The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-24

One would be led to think from some
of these utteraDces of the peace men
that war had already been summarily
declared by the President; or that
there was no alternative but war 1t
is not well for the American pulpit to
place itelf in such an attitude of
criticism on this country. Briefly the
situation is this: England and Vene-
zuela are engaged in dispute over a
boundary line, which Venezuela asks
England to submit to arbitration.
This England refuses to do unless
Venezuela shall first agree to give up
part of the territory in dispute.
Naturally enough Venezuela refuses to
and insists that the whole question
shall go to arbitration The United
States as the first of American powers
pledged to the maintenance of
the Monroe doctrine, which when
applied for bids the further colo
nization Of America by European
powers, or the extension of Euro
pean systems Of government in
America, has respectfully asked Eng
land to submit the Venezuelan bound
airy question to impartial arbitration.
Upon the suppoSition that those strong
in the consciousness Of being right can
always afford to submit their claims
to impartial investigation, and that the
brave are by their very nature always
generous, the United States had good
reason for believing that their request
for settlement of the dispute by arbi-
tration would be respected especially
since the controversy was between
the great British Empire on the
one hand, and a very weak nation on
the other. But the request for arbitra-
ton was set aside; and Lord Salisbury
tells US that the case does not involve
any violation of the Monroe doctrine
and that the said doctrine is not ac-
cepted by European nations as inter
national law anyhow. What do minis
tiers expect our government to do under
these circumstances? Shall it submit
in silence to this dDctum of the British
premier? What would any self-respect-
ing government do? 1t would do Just
what our government has done. 1t
would take steps for a prompt investi-
cation of the subject and, upon the
facts thus ascertained, would take a
stand, and give to England the alter
native Of arbitration or war; and our
men of peace may rest assured that
England would choose arbitration.
War, indeed, is to be deplored, and
war between two such nations as Eng
land and the United States especially
so. War is to be discouraged where
such discoura cement does not involve
sacrifice of national honor, or a prin-
ciple vital to the perpetuity of free in
situations. 1t is conldnendable to see
the ministry of the church speak out
for peace, even if they make the demand
their denuiciations of war let even min
listers remember that after all it has
been by war that human rights have
been won, and by war being a posi-
bility are they maintained. 1t was a.
maxim with the great Napoleon that
laws were mere utilities without the
necessary force TO maintain them, and
that is as true of international laws as
it is of national laws and the force that
makes International law anything more
than a mere nullity is the ever existing
possibility Of war.
The American ministers, it is hoped,
will review the Venezuela case a little
more critically during the coming week
and get more patriotism in their dis
courses by next Sunday.