The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-24
ORR POSITION Is WRONG.

D., for the most important matter 10"
engaging the attention of the Amer iO'"'
,,oa,le Is the position this country mas
-, with Great Britain in regard 10
- No,roe doctrine The public does not
:. corrse know with accuracy ana GER
-. inst what that position is. but the
repeated and confident assertions t',S' -
Ont I'm respect TO IL justify us III pen WIS
that the administration mas ecia''u
tain propositions TO Great BIl'ai" ""'0"
will operate as a restriction upon her VIII
in her dealings with Venezuela. Inc
whole cas- Is incldded in this: II we may
,estrict Great Britain TO the extent oi
q hairs breadth in ner course TOWARDS
Venezuela. we may restrict her TO any
extent whatever; and she VIII not 'oi-
crate The slightest restriction Of any sort
whatever unless she is prepared to accept
the law of the case from us in full.
We seem. therefore, 10 be confronted
with a case in which Great Britain must
.f,her consent TO have her dealings with
the countries o. South America regulated
by the will OF this country. or we must
he at war with Great Britain at very
early day.
letter from Washington yesterday says
hat during Secretary Greshams lie TINS
Venezuelan imbroglio was referred by the
President and Secretary Of state TO Al
iorney-General Olney for examination
and that il was while locking into IT as
the law officer Of the Government that
ne formed his present opinions, ana came
to the conclusion that II was the duty
Of this country 10 take a peremptoiy
stand towards England. This IS one OF
the most surprising statements yet made
ab,u, this matter We can very well un-
dorstand an excited politician shaking his
nsts and screaming ne would send the
United States 10 the blankety blank Dc
fore he would hear one roar from BRIT
ssh lion upon American soil. But how
lawyer. sitting down TO examine the
rights of the United States in the premises
as a matter of law. could get up from
his researches and say that II Is the
duty OF the United States Government 10
intervene in this quarrel. passes our com
prehension. There is 10 agency IN TINS
Union that can make law for II but the
Congress OF the United States. That bouy
has never voted that the Monroe doctrine
shall be any part of the law of this land'
90 that no LAWYER would pretend TO say
that i, is any part of our law III IS IN
COMPREHENSIVE 10 us, therefore how the
Acknowledgement of the United states
could rise from an investigation of TINS
matter and say that the United states
.rs under an Obligation 10 interpose.
politician may say 1t, but a lawyer can
not
our correspondent said that there is no
doubt the President and the Secretary OF
state have made up their minds 10 IN
sist. I'm this Venezuelan matter upon
strict Observance OF the Monroe doctrine,
and that any attempt upon the part OF
England 10 enforce demands which this
country must regard as unjust Will he re-
scented by the United States, and that
.this Government does not presume 10 de-
eide the boundary dispute between Great
Britain and Venezuela in favor OF the
latter. but merely insists that II shall be
determined by arbitration and not by
force of arms"
But how can Great Britain submit 10
this country passing Judgment upon
whether any conduct OF hers is Just or
unjust. and how can she permit us 10
dictate to her whether she shall or shall
not submit any difference that she has
10 arbitration? She is one OF the greatest
powors OF the earth, with prestige and
= record that all English-spealSing people
glory In. Can she now lower her crest
and accept commands and dctation from
any power upon this globe? 1t is idle TO
expect that she would do so at the BID
ding of the world in arms, but she will
certainly never do SO at our bidding, when
we have no more right to interfere IN the
matter than we have In the question OF
her relations TO ireland or India We
have no more right 70 say that we VIII
take jurisdiction over South America. and
permit foreign forces to do this and forbid
Them to DO that In those regions. than we
aave TO assume the same position towards
Africa. Suppose we should say 10 Great
sritain that she might occupy the Malta
ele land. but that when she entered
eohuana land we should oppose her pro-
- there 4ttA foxcs7 what reply would