The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1895-12-25
VENEZUELAN GUIANA PROBLEM

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The war cloud that overhangs the
United States and England, growing out
Of the boundary line controversy between
British Guiana and Venezula, is not a
fully developed nimbus, but a cumulus
of such dimensions as 10 be scrutinized
carefully by all the world.
The boundary line has never been
definitely settled, and now that gold Is
found in paying quantities in the region
along the controverted- line, the British
Government, of which Guiana is prov
ince, claims more from Venezuela than
tAe latter is inclined to concede. Vene-
zuela has long wanted to arbitrate the
question, being too weak 70 fight England,
but the British lion demands the lions
share without any further ado. The
United States. through its Attorney
General, Mr.. Olney, acting upon the
principle laid down in the Monroe doc
trine, notified England some weeks ago
that the boundary dispute must be sub
united 10 arbitration. England replied
that she would not submit to arbitration
ThereupOn the President sent TO Congress
a special message on the subject, recon-
mending the passage of a law creating a
commission to be supported by a liberal
appropriation Congress, with great
unanimity, enacted the law and voted
100000 for expenses. The President will
once dispatch to the committee, named
by him, 10 Venezuela, and probably to
Madrid and Hague. hecorespondence
and message are presented to our readers
in tO-day's CLIMAX.
England cannot afford TO have a war
with the United States. She has tried it
twice and knows itwouldnot be either
brief or pleasant. Besides that, Canada,
Ireland, India, Australia and numerous
other countries belonging to England
would rise in revolt against Mr.. John
Bull, and he would find himself fright
in the middle Of a bombshell-ah."
The substance Of the Monroe doctrine,
as first enunciated by Washington and
fully elucidted by President Monroe Fis
skinny on your own side OF you'll get
your snoot busted" This Government
viii not allow any Government Of the
eastern continent to forcibly acquire ter
ritory on the western continent.
Venezuela isthe most northerly Repub
licOf South America, and is a thousand
miles southeast OF Florida, straight line
between them passing through Cuba. 1t
was discovered by Columbus, and was
governed by Spain till 1910, when a ten
wears war resulted in the Liberation Of the
country under the powerful generalship
Of Simon Bolivar, "the Washington Of
South America, and Yenezuela's first
President. The great battle Of Caraboa,
1921, decided the contest, but not till the
treaty OF Madrid in 1915 did Spain recog-
nize the independency OF her former
slave. But in 1916, a 24-years war broke
out between the UniOnists. or advocates
of strong centralized government, and
the Federalists, or States Rights party,
the latter being victorious. A constitu
ton modelled after that OF the United
states was adopted. In the meantime
slavery was abolished. In 1881 the Re
public was divided into States, S Terri
tories, , Colonies and ] District. The
supposed area.is 1900 square miles and
the population 100000, of which only
three per cent is pure white, the Others
being negroes, mulattoes, Indians, and
mixtures. Roman Catholic is the princi.
pal religion. Products are gold, copper,
coal. phosphate, hides, dye stufis, sugar,
rum, molasses, coffee, cocoa, maize, cat
tie, dc. The chief river is the OriuOco,
tine mouth OF which is well fortified, and
commands the terminus Of the railroad
26 miles to Caracas, the capital. Caracas
is a city Of 10000 people, is more than
800 years old, has a university, famous
cOl0rcd church, waterwOrks and other
modern improvements; is $3.50 feet above
sea level. In 1872 an earthquake killed
1900 of lis population.
British Guiana is east OF Venezuela.
It claims &c. 600 square miles of territory,
but according to Venezuelan and Brazil
ian claims, has only 1900 square miles.
It's products and people are practically
the same as those Of Venezuela. Deme-
rara is an important river and its valley
produces a noted sugar. Essequibo
River is the line for some distance up,
when Guiana territory crosses over to the
Venezuelan side, according to Venezuelan
claims. But Guiana, OF its owner, Eng
land, claims a large territory west Of the
mouth OF the EssequibO, extending 10 the
mouth OF the OrinOco and up that river
10 its tributary, the Amacura River. In
this disputed territory between the Esse-
quibO and the Amacura. along a little
river called the Barims, 100000 is in
vested in mines, and the British Govern
nent is exacting 8 per cent tax on the
products OF the mines. 1t is said that the
boundary line according to English Gus
mines are in question" Besides gold,
west OF the mines is a prairie cattle coun-
try. and the British want that
Venezuela and Guiana have their
mountains as well as valleys and prairies.
A small river leaps 500 feet down a preci
pice into the Essequibo. Malaria abounds
in the low lands, and a foreign army
would suffer.
Nenezuelans were greatly rejoiced at
the position taken by the United States
and adorned Washington's statue in
Caracas with flowers.
No war evea involved 50 wide a range
as the possible one between the United
States and England would do over Vene-
zusla, as almost every power in the civil
lied world would be included
SPEAKER REEDS CHAIRMEN.