The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-27
The Monroe Doctrine.
It's Principles Threatened by
Great Powers.

WASHINGTON, March 2O.-The pros
pect of serious complications which
threaten the United States through
probable European encroachment on
Venezuela and Nicaragua has assumed
a phase of such danger to the principle
laid down 10 the Monroe doctrine that
a special cabipet, conference was held
at the White House this Afternoon to
consider the subject. There is no
doub. whatever that the subjects are
considered By the President and Secre-
sary Gresham as Of much greater i'm
por.ance to this country than the ALI
aud incident or the recall of Minister
rhursson. aud must be handled with
unusual delicacy, and With the know.
ledge that a misssep may plunge the
government into embarrassing complla-
tons With not one, but several, of the
principal European nations.
TIE conference was attended by the
President, Secretary Gresham. Secre-
tary Carlisle, Attorney General
Olney and Secretary Lamont. 1t
lasted several hours, but Mr.. La
mont withdrew after a brief at
tendance. Mr.. Gresham took with
him to the White House the official
copies of much of the recent cores
pondence on both the Venezuela and
the Nicaragua situations, and be re-
maiued with Mr.. Cleveland some time
after his colleagues bad left
It cannot be learned whether any adj
diticaal information in the matter
reached the State Department to-day,
but it is said that Mr.. Bayard has
failed to arrange the Mosquito troubles
With the British government in a man-
ner satisfactory to the United States.
Grea. Britain's ultimatam to Nicara-
qua demanding an indemnity .for the
expulsion of Mr.. Hatch, the British
consular agent, from Blue6elds, aud the
report that q British warship is on her
way to enforce her demand is the last
known serious phase of the difficulties
growing out of the Blue6elds affair, aud
as action by this government may IN
volye a new construction Of the Mon
roe doctrine it can be seen how slowly
and carefully the President and his ad-
visers are obliged to feel their way to
prevent any possibility of blunder OF to
neglect any advantage that might
weaken the practical sponsorship that
the United States holds over the South
American and Central American repub-
lies.
10 the Venezuelan affair the United
States government finds itself opposed
70 such strong adversaries as Great
Britain. France and Germany, with
Belgium as an incidental factor. The
settlement of the claim of Great Brit
ain to certain Venezuelan territory is
;SSe main cause for alarm, and to this
is added the prospect that Germany
will send w%arships to collect a large
amount of money guaranteed to the
German contractors for the construction
Of the Central. Venezuela canal.
France aud Belgium have a common
ground for action disturbing to the
peace of the little South American re.
public. namely The expulsion Of the
French aud Belgian ministers from that
country. Both countries have protest
ed against the expulsion. and France
will send a naval vessel to take their
ENJOYS home.
The Monroe doctrine and its ratifca-
tons contain ample authority. it is
said, for the United States to display
an active interest 10 the threatening
attitude of Great Britain and Germany,
and while the probable action of France
and Belgium does not seemingly come
Within the scope of the doctrine. it is
said to be the belief of this government
that all four powers involved will join
issue in opposition to the Uui'ed States
to secure their several ends. and such
amalgamation is likely to beget a
desire 90 the part Of all to extend their
dominions.
The conference at the White House
to-day was necessarily of a strictly Sc
cres character, but it is LEARNED to-
night on good authority that no def
ni,e action was agreed on.