extent of this hemis-
phere.'
When Bolivar wrote this Mr. Moore
pointed out, there was little to Justify
tae supposition that the Spanish col
onies would become independent,
Another example Of Bolivars vision
was found in his dream that at some
future day the Isthmus of Panama
might be for the nascent nations of
til West what the Corinthian 18TH
mus WIS for the Greeks. Would to
God Bolivar exclaimed, that some
dal We might enjoy the happiness of
having there an august congress of
representatives. of the republics, king
domS, and empires of America to deal
with the high interests Of peace and
Of wa, not only between the Ameri-
can nations but between them and the
rest IF the world"
At the time when these words We're
written" said MIR. Moore, there was
only one country in America whose
independence was proclaimed, ac-
knoWledgcd and established This
country was the United States. 1t
stood then as the great beacon light
10 all peoples struggling for liberty
aDd self government. What was to
be the attitude Of the United States
towards the struggling people To the
south Did the United States kold
within its limits a man of broad and
generous sympathies, a man of faith
and Of vision. who could look into the
future and with hope and confidence
predict for the provinces of Spain
destiny such as that which their own
prophetic son had ventured to fore
cast?
There was just one man possessing
in requisite combination these quail
ties and characteristics, and this was
the bold. generous, high-souled idol Of
tie adventurous West--yibrant with
human sympathies and aspirations
Henry Clay of Kentucky.
Nh Moore told of the notable part
which Clay played as the great pro-
tagoais; of South American independ
ehte. 1t was Clay who was first TO
move the recognition of the United
PROVINCES of the Rio de la Plata, of
which Euenos Ayres was the head, as
free and independent nation.
As TO the nature of the governments
which the independent countries OF
Spanish America might maintain, Clay
showed, himself to he anything but
a narrow, destructive, propaganda.
ANXIOUS as he was that their govern
mentS should be free we had. he said,
no right 10 prescribe for them. We
were their great example. They adopt
ed our principles. copied our institu-
tons. and. in some instances, employ
ed the very language and sentiments
q our revolutionary papers. No mat
ieF, therefore, what forms they might
ADOPT, he believed that their govern
Ments would be animated by an Ameri
car feeling and guided by an Ameri-
can policy. They would obey the
laws of the system Of the New World,
OF Which they would compose a part,
IN contradistinction to that of Europe.
II had been suggested that the Uni
leo States might find in an independ-
eht spanish America a great agricul-
rural rival. This view Clay denounced
as narrow, selfish. and groveling, as
wei as untrue On the other hand,
Ae held out the prospect, the realiza
lion Of which the faulty of later
years has done all that was possible
70 defeat, that, when Great Britain
should be at war, the United States
you'd 'engross almost the whole trans
portauon Of the Spanish American
e'Mmerce- Nay. more, surveying the
t"Nufe with Yet greater comprehensive
ness and unhesitatingly assuming that
Al 'IesNect Of European wars the sew
e'aI parts of Independent America
"9Uld stand neutral, he deemed it to
" OF the utmost Importance to them
70 adopt and observe a liberal system
neutrality which all America
a fT,,.A -s~..