The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-18

! land will be seriously adopted by the
American government, but If so, It will
be incumbent upon us, without entering
upon such aggressive measures, to protect
our imperial interests and stand up for
our rights under international law. 1t
must be observed that the Monroe doc
trine, on which Mr.. Olney relies, has re-
! ceiVed an entirely new development. The
statement in his dispatch and Mr.. Cleve-
land 8 message that the doctrine is adj
mitted by all the highest authorities has
never been recognized even in its origi-
MAJ form as rule of international law.
Lord Salisbury expresses his full concur
renee with the view that the disturbance
OF territory in the western hemisphere by
fresh acquisition on the part of European
states Is highly ineXpedient, but the rec
oSnltlon of this ineNpediency does not COW
er the preposterous deductions from the
Monroe doctrine. which Mr. Olneys dis
patch puts forward and Mr.. Cleveland
makes the basis of the most astounding
proposal that perhaps has ever been adj
peace since the days of Napoleon"
After summarized review of the dis
patches and messages, the Times contin-
qes: we desire to speak with all proper
respect of what is still in the form, at
least, of diplomatic negotiations, but we
can confidently predict that the preten-
the President and the appa-
rently acclaimed by the Senate,
and with rare exceptions, hailed by the
press of both sides as vigorous and patri-
otto, will not be admitted by this coun-
try. The firm, though temperate Ian
guage of Lord Salisbury's reply to Mr.
olney indicates how he Is likely to receive
the proposal to give effect in an often
siVe, overweenig way to the new con-
struction of the Monroe doctrine. No
commission appointed by power which
is not party to the dispute will be recog-
nized by us as having title of any sort to
pronounce upon controverted questions
of the boundary between the British en-
pire and Venezuela. 1t will receive no as
sistance from the British authorities and
will have to rely on what 1t can obtain
from the VeneZuelans. Its decision will
Outset oe null even and void f. from or, the
did not faint ii with partially. This new
departure in International relations does
not appear to be a straightforward course
themselves whether the Venezuelan boun-
dairy dispute touches their interests,
though we, are unable to see how it does
so. II Is for them to declare that they
are allies of Venezuela and support her al
legged rights. We should then know where
we stand. but to assume authority to de-
eide in the quasi-judicia1 way upon the
validity of our territorial rights in another
continent is pretention that no power in
the world can be justified in advancing
I'VE are bound TO resist the claims
which the Monroe doctrine has for the
first time been extended to cover, and to
which Mr. Olney has added comments and
differences against which an emphatic pro-
test must be made"
The Times refers to the cool assumption
based upon q distance or 500 miles, and
continues: "A power which has command
OF the sea does not regard the 5000 miles
of intervening ocean as severing it from
its subjects. The American tradition will
not be strengthened by Mr.. Olney claim
OF moral superiority on the ground that
self-government is only enjoyed by RI
publics. We think we have something
like self-gOvernment here, even though
we have not yet developed a Tammany
Hall, and we are vain enough to believe
that liberty is more real and healthy in
Great Britain than in Venezuela These
unnecessary aggressive assertions seem
70 point to the possibility that this sud-
den movement on the part Of the United
Sta ties has more to do with party politics
than with diplomacy. Much may
be pardoned in view Of the
large extent explains the union OF the
republicans and democrats in raising a
lingo cry. 1t Is to be remembered more
over, that good deal Of time must elapse
before a commission can be appointed
and that it will be a still longer time
before IL can reDort It may not come
into existence indeed. until the executive
has passed into other hands. In the
meantime, the sober common sense Of
the American people we should hone
Will condemn the attempt 10 pick a quar-
rel with friendly power In any course
our own course Is clear. We must stand
firmly and calmly upon our rights as
an independent state, and, II necessary,
take practical measures TO assert them
II may even be expeditions to settle me
frontier question BY drawing a line Of our
own. OF course. there can be no thought
OF anything less than the schOmburgh
line. allowing the United States and Ven
ezuela 70 deal with matters a. they may"