New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-29
FOR PEACE ~ VENEZUELA.

Tho LATEST rumors concerning NeneZuell anu
,,r disnute with Great Britain are, If true, de-
plorable. though by no means uneNpec'u' IT
Is said that President Crespo Is seriously con-
sidering the possibility, perhaps the proDaDiiiV'
Of war He has been canvassing the military
strength Of the Republic, and finds II aDe I'D put
a wcll-equipped army Of 100000 men INTO Tue
field. That would be ample to deal with all the
forces British Guiana could muster, ana perhaps
with whatever troops might be sent over from
Great Britain. The coast, however, WOULD De
dofenceless La Guayra. Cumana, MaracalDo
and Puerto Cabelo would be at the mercy OF
British guns. and Caracas itself would scarceiy
escape Such a war. unless some other POWER
interviewed, could have only one ending, nancy
defeat and disaster for Venezuela.
That however is not what just now seems
most deplorable because the contingency Is still
remote Nor yet is President Crespo's militant
attitude which is, amid present circumstances
highly creditable to him What Is deploraDle. De-
vond all EXPRESSION is that Great Britain should
drive Venezuela TO such extremes, and, II pos
sIble still more that the United States Govern
mont should raise no hand and speak no word
70 check Injustice and TO keep the peace. The
precise equities of the boundary dispute we DO
been revealed Venezuela appears to he in the
right. We are quite willing to concede, now
ever. that Great Britain may be able to show
herself TO he in the right. What we do Insist
upon is that such dispute should be settled by
arbitration. after the manner OF civilized ma
tons. and not by fighting, after the manner OF
wild beasts or savages. Venezuela has long
sought the former mode OF settlement. Great
Britain has pcrsistently refused il, and is now
moving directly toward the latter barDarous
and wicked mode Great Britain refuses to nave
the matter arbitrated. and orders troops and
machineguns to the disputed territory \enez-
ucla has therefore no alternative but TO meet
force with force.
We do not believe in war. We abhor it.
Above all we abhor war begun for an UNJUST
purpose and forced by strong nation upon
weak one 4 war waged by Great Britain
against Venezuela for the purpose OF roDOing
the latter Of some OF her territory wonll be I'M
speakably wicked; and it would be about as
wicked too for the United States TO sit idly by
and see it done. We do not mean that ms corli-
fry is 10 20 to war with Great Britain. We trust
that such a dreadful and unnatural crime will
never be committed as war between the two
great English-speaking nations We do not be-
leve there is or ever will be any serious danger
of such war. There would not be. If our Gov
eminent were to speak brave and manly word
IN favor Of peace and Justice on the Venezuelan
frontier The notion that for us TO tender our
good offices for a humane and equitable settle
ment Of the dispute would provoke Great Brit
ain 10 declare war against us. and to pitch IN
and give us thrashing, is the most fantastic
folly ever Matched ont of cuckoo egg. his
country is in position to say without the ie''S'
buster to both Great Britain and Venezuela:
You must not fight You must submit your
differences to just and peaceful arbitratloh.
If it cannot say that. and prevail upon them 10
assent to its proposition, without endangerlhg
the peace of the world, then Is It's civillzatlon
a failure and its pretended rank among the
nations Il ptlful deusion.