The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-13
ME. y. G. CAREER on THE "MoNRoE
DOCTRINE

The eminent lawyer Mr.. James Z.
Carter. Of New York, has written an
article upon the Monroe doctrine as
applied to Venezuela, which the people
who allow themselves to get excited over
small matters would do well to read
and think over.
OF what concern is the dispute be-
tween Great Britain and Nenezuea to u.s.
asks Mr.. Carter, and ne answers, "Prima
facie, none at all" Everybody admits
that it does not concern us, unless Great
Britain IL. IN fact, seeking 10 extend
her possessions in South America. Il
she were doing this, she might run coun-
ter 20 the Monroe doctrine. But, says
he, since Monroe doctrine has never yet
been accepted by the nations OF the
earth as part Of the code Of interna-
tional law, Il becomes us 10 De exceed
insly cautions indeed how We cal. upon
other nations 10 respect it. II may be
very good international law, fer us. but
other nations have not consented 20 ac-
cept il as their international law. and II
may become very serious thing for us
10 march out into the world. and declare
that We propose to have ali other ma
lions paying The sar.e regard TO 1t ths.
we do.
when a nation acts" says Mr.. Car
ter. against the principles Of intcrna-
ional law, she arrays against herself the
sympsthies OF the civilized world Our
iinrocs may b'ustol as they please, but
IL would be very serious thing Cor Us
to pa: ourselves into such a posi;ion7
and We should certainly DO 1t If we az
serted to mankind that we were going 10
compel all of it TO regulate its AFFAIRS
with the countries 10 the South OF us as
we would like those affairs regulated.
For. as Mr.. Carter well observes, 1T IS
impossible for any one nation TO create
rights which did not exist before, or to
AFFECT the international Jaw Of the world
IT is nothing but the old and familiar
case OF two persons being necessary TO
bargain. The Monroe doctiinc' has
never been accepted into the law Of
nations, and it is absurd in us to say
that We will force it in there without
the consent OF the other nations.
The Philadelphia Record. commenting
on Mr.. Carriers article says:
"A distinguished publicist in New York
Mr.. James G. Carter. holds that the Mon
roe doctrine has no application 10 the
territorial question between Great Britain
and Venezuela. Ia this he fully COIN
cides with Mr.. Andrew G. Cassatt
writer in the December Forum. who
maintains that the Monroe doctrine was
intended to apply to state of facts
that M longer exists. The writer
rather broadly declares that the Holy
Alliance proposed to extend is opera
lions to this continent. and aid Spain
to recover her revoited States.
president Cleveland has gone as FAR
as he can go in enforcing the position Of
the United States. without prov oking a
war with Great Britain. The rest he
longs to Congress, in whom alone re-
sides the power To declare war. But
Congress will consider long before going
10 this extreme IN the controversy be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela. The
Monroe doctrine declares thac with the
existing colonies or dependencies of any
European power we have not interfered.
and we shall not interfere British
Guiana is one OF these dependencies. and
the question is Whether the territory i'm
dispute belongs 10 British Guiana or 10
Venezuela"
We are not so sure about what Con-
gress viii do. 1t 10 our deliberate belief
that If Republican President occupied
the White House, Congress would in
volve us in a war with Great Britain,
and We are not sure 1t will not DO SO
anyhow