Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-12-18
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER IS.
"applEs OF GOLD IN PICTURES OF SILVER


gress on the subj eot of the boundary line
controversy between Great Britain and
the republic of Venezuela, which was
printed entire in the Geographic columns
of the NEW MEXICAN yesterday, merits
more than passing mention.
1t is ringing, courageous, digniied
and statesmanlike declaration of Ameri-
can doctrine that irresistiby stirs the
patriotic emotions and commands the re-
spectful admiration of all within whose
breasts American hearts pulsate. 1t per-
fectly mirrors the honest sentiments of
the American people on the subject of
attempted or threatened European en-
croachments on the territorial posses
sions or governmental functions of any
power, however weak and small, on the
Western hemisphere, and does not 60 a
step too far in plainly warning Great
Britain that any aggressive effort on her
part to seize any part of the territory of
Venezuela or any other government on
this hemisphere will be regarded as an
unfriendly act by the United States and
treated accordingly. This is strong
language, language that half century
ago would have been construed as tanta-
mount to a declaration of war, but, what
ever may be the outcome, it is none too
strong to meet the emergency that Great
Britain has arrogantly and defantly
forced to the front. The fact that moth
ing less would have satisfied the 65,O00,-
900 people of the United States, whose
proved prowess in the destructive arts of
war is only surpassed by their skill and
industry in the constructive arts of peace,
ought to prove sufficient warning to
Great Britain that serious trouble will
certainly ensue unless she concludes to
withdraw from the offensive position she
has taken and yields to the reasonable
and lrrevocable demands of this country.
The president places the English pre-
mier at a disadvantage in the controversy
with the adroitness and skill of master
in diplomacy, and yet happily avoids any
thing of the nature of jugglery with words
for the purpose of ooncealing their true
meaning. Respecting the Monroe doc
trine he clearly says that, eff the balance
of power is justly cause for jealous
anxiety among the governments of the old
world and the ubject for our non-lnter-
ference, none the less is the observance
of the Monroe doctrine of vital concern
to our people and their government" and,
replying to Lord Salisbury's claim that
the Monroe doctrine does not embody
any principle of international law which
sis founded on the general consent of ma
tions," he maintains that "the Monroe
doctrine finds its recognition in those
principles of international law which are
based upon the theory that every nation
shall have Its rights protected and its
just claims enforced" and leaves it easily
to be inferred that the rights of the Unit
ed States will be amply protected in the
premises.
The disappointment the president ex-
presses, that Great Britain should have
declined the proposition of this country
to settle the Venezuela boundary dispute
by equitable arbitration, places the Brit
ish government in particularly unenvi-
able light. since its position is untenable
on any theory that involves the ideas of
justice and fair-play. Touching this point
he concisely says: ut is deeply disap-
pointing that such an appeal, actuated by
the most friendly feeling toward both ma
tions directly concerned, addressed to the
sense of justice and to the magnanimity
of one of the great powers of the world,
and touching its relations to one CON-
paratively weak and small, should have
produced no better results" His signif-
cant allusion to the greatness of one Of
the powers involved and the compare
tive weakness of the other carries with IL
a stinging indictment of Great Britain as
bully wholly destitute of magnanimity.
II could hardly be improved.
Then he proceeds to say: "The course
to be pursued by this government, in
view Of the present condition, does not
appear to admit Of serious doubt. Hav-