Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-12-24
Throw Away the British Spectacles.

NOW tDet the returns are an III rum
the college professors, it is found that
those Of them who are connected with the
departments Of international law and
history are about equally divided as TO
the application of the Monroe doctrine
to the Venezuelan controversy. But with
all due respect to the students Of in
ternational law, their findings are by no
means conclusive, though entitled to
weight Those who pore long over
laws of man : making are likely to absorb
the idea that in every technicality, every
ultra refined distinction tSess laws are
something divine; that man was made To
fit the law rather than the law made to
fit the man. one needn't 60 back Il hun
bred years in the history Of the world 70
ascertain that the strict constructionists
have oftener been on the losing than on
the winning side
There has of late srn much quoting of
the Monroe doctrlngand of every author
ity who has since 1r223 spoken, written or
acted upon it. This is natural and proper.
Bat it is noticeable that those who most
urgently declare that President Monroe
and his advisers did not have in mind
such an issue as now appears to be pre-
sented. conclude their remarks with
sucer at the folly Of risking our secur-
tiles on account of belligerent little
south American republic and most of
them dwell at tiresolne length upon what
they are pleased to term the wisdom, the
dignity. the craftsmanship Of the British
diplomat and his recently developed
bump Of kindly feeling for the United
States. They would have us understand
that this is mere boundary question in
which our government can have no con
cern, and all the while we are made
aware that their most popular authorities
are English. Perhaps it will lie found to
be matter with which we need not
concern ourselves but will not these self
constituted authorities upon the subject
allow us To ascertain, as we have not
hitherto been permitted to do, whether
our government really is concerned with
tbs NATTER They may know all about
the question at issue, though their posi-
ton would not indicate such knowledge,
but they have told Us no more concern
ing it than has Lord Salisbury, and he
hasn't satisfactorily explained it.
If we are to rely wholly upon what the
British premier says We are left to CON
clude that there has been marked differ
encc of opinion among English premers
themselves concerning this matter. Sails
bury admits that the Sohaumburghk line
was laid out Professionally and subject to
future agreement, that not only was there
a refusal to agree to this line but that
| Lord Aberdeen receded from it, and the
boundary marks We're removed, to appease
If we are to believe salisbury, the feelings
of the Venezuelans, which is anything
but probable. Thirty five years later,
when the Venezueans agreed to abide by
the Aberdeen line, they Were informed
that as English colonists had settled upon
what Aberdeen had conceded to be Vene-
2ulean territory the English flag must
follow then-simply another of The many
examples Of England's policy with weak
nations, that might makes right. Again
it Is seen from a carefI reading of Sails
bury's reply that in respect to Venezuelan
territory the English foreign policy has
not been continuous, hat treaty which
had been drawn under tine Gladstone ad-
ministration and was about 20 be signed
when Salisbury first succeeded Gladstone
| Salisbury own statements afforc con
elusive eyid ence OF the dCsirability of
arbitration. And right here it is worthy
of note that Lord Salisbury is known as
the arch jingoist of English politics. Yet
those residents of this country who just
now are almost forgctful of their care
fully cultivated air of superiority IN their
antipathy to anything in this country
savoring of what they are pleased to term
jingoism, and are lost in admiration of the
craftsmanship of England's prime minis
ter. seem utterly oblivious of his reputa-
ton abroad as the most constituencies
bully in Great Britain. Both the tone
and the substance OF his letters to Secre-
tarv Olney go TO demonstrate this fact
One need not be an English hater TO read
them with indignation. They relate a
history of an attitude toward that little
South American republic, such as Eng
land W ould not for moment have main
tanned toward an equal power; an atti-
tude which carried to its logical results
win put England in control Of the
Orinoco river, with all the possibilities
such control implies, and in case Vene-
zuela should be rash enough to defend
herself by force would put the English
in charge of her governmental machinery
to collect whatever indemnify she might
claim Even then, even If England were
Il, Sott,ed control of Vaupguela as she is