The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-22

Of ms rcspect her rights as sAe under
stands them. the overwhelming MAORI
~ of our citizens would cry Hands
on"
But II the statements now given out
TO the public are TO be relied upon. MT.
Cleveland's views OF his duties under
the Monroe doctrine have brought US race
to face with a most serious situation.
that may very well require us TO be at
war with Great Britain and other foreign
powers in very short time. or TO re-
nounce the general idea OF the position
this country holds In respect TO the
Monroe doctrine. 1t Is stated, ana ac-
cepted everywhere as a fact that III
August last Mr. Bayard delivered 70
Lord Salisbury an elaborate statement Vi
the ADMINISTRATOR views of what TINS
country adheres to under the Monroe
doctrine. and that these views are In
direct antagonism TO what Great Britain
proposes to do. in dealing with the mat
tiers in dispute between herself and |ehe-
zuela. 1t is also stated, and accepted
everywhere as fact, that Lord Sails
bury has replied to this document with
a statement that 1t requires the utmost
consideration and elaboration upon the
part Of her Majesty's Government. ana
that he asks full time for that considera-
ton and elaboration. The universally
accepted opinion is that he Is employ
Ing that interim in sounding the other
European powers upon tine question
whether they will accept our views Of the
case, or whether they will join with Great
Britain in giving us an ultimatum, which
shall repudiate the whole Monroe doc
trine in toto.
Now. Of course. no one can forcsee what
Great Britain herself is going TO DO
IN the premises. nor what the other
powers Of Europe are going TO do. Bat
suppose that Germany, Austria. italy
France. and Russia do take the ground
that they viii unitedly oppose our al
tempt 10 assert and put into force the
Monroe doctrine: What are we going
TO do about it? Are We going 10 nght
the whole civilized world 10 prevent
Great Britain coercing Venezuela into
course Of conduct which enlightened men
in Great Britain declare to be essential
10 that power maintaining her due -au-
thority and seli-respect? We cannot
believe that the people Of the united
States are going TO sanction any act
that would put this country IN such
position. but it is plain that the possibility
of such an alternative being offered
rs ought to have been very seriously
considered before the document in ques-
lion was delivered 10 Lord Salisbury.
No man can say that the other European
powers will not unite with Great Britain
in a refusal 10 be bound by the Monroe
doctrine. and If we should hazard
conjecture upon the subject at all, it
would be that they would join with her.
Another view OF the matter presses
itself very seriously upon our attention.
Some months back a party OF Venezuelan
soldiers entered the territory occupied ty
the British, seized an English soldier
destroyed his property, and carried MN
off into Venezuela. The Venezuelan au-
thorities promptly returned the soldier
and paid him for his losses, but Great
Britain looks upon the act as an insult
to her national authority. and she has
demanded Of Venezuela an apology for
it, which the latter country refuses TO
give. Now, Venezuela is an independ-
ent power in the family Of nations. If
Great Britain goes to war with her, 10
extort from her satisfaction for this
insult to her national honor. are we go
ing TO take part in the war, and fight
Venezuela's battles for her?
These two views Of this case show MS
how perfectly absurd the Monroe doc
trine becomes when applied to modern
conditions