Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-12-21
SECRETARY oLNEYS VIEWS.

He Tells tho i,rItish Premier tho United
states 10 Sovereign on This Continent aud
lts Fiat IL Law.
WASHINGTON, Dec. js--Accompany-
ing the presidents message In regard
to the Venezuela complication Is the
correspondence on the subject 1t
starts with Secretary olncy's note re-
opening the negotiations with Great
Britain, looking to the arbitration OF
the boundary dispute. This bears the
date OF July 20 last and Is
addressed to Mr.. Bayard. The
secretary begins by stating that the
president has given much anxious
thought to the subject and has not
reached conclusion without q lively
sense OF its great importance as we'll
as of the serious possibility involved in
any action now to be taken. He then
comments on the long duration Of tho
boundary dispute, the indefinite"
claims Of both parties and "the contin-
nous growth OF the underlined British
claims" the fate of the various at
tempt Mt arbitration Of the controversy
and the part in the matter heretofore
taken by the United States. He shows
that the British claims since the
Schombur line was run have moved
the frontier of British Guiana farther
and farther TO the westward OF the
line proposed by Lord Aberdeen in
1874. He then summarizes the situa-
ton ut the beginning Of the year and
tho secretary lays 1t down rs
a canon OF international law,
that q nation may justly inter-
pose in Q controversy between other
nations whenever what Is done or
proposed by any Of the parties prima-
rily concerned Is n serious and direct
menace TO its own integrity, tranquil
ity or welfare" This leads the secre-
tary mp to an elaborate review OF the
Monroe doctrine and after stating that
the proposition that America is no part
open to colonization has long been
conceded, he says that present concern
is with the other practical application
of the Monroe doctrine-that Amer
lean non.intervention in Europe nee.
essarily implied European non.inter-
vention in American affairs, the disrc-
gard Of which by any European power
is to be deemed an act OF unfriendli-
ness toward the United States
The secretary says that 1t Is mani
fest that rule which has been openly
and uniformly acted upon by the ex-
ecutive branch OF the government for
20 years must have had the sanction OF
congress.
american questions, 1t Is said, are
for American decision" says Secretary
Olney, and then applying this doctrine
in the reverse he says:
II all Europe were suddenly TO fy to arms
over the fate OF Turkey, would II not be pro-
posterous that any American state should ind
itself inextricably involved In the miserics and
burdens OF the contest! What have the states
OF America to do with the vast armies and
fleets OF Europe. and why should they be i'm
poyer,shed BY wars In which they can have no
direct concern, The moral interests OF Europe
are peculiar TO her and entirely
adverse from those which arc pecu-
liar to America. Europe Is, with single I'm
portant exception, committed 10 tho monar-
idea that every people has IN inalienable right
of sc!f-government. Any European control OF
our interests IL necessarily both incongruous
and injurious and. II the forcible intrusion OF
European powers In American politics Is to be
deprecated. the resistance must come from the
United States. the only power with strength
adequate TO the exigcncy.
The secretary then says:
The people OF the Unite! States have vital
interest In the cause OF popular self-govern-
ment which they have secured at the cost OF
infinite blood and treasure The age OF the
crusade has passed and they are content with
such assertion and defense OF tho rights OF
sclf-govcrnment as their own security ana
welfare demand II Is In that view more than
any other that they will not tolerate tho
political control Of tho American states
by the forcible assumption OF European
power. Tho mischicfs TO be unprecedented
from such course IRE none the less real
because not Immediately imminent In any
specific case. The United States Is to-day
practically sovereign on this continent ana
It's fiat is law. All the advantages Of this
superiority are at once imperlled II the
principle be admitted that European pow
ers may convert American states into col
onies OF their own. The principle could be easily
availed OF and any power doing so would I'M
mediatcly secure base Of military operations
against us and Il Is not uncomfortable that the
struggle now going on for the acquisition OF AZ
RIGA might be TT nsfcrrcd TO South America.
The weaker countries would soon be absorbed
and South America wonld be partitioned be-
tween European powers.
There IL then doctrine OF American public
law well founded In principle and abundantiy
sanctioned by precedent, which entities and
requires the United States TO treat as IN
ir Jury 10 herself the forcIblc assumption by IN
European power OF political control over m
American state The application OF the doc
trine to the boundary dispute between Great
Brit lin md Venezuela remains to be made,
and presents no real difficulty.
BRITISH OPINION.